The iconic store in Imbler, most recently named the Imbler Country Market, pictured here on Friday, Jan. 20, 2023, is now under new ownership as the Imbler Market.

IMBLER — The former Imbler Country Market, 350 Ruckman Ave., has new owners, Johnny and Malinda Gunnels, and a shortened store name, Imbler Market.

The Gunnels purchased the business on Dec. 20, 2022, from Karen and Glen Olson. For Malinda Gunnels, it seemed like a natural acquisition.

“I’ve worked there on and off for the past five years, so I got to know about it and I got to know Karen and Glen,” she said.

The Gunnels have a heartfelt connection to this iconic symbol of Imbler’s founding.

“My husband grew up in Imbler and Summerville, and he graduated from Imbler,” Malinda Gunnels said. “His home was right beside the fire department, so this is home to us. The store is a piece of home that we want to keep in our community, and through it we’ll try to help our community and locals a little bit more.”

Prior to this career jump, Gunnels said she was able to be an stay-at-home mother when their three kids were young, an opportunity she appreciates. The kids are nearly all grown now, but they are a close-knit family and they work together.

“Our youngest is 17, and he helps out at the store. Our daughter works for us, and the oldest son works with his dad in construction,” she said.

Malinda and Johnny Gunnels want to preserve the historic store and at the same time improve on the inventory.

“I’m bringing in more hot foods for our kids and farmers,” Malinda Gunnels said. “I’ll be shopping at Winco and Costco in Washington to get some good buys, so I can lower food prices at the store for our community.”

Right now, she said the store offers sub sandwiches, pizzas, chicken strips, jojos, hot homemade soup and farm fresh eggs. The movie rentals and DVD inventory have been permanently removed from the store to make room for a food buffet and nachos bar.

“We’re trying to bring a little more variety into the store,” she said. “Already it feels different inside the store and more open with that change.”

The Imbler Market will continue to offer its famous pepperoni, along with commonly sought-after household goods. Gunnels also plans to start working with local vendors to bring in specialty items and local foods.

“I’ve also bought from Bit by Bit Farms, who make their own freeze-dried candy,” she said. “I’m going to get some local vendors for the summer and carry more locally harvested, fresh foods.”

The store will continue to stock juices, bottled water, milk and a variety of beer. Of course, Gunnels will continue to sell beef jerky, and she is working on bringing other meats into the store.

“I’m waiting for a phone call back from Hines Meats to see if we can get a few things from them,” she said.

Imbler Market has always been a magnet for Imbler High School kids who want an option to school lunches, so it’s not uncommon to see about 20 to 30 teens converge on the store starting around 12:15 p.m. on school days.

“It’s nice and busy at lunch time,” Gunnels said.

New owners of the Imbler Market, Johnny and Malinda Gunnels, admittedly knew very little about its past. However, thanks to the memoirs of late Imbler resident Bus Hoover and the archived pages of The Observer, the history of this iconic store and its owners can be modestly reconstructed. Log on to www.lagrandeobserver.com to read about the store’s long history.