Downtown building owners hope new shop will contribute to Logan’s historic district

By Anna Tuckett

A new antique shop opened in downtown Logan on Black Friday, but it wasn’t easy convincing the building’s owners that it “can make it in a historic district.”

The Main Street building has been in the Hicken family for 35 years and was the former home of the family’s menswear store, The Kater Shop. Brothers Steve and Lynn Hicken are the current owners of the building.

Steve Hicken said he had many inquiries from potential renters about the building, but he knew the businesses wouldn’t help revive downtown Logan. Then he met Linda Gillespie and Shelly Wagstaff, the owners of Cache Valley Antiques.

“These ladies have been working on this plan for decades,” Hicken said. “This type of store is invaluable to a historic district.”

Gillespie and Wagstaff came up with a proposal that included ways their business would positively contribute to the restoration of downtown.

Wagstaff said the proposal included items such as supporting the Logan Downtown Alliance, participating in Gallery Walk and working with the Cache Valley Gardeners’ Market.

“We are going to participate in almost anything we can,” Wagstaff said.

After much thought about what to do with his family's building, Steve Hicken researched ideas to improve the historic district.

Steve Hicken said in order to return downtown to its "original vibrancy," it needs the “right mix of things.” He believes the antique shop is one of these things.

The antique shop sells high-quality, used items, including many Mormon history pieces. It uses a business model in which vendors fill the shelves and then the shop collects a 12 percent commission on the sales.

Wagstaff said she thinks the business will be successful because it carries a wide variety of affordable antiques that appeal to all styles and budgets.