As a child visiting his grandparents, Eric Sohn loved to stop at the Idleyld Trading Post, Deli & Liquor Store in Idleyld Park, Oregon. “I have a vivid memory of staring at the tackle wall for lures to go fishing,” he said. “I thought it was such a cool place that felt like part of the community.”

Fast forward several decades to 2017, when Sohn, who was living in California, working in finance and looking to transition his career, saw the store was for sale. “I bought it because I was looking for something different to do. With family in the area—and visiting all those summers as a child—I figured I knew the area well enough to make it work,” he said.

Transitioning a Local Landmark

The Idleyld Trading Post has been part of the local landscape for more than a century. The first store was established in 1920. Two fires over the years destroyed the original building, which was mostly rebuilt in the 1950s and gradually morphed into the store as it is today.

“Historically, this was a community hub, a gathering spot for locals and visitors,” Sohn said. “The previous owners neglected the building and customers, so I knew it needed some TLC to bring it back to its former glory.”

Beyond the physical repairs needed, the store’s vibe also lacked its prior welcoming atmosphere. “A lot of the locals had stopped coming in,” he said.

The store had once been known for its fresh sandwiches, so restoring the sandwich program became a top priority for Sohn when he took over eight years ago. “One of the main things on my agenda was to return to the quality sandwiches of the past,” he said. To that end, he introduced build-your-own and premade sandwiches called Highway 138 Specials.

The store already offered hot breakfast, but he also added an oven to expand the hot food selection. New menu items included hot lunches, such as calzones, tri-tip and chicken burritos, and tri-tip chili, as well as large breakfast burritos, egg sandwiches, and biscuits and house-made sausage gravy.

By far his most popular item is the tri-trip and cheese burritos with separate sauces. “We sell about a thousand of them each week,” he said.

He also changed the supplier to an Oregon roaster. “We don’t do specialty drinks but do have several blends available starting at 5 a.m. for the early morning crowd of loggers, campers and hunters,” he said.

On the alcohol side, he expanded the beer selection to include microbrews and Oregon brews, which are stocked alongside domestic and craft beers and ciders. He also added local wines from nearby wineries and got a state liquor license.

Since the fishing gear was what brought him into the store as a kid, Sohn only added to the selection. “We’re near the North Umpqua River, which is known for fly fishing, so we have a section that’s fly only, plus bait and tackle,” he said.

“Overall, we try to source our goods as close to our store as possible,” he said. “If there’s an item that’s locally produced, we’ll get that.” For example, Idleyld Trading Post stocks products by local artists, such as jewelry, walking sticks and handmade cards.

A Friendly Place

Sohn is most proud of bringing back a friendly atmosphere to the general store. “It was a big turnaround for us to ensure our employees were welcoming to locals and tourists,” he said. “My manager and I paid close attention to potential workers through the interview process to make sure the staff hired had customer service skills and a friendly demeanor.”

He also made sure each shift was staffed with enough workers to not overstretch his employees. “That only leads to cranky staff, and we also pay a little bit more than the prior owners did, plus we offer benefits like employee meals and discounts.” Those changes increased the satisfaction of the employees. While the store has its share of turnover, a core crew of employees has been with him for “a long time,” he said.

“We’ve had great feedback from the local community and vendors too,” Sohn said. “We’re becoming the traditional stopping point for those heading to the Umpqua National Forest, which thrills me.”