March 1 kicked off the start of Robin (Parkhurst) McKinney's dream of having her own shop, as she opened "Thread It" adjacent to Karen Rohn's shop, "Black Bird at the Depot." Robin is a University of Idaho graduate specializing in fashion design, and she does alterations and mending, as well. Her favorite assignment is creating formal and bridal wear, but she also sells a line of stylish yoga skirts, custom pillows and aprons. In time, Robin hopes to be one of the first tenants to get a space upstairs, once the second floor remodeling is done. For now, she already has a healthy backlog of custom sewing jobs for area residents, making her first month in the depot a promising start. Robin is married to Derek McKinney and is a mom to two kids. Her creative talents certainly compliment the gift items and art available in Karen Rohn's store. Oh, and did we mention that Robin is the new HPG Secretary, while Karen continues as the group's Vice-President? The two women are doing a lot to promote the depot as a great business location.
As for the depot, it now seems in an even better spot to play a significant role as the City of Potlatch has annexed 14 acres gifted to town by Potlatch Corporation. The new city acreage extends to Scenic Six Park and runs adjacent to the railroad tracks. By summer, a new arms and munitions company will be expanding in the area, constructing a 10,000 square foot manufacturing plant and hiring 50 new employees. The company plans a further expansion soon after that.