Todd's Tech, Family Matters open 'after hours'

Next-door neighbors Family Matters and Todd's Technology will once again share the night as this year's second installment of the Malta Chamber of Commerce's "Business after Hours" kicks off on this Thursday (July 14) from 5 until 7 p.m.

Family Matters opened for business in 2000 as a co-op currently owned by about 170 people. At the time, according to store manager Avery Sorensen, there was a need for a clothing store as there wasn't much else to be had in town.

"We needed a place to provide clothing otherwise everyone would have to drive to Glasgow or Havre to shop," she said.

Sorensen has been manager at Family Matters since 2012 and since then many high-end brand names have been added to the store's inventory including Under Armour, Columbia, Carhartt Kids and Smartwool. Family Matters currently employees 10 people (some part-time and others full) and for this year's Business After Hours event is offering their customers 30-percent off, store-wide, from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. only.

Besides the sale, Avery and the staff will be serving homemade sugar cookies and lemonade.

Sorenson said the Family Matters staff is very thankful for their customers and hope people understand how important it is to shop locally as opposed to spending money on-line and out of the county.

"There have been a lot of clothing fads over the past few years that have become a fun, different thing for people to try," she said. "As fun and different as those types of shopping are, it's just really important for people to be shopping local and keeping us in mind and checking with us first before heading on-line or out of town. We run really good sales all the time."

Eric Wilke bought what was then known as Dan's TV – and would become RadioShack – in 1999. Almost 17 years later, Todd's Technology is Malta's go-to place for electronics. Todd's currently employs four fulltime employees and on Thursday, during the Business After Hours, will be offering his customers between 10-to-25-percent off store-wide depending on the product.

Wilke and his wife, Dara, own Todd's and one of Wilke's first jobs after graduating from Dodson High School led to his purchase of the local store.

"Tehcnology was always something I had an interest in," he said. "I worked at the RadioShack in Havre starting in 1994 and it was just something I enjoyed."

Wilke said there will also be refreshments on hand during the event.

The first Malta Chamber Business After Hours event was held at Phillips County Motor Sports Dragstrip last month which was attended by around 20 people.

At that event, John and Kari Carnahan of the PCMS gave visitor's a tour around the complex including the new apparel store, bathroom and shower area and crow's nest.

During the tour of the crow's nest, visitors saw the technology on-hand at the dragstrip which ensures races run smoothly and winners are paid promptly.

The next race hosted at PCMS will be Saturday and Sunday, July 23 and 24.