Sweet and spicy scents from lit candles linger throughout the store. A cup of flavorful coffee is brewing in the corner. Subtle music enhances the mood. Multiple nick-knacks of every genre, color and taste fill the business. There's always something to make some part of your home pretty. Maybe it is jewelry you want. Choosing becomes the difficult part, so you stay, browse and take it all in.

For nearly three decades, Judy's Cupboard has been more than a store, it has been an experience. Yet, Judy Kohlman, its owner of 26 1/2 years, wants to do a few other things, and plans to close her doors within five weeks.

The kitchen gift shop has decorated MonDak region's homes for three generations, but it has evolved into much more.

For Kohlman, the store was a natural thing to do, but that didn't mean she didn't have to work at it.

Judy and Dennis Kohlman came to Williston in 1966. She was home economics teacher. She quit teaching to raise my family, and would periodically return to fill in as needed and child-rearing allowed. "It was something I always wanted to do. I had worked in a kitchen gift shop, the Pan Handler, for a while. I worked there, and I like it very well," she said. "The opportunity presented itself where I could work in a store, so I did."

Helping others make their living spaces their homes through her shop then became a full-time career.

"It's just something I've always liked," Kohlman commented.

"I have basically everything, but it started out as a kitchen shop. As I went to market and saw all these other cool things, I kind of branched off," she said. "People kind of said it was like going on a 'treasure hunt.'"

Favorite finds among customers include pictures, foods, coffees, linens, dinnerware, candles, music, cards, kitchen gadgets, baking items, decorative accessories, home decor, a big Christmas inventory - home ornaments and trees and jewelry.

"We try to give them all the senses - feel, see, taste, smells," she said. "People will come in here and say, 'what's that smell? It's a combination of the candles, the coffee, the potpourri. It's just the combination of everything. They'd always comment on my nice music. I ended up selling the music. It wasn't one of my goals to start with. I started playing it for my own sanity. People would say, 'I like your music.' Then, I started selling the music. It just kind of fits into place.

"They come by and mingle, and have coffee, chat and spend time looking at things with me. Most don't just look for five minutes," she added. "It takes them a while."

While the business has made her a living, it is the social aspect of the store that has also proved meaningful.

"I have gotten to meet some absolutely fantastic people, and that is what I am going to miss - the customers. I've developed a lot of good friendships over the years with customers, and I've also developed a lot of good friendships with the sales representatives," she related.

She said she has put in many long hours herself to keep operations running smoothly.

"I appreciate the good help I've had over the years, the good support of my family, and the loyalty of the customers. We've been through the (oil) boom. We've been through the bust. Now, we're in another boom," she said.

Throughout the past decades, she has learned well to adapt what the customer wants, and to support a few entrepreneurs along the way when possible. She has also made it a point to sell many regionally developed and entrepreneurial products through the Pride of Dakota program.

"I've tried to emphasize North Dakota as being a good resource, and that we do have good products here," she said.

She said that flexibility, long hours, dedicated staff and the support of her family have helped the store endure all this time.

"I had a good bridal registry, and that helped in here a lot," she said. "We went through the craziness of the Beanie Baby stage. I survived that. It's hard to pinpoint one thing that is the key. It does take a lot of hard work. At times, you put in 18-hour days. You aren't always done when you leave the store. A lot of times, I did book work at night or you'd be ordering. You basically work every holiday. Because of my good employees, I was able to get away sometimes at the last minute."

Being involved in mapping out the layout of the store also has been part of the fun for Kohlman, although it is meticulous work.

"The people and the buying, the markets, doing the displays, I love that. I have been in a wonderful location," she said.

Her husband, Dennis, retired from farming last fall. The Kohlmans have three grown daughters and three grandsons,

"The grandson become a part of the store because I've used them in my commercials," she said. "Now, people associate the store with my grandsons. My oldest grandson has gone to market with me, and helped me pick out things for kids. I had Carson's Corner named after him - which was the kids' toys. That's how I got into kids' things is when I started having grandchildren.

"We will be free to do some other things, and we possibly will be relocating," Kohlman continued. "It's been wonderful. I want to thank all my loyal customers, employees, and family. Without them, I wouldn't have been here."