FORT SIMPSON - Wendy and Kirby Groat are ready to focus on new challenges.

The couple, who own and operate Deh Cho Hardware in Fort Simpson, are looking to sell the store after 18 years in business.

Wendy and Kirby Groat relax in one of the sitting rooms in their business Deh Cho Suites, which will now occupy more of their time. - Roxanna Thompson/NNSL photo

"We're tired. It's time for a change," said Wendy Groat.

The couple said they've been considering the idea for awhile but because they kept the idea quiet the decision to sell did come as a surprise to some local residents.

"Eighteen years of retail sales is a long time," said Kirby Groat.

Deh Cho Hardware is the third hardware store that has existed in the village. Fort Simpson's first was Igloo Building Supplies. It moved to Hay River, but was followed by Valley Hardware in Fort Simpson. That store lasted six or eight months before closing. A few months later the Groats started Deh Cho Hardware.

The idea to form a hardware store came from a plan to become self-employed. The Groats moved to Fort Simpson in 1984 when Kirby took at job as an airplane mechanic with Simpson Air.

In 1986 Kirby started Deh Cho Sports, a business which repaired and serviced small motors. The hardware store then followed from a business partnership in the late 1980s.

Kirby and his partner decided to open a hardware store and a week later there was a load of lumber in their yard, said Wendy.

The original store was located on top of the hill in the old buyers' yard. The business grew slowly.

"Whenever we could get a bit more money together we would buy a bit more inventory," said Wendy.

The store was later moved to its current location in the mid-1990s. When the store is sold the main thing the village will lose is 18 years of experience, said Wendy. A lot of the job is giving advice, she said.

Calling the store a mom and pop operation, Wendy said they discovered the most economical way to run the business is to work it yourself because you work cheaply. As a result, the Groats learned about construction, painting, plumbing and even gardening.

"We didn't know a thing about some of this stuff when we started," she said.

In the early days of the business, hours were spent poring over catalogues and books about plumbing parts.

"The plumbers in town trained us," said Kirby with a smile. Even though they're selling the business, the couple say the hardware store will always be in the village and have no intention to just close it. They expect to sell the store to a local buyer and have already had some expressions of interest.

The Groats now plan to devote their attention to their second business, Deh Cho Suites.

It was because of a desire to change directions that they decided to enter the tourism business, said Wendy.

"It's fun, it's rewarding, you meet interesting people and they really appreciate what you're doing," she said.

The couple opened their first building, now called the Sugar Shack, in 2005. It has three bedrooms and is normally rented out to groups.

Then in May 2006 Deh Cho Suites opened in a building the Groats designed and built. The building contains four suites each with its own sitting room and private bath. There is also a central kitchen where a continental breakfast is served. The layout is based around the idea that people like to be able to leave their bedroom while staying somewhere, said Wendy.

The couple plan to use the Suites as their job in retirement. They live in a master suite in the building.

Just like the hardware store, running the Suites has required a steep learning curve and the business is taking awhile to grow, said Wendy.Both Kirby and Wendy say they are enjoying the change.

"We're really looking forward to not having to go to the store anymore, " Wendy said.