Mulligan reflects on time at Corner Store

Sitting in his office last Friday morning, Corner Store owner Tim Mulligan took time to reflect on his nearly thirty years as a business owner. With the store officially changing hands to a Thriftway Super Stops this week, Mulligan has mixed emotions about selling, but also knows he is leaving at the right time.

Growing up, Mulligan was able to learn about small business first-hand with his parents owning an insurance and real estate agency. He also felt they stayed too long and became disillusioned with the business, something he did not want to do.

"When they left, they were not enjoying it. I still enjoy my job and I'm leaving with mixed emotions, but this is the best time. My memories are going to be good," he said.

After a successful professional career working for both the Anaconda Company and MSE in Butte, Mulligan had grown tired of working for someone else and wanted to start his own business.

During his time in management, Mulligan said he was able to take advantage of management and finance classes, and other opportunities to learn about the pieces of running a business. He had also learned from the environment he grew up with his parents.

Mulligan purchased the former drug store building next to the current location of the Corner Store and officially opened in 1992 in what he described as a 1,000 square foot shack that was a bump-out on the building.

He would start small with a limited number of convenience store items, tackle, and video rentals.

In 1997, Mulligan purchased the current 5,000 square foot building located at 201 W. Legion, which had originally been a hardware store.

He described the first five years of owning the business as a challenge because he kept his job with MSE, but when he purchased the current location Mulligan decided it was time to quit his job in Butte.

With 28 years in the business, Mulligan believes one of the best parts of the job was seeing the people on a daily basis and being part of the community.

He said that when he worked at the Anaconda Company and MSE he felt like once he went to work, he went behind a gate all day.

"There were a lot of good people I worked with, but you were kind off and out of the world and I wanted to be back in the community, have control of my own density, and build equity in something," he said. "Dealing with the people, seeing the people and my employees, that is probably the best part of owning the business," he said.

Because the store was not located near the I-90 exit, Mulligan said a huge portion of his business has been repeat customers and was not dependent on the interstate.

"Building up that rapport ,and getting that loyal customer base, it was made this business work," he said.

It has also been no secret in the Whitehall area that the Corner Store took pride in giving back to local organizations and schools.

"It's part and parcel of doing business in the community. Donating to all the local organizations is the best advertising going for a business. They know you are supporting them, and it makes a big difference, especially in a small town," Mulligan said.

The idea of selling the building has been something he has been looking at for around four years, especially after his wife retired three years. During his last year with the business, he has also witnessed one of his best years for the Corner Store. He said it has been a bit bizarre this happened during 2020, but a lot of people had more time to recreate and he sold a lot on the sporting goods side of the business. Mulligan added the challenge with his year has been with the supply line.

Looking to the future, Mulligan has plenty to keep him busy. The owner of a small ranch, Mulligan said he is going try and catch up with the 20-year backlog of projects, and he also plans on spending a lot more time with his daughter and family eager to help out with the grandchildren during the current school situation.

He also plans on doing some fishing, bird hunting, and when things open back up, traveling.