The Reardan Store closes Monday

The Reardan Store (R-Store) will shut its doors Monday, Sept. 15 due to a dispute between owner Sarah Hanni and Bu Ko, and Anne-Marie Peters, the owners of the building.

Hanni took ownership of the store at 140 S Lake Street in 2020.

Since taking over the store, Hanni has requested Ko and Peters to repair the damaged building. When the owners took no action, "I put my foot down and quit paying so that they would fix the building," Hanni said. "They want me out by Monday but said I can stay until the end of the month if I pay them $3500, which isn't legal."

Hanni said the building is in such disrepair that it is unsafe.

"The brick wall is falling out in the back; the roof leaks and the floors are coming up. I'm having people trip. The ceiling is literally falling down around me. There is a gas leak in the crawl space. When I asked them to fix things they said, 'Get out!'"

Hanni said she pays Ko and Peters $1900 rent each month.

"All that they want is the money," she said. "They won't fix anything."

In 2024, Hanni contacted the owners regarding a problem with the sinks. Ko and Peters said, "That's your problem."

Hanni hired someone to repair the water leak, but after discovering the gas leak in the crawl space, they declined the job.

On August 25, 2025, Avista inspected the leak in the crawl space and issued a Notice of Hazardous Conditions. Their report noted a carbon monoxide leak in the furnace and instructed the furnace to be shut down.

"The building owners never repaired the leak, so the furnace is still shut off," Hanni said.

Peters acknowledged that Avista had inspected the furnace and that "a possible leak was discovered but that the furnace was not unsafe, nor was the matter urgent."

Peters said Hanni was not evicted but that her lease was terminated because she owed five months' rent totaling $9500 and additional fees of $5500.

"If Sarah would have paid her rent we would have worked with her," Peters said.

Peters said that after Hanni vacates the premises she will clean the building and begin renovations.

"The store will not be closed for good," Peters said. "I will run the store until we transition to a new owner."

Hanni said the business was profitable, but she pays $2000 a month in heating and cooling because "there are holes all over the building, so the air goes out. I also pay $1000 a month for water because of leaky pipes. Because of these extra expenses it's been hard to make a living."

Hanni enjoyed serving the Reardan community.

"This has been so frustrating because this town needs good businesses," she said. "I'm afraid Reardan's not going to have anything left."

Hanni hopes to sell all of her inventory along with shelving before she leaves the building.

"I love this community," Hanni said. "I thank them for their support.

I wish that I didn't have to leave because I want to be here for the community. I don't care what I'm going to do after this. The important thing is what's the community going to do?"