The Collected Home only latest retail achievement for retiree

Maureen Wood is the owner of The Collected Home, a home décor retail shop located at 1310 N. Hwy 83 in McCook. In addition to décor, jewelry, purses, and vintage items carried in the store, Maureen’s son, Clint Johnson, right, builds custom furniture pieces that Maureen finishes to the buyers’ specifications.

Shary Skiles/McCook Gazette

McCOOK, Neb. – Boredom set in quickly after Maureen Wood retired. She also claims that laziness was a problem, but that may be a bit of a fib, considering the many accomplishments she has achieved over the past few years.

Her latest accomplishment is opening a retail store, The Collected Home, at 1310 N. Hwy 83 in McCook. The store features new and vintage home décor and “other beautiful items” according to its Facebook page. Even though the store has been open since June, The Collected Home recently joined the McCook Chamber of Commerce, so a ribbon cutting was hosted Tuesday.

Chamber President Molly Smith thanked Wood for joining the chamber. “When you invest in us, you’re investing in the community and that’s really huge because that helps us to be able to do the fun and amazing things that we’re able to put together for the people in the community. So, thank you for investing and being a part of what we’re trying to do.”

Retail management isn’t new to Wood. She was a partner in “The Painted Ladies”, a retail store on Norris Avenue that closed a few years ago. In that venture, Wood partnered with Clarice Kenney, who owns the building where her current business resides. After The Painted Ladies' closure, Wood continued to operate a retail store in a building on her property north of McCook. She said that the business, The Farm Cottage, was open “whenever I felt like it.”

But once she retired from her full-time job at Valmont, 23 years as Human Resources Manager, Wood said she needed something constructive to do. She and Kenney have remained close friends, and Kenney asked her if she was interested in renting the prime retail location on North Highway 83. The building was previously used by Clarice’s husband, Hugh, as a marine and bait shop.

After six months of renovations - new flooring, paint, drywall, bathroom – Wood was able to open on July 1st. She carries home décor, painted furniture, vintage items, antiques, jewelry, and purses. Her son, Clint Johnson, builds custom pieces of furniture, which Wood will finish to her customers’ specifications.

The Collected Home is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. and Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Her phone number is (308)340-0599 and you can follow the store on Facebook.