Mission General in St. Ignatius was humming with excitement as customers and staff celebrated the store’s 14th year in business Saturday.

“We like to think of (the anniversary sale) as a customer appreciation sale,” Delbert Bontrager said late Saturday afternoon.

Customers were able to take part in drawings for various items at no cost. Those items ranged from household goods to food to rocking chairs.

Bontrager, who owns the store with his wife, Ruth, were expecting about 500 people to visit from 9 to 5 p.m.

The store, located at 61307 Watson Road, St. Ignatius, started as a discount bulk store, Bontrager said, adding that through the years the couple has added meats and cheeses, among other items.

Noting that customers come from as far as Spokane and around Montana, Bontrager said that tourists visiting the area make a trip to the store, as it’s what Bontrager called a “true country store.”

There are between eight and 10 employees that help run the store, which is open 9-5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9-5 p.m. Saturday and closed on Sunday.