Sheri Lynn and Dave Cohen had no intention of opening a yarn shop in Columbia Falls last summer.

But over the years they’ve built up a relationship with their Nucleus Avenue neighbor Barbara Jenkins. Jenkins owns the barber shop next door and when the space opened up, Jenkins insisted they open a store here — so they did.

Brave Dog Knits, which features a host of different wools and fibers – many of them sourced right here in Montana — has now caught the eye of local quilters.

“Whoa, it’s a real yarn store,” is the reaction of customers when they first walk in the shop Sheri Lynn said. The walls are literally covered with colorful yarns and knitting accessories. “We’ve had nothing but wonderful community support.”

They also offer free knitting classes and bottles and of fine olive oil and balsamic vinegars from the other side of their business, which is Genesis Kitchens, an olive oil and vinegar shop they’ve had in Whitefish for the past five years.

That’s how they got to know Jenkins — she was ordering the fine cooking and dressing oils and vinegars from Genesis and Dave was delivering orders to Columbia Falls.

But he won’t have to travel far, soon. The Cohens have plans to move Genesis from Whitefish to Nucleus Avenue soon. The problems with Whitefish, Dave noted, is parking — there isn’t much and the new location on Nucleus will have its own lot.

Genesis has been successful, the couple notes, because it focuses on quality products and customer services. The oils have another positive facet — they taste good and they’re good for you. Olive oil is one of the healthiest cooking and dressing oils on the planet.

Brave Dog Knits is open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.