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 By Anjie Parker
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| For the past twenty years, visitors to Solvang have been delighted to find an unexpected glimpse of heaven at the westernmost end of bustling Mission Drive.The French doors of a busy little shop open wide, held in place by the cut-out wooden painted maid, familiar to passersby after performing her duty for many years. A comforting scent of freshly roasted Italian coffee, uplifting music, and warm laughter spill out of the building into the street, and guests are welcomed like precious friends. The shop is a local favorite, Pamela's Country Cupboard, part Bible bookstore and part shopper's paradise. Established around twenty years ago by Pam Summers, Pamela's Country Cupboard was recently purchased by long time Santa Ynez Valley residents Daryl and Mary White. The Whites had moved to Santa Barbara a decade ago to care for ailing parents, but they returned home with a vision, to create a haven in uncertain times, a place where they could serve others, show hospitality to strangers, and give the public an opportunity to search for spiritual answers outside of the traditional church setting. "I always loved Pamela's and loved what it stood for," says an excited Mary White. "When we heard the store was for sale, Daryl and I said 'This is it! This is the place!"' |
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| A friendly lady with a contented smile, Mary is quick to talk about her faith with visitors who ask. With those who don't ask, she is ready to serve a cup of coffee and talk about the hand-painted china and gourmet kitchen items she sells. "We are in this venture as servants, to bless others however we can to repay the Lord just a little for all of the blessings he has given to us. We see this as His business, not our own, and we are at peace with wherever it takes us," says Mary. This uncommon spirit of service is evident in the atmosphere and the layout of the shop. In almost every corner may be found a reading chair where shoppers can rest and peruse a variety of Bibles and books. |
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| Inspirational gift items and greeting cards are displayed on antique furniture. At the rear of the store is a quiet garden patio where the Whites invite guests and local merchants to bring their lunch and relax. A DVD player shows the family friendly "Adventures in Odyssey" programs to young children, and older children play with a large checkerboard set up on a pint-sized antique table, while parents savor Illy Coffee, Big Train Chai, fruit blended smoothies, and fresh-baked cookies from the coffee bar. Mary can hardly wait to host tea parties for her mother-and-daughter guests who may dress up in the fancy hats and scarves she is collecting and sip the tea and share the cookies arranged on a linen-covered table. The employees of Pamela's Country Cupboard share the Whites' love for people and love for God. A gathering of family and close friends, the staff is made up of the Whites' daughter-in-law Rachel, sister-in-law Carol, son Andrew, who takes care of the technical items and the website, and friends Marilyn Park, Nancy Sparkman and Debbie Fisher. The group is looking forward to their first Christmas at Pamela's Country Cupboard and are already making plans to dress up the windows and warm up the cider. This Christmas, the Whites plan to support the Adopt-a-Soldier program. "No matter where you stand politically, the Adopt-a-Soldier program gives the American public the opportunity to love and minister to an individual soldier, to thank them for laying their lives on the line," says Mary with passion. |
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| Copyright 2006, 2007 Inside Santa Ynez Valley Magazine, All Rights Reserved |
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