The D & L Variety on County Road 124

One of the best things about living in the village of Nottawa, is the feeling of community.  One of the biggest contributors to that feeling are Dave and Louise West, who run D & L Variety.  They have created a store that is the hub of the village, where people come to pick up stuff on the run, but also to chat about local issues and just shoot the breeze.  Everyone is always welcome, and the store carries an amazing variety of products for it's size.  It is more like a small grocery store, and if there is something they don't stock, they are happy to get it for you.

                                                   Louise and Dave---partners in business and in life

When they purchased the store in 1999, it was being poorly run and in desperate need of a spruce up.  They have turned it into a going concern, clean, bright and friendly.  There is often a petition on the counter to be signed in reference to a local or regional issue.  They are fervent in their belief in helping people whenever possible.  The proceeds from the Nevada funds sold there have gone into supporting the Nottawa school that their grandson attended at the time.  They put in a pavilion, completed the track and have also used the money to help offset the cost of trips for kids who couldn't afford them. They now have 2 other grandchildren attending the school, and are proud of what they were able to contribute. They are currently using Nevada funds to help with events at the Nottawa Community Centre.  Louise is on the board there and is working with others to bring more activities to the centre and repair and maintain the building.

                                                            Dave hard at work

Dave and Louise have definite roots in the community, as they held their wedding reception at the Community Centre and later celebrated their 25th anninversary there.  They are well acquainted with the history of the store they purchased and love to talk about it.  It is over 150 years old and at one time was both a gas station and a hotel.  They remember it as 'The Brocks' grocery store, complete with a meat section in the back corner of the store where Louise now has her office.  It had a big wheel of cheese and the butcher offered meat specials that were cheaper than the other area markets.  The barn in the back was sectioned off to store different items for the store, and tons of flour was stored in that barn.

                                                    The 'Door' signed by many past employees

We are fortunate as a village to have the Wests as part of our community.  They have renovated the apartment above the store and are now living there quite comfortably.  Go on in and say hello.  Dave loves to shoot the breeze with me whenever I come in, and I quite enjoy our banter.  You will never see a Grandpa who is quite as proud or devoted to his grandkids. Some terrific news....the postal station for Nottawa will be moving over to the D & L on February 27.  Another opportunity to stop in and support the store, because you know the Wests will turn around and support us in return.