About Us

The Country Store Boutique - A Unique History

The Country Store Boutique was established in 1973 by Mary Jo Seneff and her family. The evolution of the current structure spans seven stages of development, including renovating vintage buildings and adding new construction. The following is a brief history of this business and its developers.

Store — Idaho Falls, ID — The Country Store Boutique

The Crowley School

The schoolhouse, built in 1899, is a typical example of the region's one-room, brick constructed rural schools. The building, owned by Olin Rathburn, was destined to be torn down until spotted by Mary Jo Seneff in 1972 as a potential site for an antique shop and gift boutique. Shortly after purchase, renovation began and The Country Store Boutique opened for business on April 5, 1973.

The Price Barn

By 1977, the antique business had outgrown the little red schoolhouse, prompting the Seneffs to pursue options for expansion. The increased space was achieved by purchasing a large (30'x40'x45' tall) vintage barn located about a half-mile north of The Country Store Boutique. The barn, purchased from Gilbert Price, was moved intact and situated over a newly constructed basement near the existing business.

Other Construction

Originally the barn was separate from the schoolhouse and each building could only be accessed from individual entries. This situation was eliminated by constructing a breezeway connecting the two buildings. A unique feature of the breezeway is the river rock and wood flooring designed by Mary Jo. The wood used includes pine, redwood, and muir.


In 1978 a two-story building was added to the back (north) side of the barn to increase storage space for the continually growing business. At the same time, an apartment was constructed in the original hayloft of the barn and the Seneff family moved in. Additional shop space was built in 1982 on the east end of the barn. In 1994, another two-story addition was built, bringing the total floor space to more than 16,000 square feet.


Antique furniture, vintage jewelry, and other unique one-of-a-kind items are purchased for resale from across the United States, as well as locally. In addition, collectible and gift items are selected to complement the antique merchandise. Collectors include many return customers who continue to build their family heritage of quality heirlooms with their purchases from The Country Store Boutique.

The Seneff Family

Harold Lockwood (Lock) and Mary Jo Seneff first moved their eight children to Idaho from Groton, Connecticut for one year (1965-1966) in connection with Lock's work for the INEL. The family made the move permanent in the spring of 1970. Most of the children helped out with the renovations, worked in the store after school and during the summers. Only one stayed with the business and pursued it as a career. Eric Seneff started working with his mother at the age of fourteen, becoming a self-taught expert on American furniture and the art of furniture restoration. His parents were able to retire, secure in the knowledge that their legacy would live on. His wife, Melanie, manages the retail portion of the business. The Country Store Boutique remains a successful family business and looks forward to many more years of serving Idaho.

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