by Rebecca Tescher Robison
HUNTLEY – Huntley’s Minnow Bucket closed effective March 1, said owner Will Suralski when he walked into the Yellowstone County News office this week.
Suralski talked with this news office several weeks ago and said his closing “was no big deal” and he did not want a story.
However, a story in the local daily on Sunday revitalized interest in the business closing, he said.
“Several people have called and are interested,” he said. “I have a guy coming today.”
But he said about running his minnow and bait business, “When you explain what it takes, most people don’t want to do it.”
“It’s like milking cows. Not that I regret a minute of it — it’s greatest business in the world.”
Certainly the closing was not for lack of business, Suralski said of the shop he started 21 years ago in Huntley.
“This business is recession proof because people are always going to go fishing. When the price of gas is sky high, people still go fishing but stay closer to home.”
“It’s great because people come through the door with their money out saying, please sell me something so I can go fishing,” he said.
If you provide customer service and listen to what they have to say, you can’t go wrong, he said.
“I have certainly enjoyed providing that service to my customers for the last 20 some years. All of my customers are my friends.”
Suralski said his wife has retired and he also retired recently from a full time position at Montana Job Service. “If we get a wild hair and want to go somewhere — we’ll go.”
Suralski has paid rent on the Minnow Bucket building for the next three months.
The closure has forced Vern Schmitt to retire also. “He is 86, I believe,” Suralski said.
