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Somewhere to open in the former Wishing Well space

SAMMANTHA SWANSON DE JESUS, owner of Mully & Mo’s, plans to open a new business — called somewhere — in October in the former Wishing Well shop space in downtown Iron Mountain. Somewhere will sell candy, books, decor, games and souvenirs as well as host art classes. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

IRON MOUNTAIN — After owner Don Khoury’s death in late November, there has been much speculation as to what would occupy the retail space that for 54 years was the Wishing Well gift shop in the Downtown Plaza building.

The reveal came this past weekend when Sammantha Swanson De Jesus, the owner of Mully & Mo’s next to the former Wishing Well, announced she will open a new store at 427 S. Stephenson Ave. called somewhere — “somewhere creative, somewhere nostalgic and most of all somewhere that everyone feels loved,” she wrote on Facebook.

“We have been asked every single day since Mr. Khoury decided to close, and even before he passed away, if we knew what was going to go in that space,” De Jesus said this week. “Even though we did know, it was not the right time, so we would tell people nothing has been announced and it was not a lie.”

De Jesus said she always dreamed about having a store in both spaces when Khoury was ready to close. She’d talked with Khoury and the building’s owner.

“It is a very prime spot right on the corner of Stephenson in a busy building,” De Jesus said. “I just kind of took a leap of faith. I wanted to try it — I did not want to look back 10 years from now and wish that I had.”

THE NEW somewhere store will be at 427 S. Stephenson Ave. in the Downtown Plaza building in Iron Mountain. (Jim Paul/Daily News photo)

The name somewhere has deep meaning to De Jesus. “Somewhere My Love” was her grandfather’s favorite song and he would ask De Jesus to play it on the piano for her grandmother. The family also has a strong connection to the song “Somewhere Over the Rainbow” — it was her father’s favorite song, she danced to it with her father at her wedding and her brother danced with their mother at his wedding.

De Jesus said that somewhere will have an old-fashioned soda fountain vibe, even though it will not have a soda fountain.

Those who miss all of the candies Khoury famously offered at the Wishing Well will be happy to hear they are coming back. Khoury even gifted all of his candy jars and his scale to be used in Somewhere and worked to set De Jesus up with all of his candy vendors.

“For people who knew the Wishing Well, they will recognize his scale and recognize his jars,” she said. “I think that it is really cool that he knew about it and was very happy.”

De Jesus said somewhere also will offer upscale and gourmet candies, popcorn and other food selections.

Somewhere will continue to carry a large line of Michigan souvenirs, plus kitschy knickknacks, quirky decor, books, board games and retro toys.

De Jesus also wants somewhere to be a creative space for hosting classes for painting, jewelry making and floral arranging. With somewhere selling board games, De Jesus plans to have game and trivia nights as well.

A lot of remodeling is needed before somewhere can open, as the space has been almost completely gutted.

However, De Jesus wants to open somewhere in October in time for the holidays and before winter arrives. She does not think there will be a soft opening — they will dive right in.

Nothing is planned yet for the grand opening, but that will change in the coming months.

“I love having nice big events so we will make it fun whatever we do,” De Jesus said.

Anyone with comments or questions about somewhere can stop by Mully and Mo’s or call 906-828-2663.

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The Daily News plans to highlight some of the new business owners in the region. Know of a business that recently opened or changed hands? Contact Jim Paul at 906-774-2772, ext. 229, or jpaul@ironmountaindailynews.com.

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