Food and drinks from neighboring Spiro’s Downtown Restaurant will be available from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. as the restaurant finishes out a week-long “last chance” sale at the gift shop, which has been shuttered since Don Khoury died Nov. 28, only a few weeks after announcing that after 54 years he planned to close the business at the end of 2023. He was 82 and had lost his 78-year-old wife, Sharon, in late March 2023.

“We encourage everyone to stop in to reminisce and celebrate their 50-plus years of business, and while you’re there take a look around because it will be your last chance to shop at The Wishing Well,” Spiro’s posted on its Facebook page.

Before the sale, the store was restocked with “the Khourys’ handmade, one-of-a-kind treasures, as well as other merchandise,” Spiro’s posted on Facebook. “We are hoping to clear most of the store so that we can open the space up and welcome another business to our downtown. Everything will be at a discounted price and we will be open to negotiations.”

The Wishing Well has been a fixture on the corner of Stephenson Avenue and A Street in downtown Iron Mountain since Don Khoury opened the shop in 1970. It was an outlet for his rustic decorative items that he’s made for 45 years.

SHARON AND DON KHOURY

In a Nov. 4 article in The Daily News, Khoury said he planned to return to selling them at art and craft shows.

“When my wife was alive, she would take care of the shop and I would sell all my things,” he explained.

The Wishing Well also was known for the glass jars of bulk candy, carefully scooped into paper bags for generations of customers, and the distinctive sound of his 1910 cash register.

Khoury said at the time he had no plans to sell the business. “I never considered that. I wouldn’t do that because I’ve seen it happen in 54 years — when someone buys a business, it’s changed after that,” he said. “Give it a year or two years, then they start changing things and it’s just not like it used to be. I’d just as soon people have the memory of my shop how it was.”

His obituary stated that Khoury worked “tirelessly until the Friday before he died. He knew his health was failing, so he was in the process of a retirement sale. God had a different plan, but in the process brought many customers and friends into the store for one more bag of candy or to just show their love and appreciation in return to this man who meant so much to so many.”

SOME OF THE rustic items The Wishing Well was known for can be seen through the front window. The store has been open 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. this past week to sell what remained of its inventory; this “last chance sale” will end Friday with the Khoury Day celebration. (Betsy Bloom/Daily News photo)

The obituary went on to state, “Sharon and Don did so much more than sell gifts and candy. They prayed with and for those who thought they needed a gift but maybe needed more or just a listening ear. Christ was an intricate part of their lives, and they shared the salvation message with many customers, friends, and even strangers. They were generous with love and gave quietly to many.”

According to her obituary, Sharon was valedictorian of the Vulcan High School Class of 1963.

She worked for many years at Norway Gravure Printing Plant as head business office manager.

She married Don on Sept. 26, 1970, and Don started The Wishing Well soon afterwards. Sharon primarily ordered stock for the store, along with providing customer service “and praying with customers for special needs.”

The obituary added, “She was a talented poem writer and gave poems away to many.”

The Iron Mountain City Council in March took time to officially recognize Khoury Day in honor of the couple and their store.