Community rallies to save KJ's Boots and Western Wear

Anthony, Connie, and Kevin Kuhlmann, owners of KJ’s Boots and Western Wear in their temporary location at 601 East Francis Street Suite 4 in North Platte.

The roof of the original store building caved in under heavy, wet snow, threatening the Kuhlmann’s family business.

Employees and volunteers help move inventory into the temporary North Platte location.

Hershey is a small town with a big heart. When KJ’s Boots and Western Wear’s building was left damaged after a devastating snowstorm, the community rallied together to save the business. Now, the business wants to return the favor.

Owned by Kevin and Connie Kuhlmann with their children, Anthony and Jennifer, the Kuhlmanns purchased KJ’s Boots and Western Wear in 2018. With Connie’s background in clothing consignment and a passion for excellent customer service, the business quickly flourished. Customers flocked from across the state and beyond its borders, drawn by the store’s extensive selection and personalized service.

Tragedy struck on March 7, 2024, when a heavy snowfall caused the store’s roof to collapse. About 23 inches of snow fell in one day. The front wall of the building pushed out 10 inches, threatening to bury the inventory under the snow.

As the Kuhlmann family raced to salvage their inventory, they were overwhelmed by the outpouring of support from the community. Volunteers, armed with trailers and storage units, descended upon the store to lend a helping hand.

“Our employee, Alesa Barner, took one look at all the work that needed to be done and knew we couldn’t do it alone,” Connie said. “She put out a call for help on Facebook, and people started showing up within 20 minutes.”

“There were people everywhere,” Anthony recalled. “I can’t put a number to it, I wouldn’t be able to justify it. But more than 100 people were there to help.”

Volunteers began to arrive at 7:00 p.m. By 11:30 p.m., the store was successfully cleared out and moved either to the north end of the building or to the enclosed trailers and storage unit.

The inventory was carefully handled despite the flurry of activity. Items were neatly stacked and stored with care. Of the 4,000 pairs of boots, only 5 pairs were damaged or mismatched.

The Hershey Volunteer Fire Department came to the rescue just a week later when the crumbling building shifted both the foundation and pipes, causing a gas leak.

Over the next few months, the Kuhlmanns navigated the complex process of insurance claims, managing inventory from vendors and securing a temporary location. They managed to reopen their doors just 12 miles down the road in North Platte.

It took the Kuhlmanns and KJ’s employees one week to move and one week to set up the store. With great anticipation, the store reopened its doors in its temporary location on June 1 and was met with a resounding welcome.

“We had 1,500 receipts from that weekend alone,” Connie said.

“It was phenomenal,” Anthony echoed. “We had multiple checkout lines and were writing some receipts by hand to get people through faster. The community we’ve built with our customers really pulled through for us.”

KJ’s Boots and Western Wear plans to rebuild in Hershey, starting from scratch after the previous building was severely damaged. Plans include a demolition in the fall of 2024 with a new building complete by spring 2025.

“That night, the way the community came together to help us in our time of need, we can’t leave Hershey in good conscience,” Anthony said.

The Kuhlmanns are determined to maintain the same level of service and connection that has made their store so special. They are grateful for the unwavering support they have received and are eager to return to the community.

“We are blessed, humbled and thankful,” Connie said. “The employees and I agree, we want to come home to Hershey.”

Follow their Facebook page for updates as KJ’s Boots & Western Wear rebuilds.