Our Story

Circle W Trading Post is locally owned and operated

 by April and Andreas Woelk. 

April grew up in Post Falls and have lived in Rathdrum, Athol, Hauser, Post Falls, and Spirit Lake her entire life. Andreas was born in Coeur d'Alene and lived in the local area and rural Alaska while growing up. Andreas is a local general contractor. 

We understand the local economy and how some of the hardest working people are getting left behind. We created this store to serve the locals and residents of Rathdrum and the surrounding communities. We also understand that when you are working long hours of various shifts it is tough to get to a store during traditional business hours. So that is why we are open weekends. 

April was a raised by a single mom, and raised her kids as a single mom as well. Money was always tight. She learned to find the best deals and how to stretch money from a young age. She wants to share those skills and bring reasonably priced merchandise to our smaller communities. 

Circle W is based on ideals April learned as a small child. There was a circle W design on her grandparents' screen door in Libby, MT when she was growing up. That symbolized a place of great joy, love, and acceptance. It also stood for honesty, integrity, and always doing the right thing. People were treated with dignity and respect based on their actions and everyone was always welcome around her grandparent's dinner table. These values are what the business is based upon. 

It is a trading post, because those were the places where all the rural folks would go to gather, share stories, and exchange their products and services. It was a constantly changing inventory based upon the season and the availability of goods.  There was new and changing inventory every time they went there. 

April & Andreas also own Circle W Goat Ranch in Spirit Lake. 

Nibbles, was their first baby goat and is the inspiration for the store mascot.