Adin Supply

Adin Supply is one of the main reasons to travel to towns in sparsely populated territory. Everything you can and cannot imagine is for sale: blouses, boots, bears stuffed, and bowls; canned goods, cookie jars, and kerosene lamps; straw hats, snowshoes, T-shirts, and vases; faux Christmas trees, wastebaskets, and lunch boxes designed by coke. And customer-friendly people.

In 2003 I commented to Dick Campbell, the then owner, "This town seems to be doing well." Adin is at the eastern end of the Pit River's Big Valley, where highways 139 and 299 intersect in California's northeast province. Big trees line a long main street and a nice park rests off to one side.

"Not so, he replied, "all the lumber mills have moved out of Big Valley. There are only ranching and alfalfa left."

"Well, at least, this is a great store."

"Yes, but I'm trying to sell it. there is not enough income in the valley to pay for it. If you ran it yourself, you could make a living, but we are 72."

In 2004 the Campbell's sold Adin Supply to Steve and Julie Gagnon. In 2007 the parking lot was full of motorcycles and RVs. A good combo-clientele for a supplier of small town goods in an area whose net valley product is in decline.