From Jake & Dawn: why we're proud to carry the Three Rivers legacy

We get asked a lot: "Why flooring?" It's a fair question. It's not exactly the industry most people dream about growing up. But the honest answer is that we're not really in the flooring business. We're in the home business. And there's nothing more personal than someone's home.

How we got here

Dawn and I have been in the flooring industry for several years now. We own two stores — Three Rivers Decorating here in Wahpeton, and Dorholt Tile & Home Center up in Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Between the two of them, we're talking about over 100 years of combined community history. That's not something we take lightly.

When the opportunity came to purchase Three Rivers three years ago, we didn't hesitate for long. We knew what this store meant to Wahpeton. We knew the reputation Rick and Carolyn Defries had built over 40 years — and what Al Meyer had started before them in 1975. This wasn't just a business acquisition. It was a responsibility.

What we walked into

One of the first things we noticed when we took over Three Rivers was the loyalty of the customer base. People who had been shopping here for 20, 30 years. Customers who knew John Bloomquist by name — and John knew them, their homes, their families. That kind of relationship takes decades to build. You can't manufacture it. You can only earn the right to continue it.

John has been with Three Rivers for close to 30 years. Keeping him on wasn't just a business decision — it was the right thing to do. He is Three Rivers to a lot of people in this community. And Belinda brings that same genuine care to every customer she helps on the design side. We inherited a team, not just a store.

What we've added

We've brought fresh product lines, updated the showroom experience, and expanded our design capabilities. But we've been deliberate about what we haven't changed: the culture of care, the local accountability, and the commitment to standing behind every job we do.

When something isn't right, we fix it. When a customer has a question six months after installation, we answer it. That's not a policy — it's just how we believe a local business should operate.

Why this community matters to us

Wahpeton is the kind of town where your reputation is everything. You can't hide behind a 1-800 number or a corporate policy. People see you at the grocery store. Their kids play with your kids. When you do right by a customer, they tell their neighbors. When you don't, they tell their neighbors that too.

That accountability is something Dawn and I genuinely value. It keeps us honest. It keeps us focused on doing the job right every single time — not just when it's convenient.

We're proud to be part of this community. We're proud to carry a 50-year legacy. And we're proud to wake up every day and do work that actually matters to people — because a home is the most important place in most people's lives, and we get to play a small part in making it better.

Thank you for trusting us with that. We don't take it for granted.

— Jake & Dawn Kubela, Owners, Three Rivers Decorating