How Small Businesses Shape the Culture of Moscow and Pullman

Courtesy of the Revolver

On the rolling hills of the Palouse, small businesses are playing a major role in shaping the region’s culture and economy. From vintage fashion and home décor to international food markets, locally owned shops are not only filling important community needs but also creating vibrant gathering spaces that reflect the character of the people who live there.

Two such examples are Revolver in Moscow, Idaho, and Shin’s Asian Market in Pullman, Washington, businesses built on creativity, connection and a deep understanding of their communities.

Meeting Needs

Shin’s Asian Market tells a different but equally compelling story of community-driven entrepreneurship. The family-owned grocery store, co-owned by Bonggum Shin and her husband, Park Shin, has served the Pullman area for more than a decade.

The market was founded to provide authentic Asian ingredients and food that was difficult to find locally, Bonggum Shin says. Pullman’s status as a college town made the business especially relevant.

“Many international students and families were traveling long distances just to buy familiar foods,” Shin explains. “Opening the market here met a real community need.”

Shin’s Asian Market has thrived because of local loyalty.

“The Palouse is a great place to start a small business because people are loyal, supportive and value local ownership,” Shin says. “When you serve the community well, they support you in return.”

Over the years, the store has steadily expanded its selection of products to meet customer requests, including more frozen items, snacks, sauces and specialty ingredients. While remaining a family business, Shin says, the market has become a trusted and well-known destination for Asian groceries in the Palouse region.

Looking ahead, both business owners remain focused on growth through service and creativity.

“We love helping customers interpret trends in a way that fits their own style and homes,” says Owner Courtney Siebken of Revolver’s future.

Shin adds, “What’s most exciting is continuing to serve the community and seeing new generations of customers discover the store.”

Courtesy of Shin’s Asian Market

Local Relationships

Revolver, a vintage clothing and vinyl record boutique, opened in Moscow in 2019, but its roots stretch back to flea markets in the Seattle area.

Siebken says the business was born out of a desire for something more sustainable.

“We had been operating out of flea markets,” she says. “After a couple years of that, we realized that hauling our inventory out every week wasn’t going to be sustainable for us long term.”

After visiting friends in Moscow and falling in love with the area, Siebken and her partners decided to take a leap. They packed up and moved to Moscow in October 2019, and on Dec. 21 of that year, Revolver made its debut. For Siebken, the Palouse region offers the perfect balance between community and culture.

“We love the Palouse because it’s small enough to integrate and make an impact on your community but cultured enough for the offerings to compete with larger metropolises,” she says. “There’s access to outdoor recreation, a great food scene and community events. Plus, the universities bring fresh ideas and momentum.”

That sense of support has been critical to Revolver’s success. Siebken says resources like the Moscow Chamber of Commerce and the Small Business Development Center (SBDC) helped guide the company in its early stages.

“The chamber helped us establish local relationships and visibility, and the SBDC supported us with practical guidance around operations, financial planning and strategy,” Siebken says. “Those resources gave us clarity and confidence as we grew.”

Since opening, Revolver has expanded beyond its original concept. The owners launched an estate sale company and, in 2023, opened a second retail location, Hello Everything, focused on consignment furniture, home décor and plants.

“We learned that owning a business is about having a strong vision and being creative and flexible in the pursuit thereof,” Siebken says. “Focusing on connections, quality and experience as the foundations that helped us build loyalty, make smarter choices and grow in a way that feels sustainable and authentic.”