Kathleen opened Katie's Country Store on April 1, 1978. The building had operated as a store as far back as 1919 when Ezra McClintock built the building and sold groceries, meat, and gas. Kathleen started with a mixture of groceries and gifts and changed to all gifts in 1980.

Multiple times thereafter she added additional retail space: first the Children's Room, then the Christmas Room, the Card & Book Room, then the Loft Christmas area. In 1990, the garage was renovated and opened as an art gallery. The building was expanded in 1992 to open the clothing and jewelry boutique.

On June 1, 2004, Kathleen, shown below on right with husband Neil Nelsen, retired and passed the keys to the store to Jack and Joyce Igoe who will carry on Kathleen's fine tradition.

The store is located in an area known locally as Strawbridge, between Picture Rocks and Glen Mawr to the south and Beech Glen and Muncy Valley to the north along US Route 220. These were all flag stops on the now defunct Williamsport and North Branch railroad. Ironically, W&NB RR reached neither Williamsport nor North Branch and ceased operations entirely in the '30's.

Kathleen kindly provided this history of the store before her operation: Ezra McClintock operated the store from 1919 until it was taken over by his daughter Marie and her husband Leonard Stackhouse in the 40’s. They expanded and built on, adding feed, rabbits, and hardware items. It was a complete country general store and did a big meat business.

The store was sold to Claude & Jessie Chamberlain around 1965 who continued in the grocery business. According to Claude's grandson Bill, they purchased the store after moving from Berwick. After selling the store, Claude lived in Sonestown until he passed away in 1983.

The Chamberlains sold to Jeanne & Tom Ferry in 1973 who went out of business in 1976 and rented to some crafters until 1977. The building was purchased by Kathleen and her husband Chris Berardi (deceased) on January 6, 1978. They began the transformation and opened Katie's Country Store on April 1, 1978.