The Little Store That Keeps on Giving
Jubilee Global Gifts is continuing its story in the hands of new owners. Photo (from left): MEND Executive Director Kaylin Bettinger, with the store's new owners, Kirstie Miethe and Hans Mulders.
Jubilee Global Gifts Finds a New Home
Since its founding, Jubilee Global Gifts has always been a store dedicated to community and connection.
Upper Valley MEND is happy to share that its new owners, Kirstie Miethe and Hans Mulders, plan to continue that spirit. The store changed hands on November 25, 2024.
A history of community support
Founded by John and Mary Schramm in the late 90’s, Jubilee is a Fair-Trade retail store on Front Street in downtown Leavenworth.
For fifteen years, the Schramm family frequently donated a portion of the store’s proceeds to MEND. Through their generosity, they helped provide stability for our growing organization.
“Wait, that’s a part of MEND?”
Then, in 2011, the Schramms went one step further—they donated the store itself to MEND.
Since then, all profits from the store have supported a growing list of MEND programs designed to support our local community.
Over time, these programs have expanded to include the Community Cupboard food pantry, the Upper Valley Free Clinic, Affordable Homeownership and Rental programs, the Financial Assistance program, and Das Thrift.
Perfect timing
As these programs grew, MEND recognized the need to focus on its core mission of meeting each need with dignity in the Upper Valley. This led to the difficult decision to sell Jubilee—a beloved store that had become a big part of our organization and our community.
Just days after announcing the intention to sell, Executive Director Kaylin Bettinger received a call. Hans Mulders, a local businessman and long-time MEND supporter, wanted to invest in the business. But he needed a partner who could take on the day-to-day operations.
Enter Kirstie Miethe, who Hans calls “our resident expert in retail.” She has decades of experience in all aspects of running a retail business, from purchasing to payroll. For the last few years, she has been managing stores in downtown Leavenworth, and dreamed of one day owning her own store.
“Retail is what I know, and it’s what I love,” Kirstie says. “I love the people piece. Developing staff, building relationships with locals, and knowing tourists had a good experience when they leave our town—I love knowing I had a hand in that.”
Kirstie's connection to Jubilee runs deep. She previously worked as the store's manager in 2020 and 2021. Her background—a first-generation American with a passion for fair trade’s ability to create cross-cultural connections—makes her a perfect steward for this unique store.
With Hans and his wife Andrea’s investment, Kirstie is set to continue Jubilee’s legacy.
“We forget sometimes that without community, we have nothing,” Hans says. He shared how when he bought the Obertal Inn, the previous owners gave him the opportunity to pay back the purchase over time.
"That allowed me to succeed. I want to pay that forward,” he says.
The future of Jubilee
The store's spirit remains unchanged. Kirstie is committed to maintaining its fair trade roots, featuring unique products that tell stories from people in communities around the world. “Fair trade is unique in Leavenworth. You don’t see that anywhere else, and that’s great.”
As for the staff, many will be continuing to work for Jubilee under the new ownership structure.
For MEND, this transition represents hope. Kirstie and Hans aren't just business owners—they're community partners who understand our mission.
Hans and Kirstie envision a future where Jubilee's success continues to directly support MEND's work.
Kirstie shared that when she and her wife first moved here, MEND provided help with her wife’s dental bills, which they otherwise wouldn’t have been able to afford. “So much of this is full circle for me. MEND helped us, and now I get to help MEND. I managed Jubilee, and now I get to return as its owner. I intend to continue to support MEND for many years.”
As we pass the torch, we're filled with gratitude and excitement.
"When we first considered selling Jubilee, it felt like we were closing a chapter. But talking with Kirstie and Hans showed us that this isn't an ending—it's a continuation of everything the store has always represented: community, connection, and supporting those who need it most," says Kaylin Bettinger, MEND's Executive Director.
The little store that keeps on giving? Its story is far from over.