Kowgirl Kool Co. opens new western wear storefront in Elgin

Kowgirl Kool Co. has opened a western wear storefront in downtown Elgin, giving Union County another locally owned retail option at 22 N. Eighth Ave. and a new test of how much demand there is for boutique shopping in a small-town market.

The Elgin Chamber of Commerce marked the shop’s grand opening with a ribbon cutting at 10:30 a.m. May 23. Inside the storefront, Kowgirl Kool Co. is positioning itself as more than a specialty shop, with western clothing, hats, purses, jewelry and accessories designed to fit both western fashion and everyday wear.

That niche matters in a town of 1,717 people, where each new storefront can influence how often residents stop downtown and how much of their spending stays local. For Elgin merchants, another retail destination on N. Eighth Ave. means more reasons for shoppers to make the trip into the business district, browse multiple storefronts and keep their purchases in Union County rather than driving elsewhere.

Kowgirl Kool Co. says the new store grew out of customer support strong enough to speed the move from an online presence into a physical shop. The company lists regular in-person hours on Thursday and Friday from 10:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Pacific time, making it clear that the Elgin location is intended to operate as a steady shopping stop, not just a one-day celebration.

The business began in Pendleton and describes itself as a mother-and-daughter operation led by Sunny Waggoner and Natalie Waggoner. Natalie Waggoner lives in a small town in Eastern Oregon with her fiancé, where the couple also runs a cow-calf operation. She has said she left healthcare work after COVID because she no longer found the same enjoyment in it, then turned to a new chapter built around western style.

That personal shift gives the Elgin shop a local economic story as well as a retail one. Kowgirl Kool Co. reflects a small-business owner choosing to reinvest her experience, time and money in Eastern Oregon, while Union County gets another storefront that could help downtown Elgin feel busier and more connected to the regional economy.

The opening also fits into the chamber’s broader role in promoting business growth and community involvement across Union County. The Union County Chamber of Commerce, established in 1932, serves Elgin and other communities including Cove, Imbler, Island City, La Grande, North Powder, Summerville and Union. In Elgin, chamber leadership is under Kenna Collins, who was elected president in February 2026 to a one-year term.