Monty CoatesMonty Coates has a unique take on Park City visitors from behind the counters of his two Main Street art, jewelry, and gift shops. “They know they are in a beautiful place,” says the co-owner of Pine and Southwest Expressions. “They enjoy time off and doing something fun, so they are happy and enjoyable to be around.”

Monty often uses variations of the word ‘enjoy,’ probably because he and his wife Kelley love every minute of being in business, this year celebrating their 45th work anniversary. “I enjoy the autonomy,” Monty says. “We’re here weekends and holidays, so you need to enjoy what you do. Plus, I spend my day with my best friend, business partner and wife.” All three are the same person, he quickly adds.

The couple are born business owners, meeting in business school (naturally) in Colorado. After searching mountain ski towns “for the lifestyle and natural beauty,” Monty recalls, “we selected Park City for the small-town vibe and metropolitan amenities.” They also recognized PC as perfect for family life, raising three sons who grew up working in the stores.

“I generally work at Southwest, and Kelley is at Pine,” Monty says of daily work life. “We collaborate on inventory and enjoy traveling to find interesting items. It’s very gratifying to see customers respond.” These days, he says the couple ski less and work more in winter, but come summer, “we’ve added riding ebikes to travel and enjoying the trails.”

But their beloved stores and happy customers come first. “There is always work to be done,” Monty enthuses, noting there is nothing like “opening the doors and being ready to welcome our visitors and customers.”

We know you’ll enjoy a Coates’ small-town greeting and a warm welcome every time you stop in at Southwest Expressions at 312 Main and Pine at 323 Main.