SPARTA, Wis. — KEPS Sparta will reduce store hours beginning in March as the longtime downtown Sparta retailer works to remain open in the community it has served for more than a decade.

Owner Jacki Jaeger announced the change last week on social media, saying KEPS Sparta will operate Thursday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. through July. At that time, she said, the business will evaluate its long-term future.

Jaeger said 82 percent of KEPS Sparta customers currently travel from outside the city, including La Crosse, Viroqua and Tomah. While she expressed appreciation for that support, she said weekday traffic from local shoppers has not been strong enough to sustain full-time operations.

“We will decide to stay or go when July comes,” Jaeger wrote.

KEPS has built a loyal following by offering curated gifts, self-care products and specialty items that are not typically found in larger retail chains. Customers quickly responded to the announcement, urging Sparta residents to rally behind the downtown store.

“Come on Sparta. We need to support businesses instead of letting them slip into nonexistence,” one commenter wrote.

Fellow small businesses also offered encouragement. Tyna Jaeger, owner of Angry’s Way Out in Brice Prairie, announced a promotion for KEPS Sparta shoppers. Customers who bring in a KEPS receipt can receive a discount at the bar and restaurant. Details were shared online.

Jaeger said she will use early weekdays to manage inventory and expand online sales. Customers can shop at ShopKEPS.com and select local pickup during open hours or request shipping.

For KEPS Sparta, the coming months will be critical as the business works to maintain a presence in downtown.

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