Welcome to Dregne's Scandinavian Gifts

Dregne Family Builds Westby Tradition that Caters to Norwegian Heritage

By: Dorothy Jasperson-Robson of Westby Times

Westby- Dregne’s Scandinavian Gifts isn’t just any run-of-the-mill gift shop.  It’s a specialty shop for that hard-to-buy-for person, it brings you Christmas 365 days a year, it’s a showcase for American-made Fenton glassware and, if you’re a true Norwegian or a wanna-be Norwegian, Dregne’s Scandinavian Gifts- on the corner of W. State and Main streets in Westby- should be on your destination list.

Dave and Jana Dregne purchased the corner building and business in 1975, when it was a full service hardware store, with just a small selection of giftware.  Seeing increased tourism trade making its way through the front door, the Dregnes decided to follow the lead of a former owner, Violetta Flugstad, who believed building on the tradition of the area would help the Dregnes find a niche no one else was marketing. 

Within three years of ownership, the Dregnes grew their specially giftware section and developed a Scandinavian room, a wise decision as the nuts and bolts of the business showed declining sales while the sale of the Norwegian merchandise grew.

Through the years, the interior of the store has been redesigned three times.  The owners auctioned off all remaining hardware merchandise in 2000 and over the past decade have built the store into a specialty shop where visitors can find more authentic Norwegian merchandise. 

Building on the specialty gift theme, they diversified the merchandise to include American-made products such as Fenton glassware from West Virginia and a variety of Heritage Lace made in Iowa.  They carry numerous books written by local authors, and book-signing events have become a tradition at the store.  Local artists demonstrate acanthus carving and chip and flat plane carving.  Samples of Norwegian baking are a must during any special event at the store.

The Dregnes’ inventory includes a large selection of Norwegian sweaters, pastry bakeware and lefse grills.  The guest book on the counter is filled with signatures of visitors from every state in the country and many international sites.  Their mail-order business has grown tenfold over the past decade as the requests for items to be shipped grows.  The Dregnes have a dedicated staff to help them when they are busy, and they are thankful whenever their children, Chris and Kathy, can lend a hand at the store.

History of Dregne’s Store Building

Dregne’s Scandinavian Gifts has a double pedigree in the history of Westby’s downtown businesses.  Combined from two family businesses, the Stevlingsons and Flugstads, the Stevlingson and Call General Store began in 1898 and in 1912 built the corner store that today houses Dregne’s Scandinavian Gifts.

Twenty years after opening, Call was no longer involved, and Harold J. and Harold O. Stevlingson became sole owners of the business.

          Flugstad Hardware, a hardware business in Westby since 1890, was located next to the Stevlingson General Store.  The Flugstads bought out the Stevlingson business in 1942, and in 1975, David and Jana Dregne bought out the Flugstads.  The hardware business came to a close in 2000 to make room for a full line of Scandinavian gifts, year-round Christmas room and domestic giftware.

Dregne’s At a Glance

Where: 100 Main St., Westby, Wisconsin

Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday, with special holiday hours on Sundays.

Information: Call (608) 634-4414 or check online at www.DregnesScandinavianGifts.com