Photos by TERRY GRAHAM

Scott and Mylee Davies took over ownership of the Riley Store in July, and they have visions of expanding and improving the store, fuel station, and campground.

Scott Davies — along with his wife, Mylee, and two sons, Barrett and Wade — are the new owners of the Riley Store.

Davies took over the business in July 2022, with visions of expanding and making improvements to the convenience store, fuel station, and campground.

Davies graduated from Burns High School in 2017 and served a two-year mission for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. After his mission, Davies enrolled at the University of Montana Western in Dillon, Mont., where he played football and received an associate degree.

After college, Davies returned home to work on his family’s ranch, until purchasing the Riley Store from Dale and Pat Martin in July.

Davies expressed a tremendous amount of gratitude to the Martins for handing over the reins after owning the store for the past 24 years.
He also thanked the Martins for staying throughout the transition plan and the Riley community for supporting his business endeavor.

“We couldn’t have done it without the welcoming from Riley,” Davies said. “This community has been so nice and helpful.”

Davies noted that the transition to a commercial business of this nature will not come easy.

“This is a lot different than ranching,” he said. “I do miss my cows and my horses, but someday, I’ll get back into it.”

For now, Davies is focusing on ways to set his store apart.

He said, “Everybody has to have their ‘thing,’ you know. We’re trying to make our ‘thing’ the cheapest gas in the county.”

The gas in Riley was recently 9 cents cheaper than it was in Burns and Hines.

While the archery shop has always been a big part of Riley Store, Davies said he’d like to add guns and ammo to the mix.

He said, “My goal is not to go into direct competition with Harney County Sporting Goods or Spent Cartridge, but I do want to sell guns and ammo. I will try to sell it by the case.”

Davies said he also plans to add more auto parts, noting that his goal is to provide “everything you would need if you’re traveling or stranded.”

Visitors to the Riley Store will see other major changes as well.

Davies aims to remodel the convenience store by spring 2023. He also plans to offer a 24-hour fuel station with new pumps and a canopy and then renovate the campground.

“When the inside is done, the outside will be started,” Davies said. “By next spring, we’ll have septic and an RV dump and everything that comes with that.”

The next time you’re in the neighborhood, be sure to stop by the Riley Store to welcome new owners, Scott and Mylee Davies.