Two long-standing Coupeville business owners are putting it all on the line with a new partnership.

Beth Kuchynka, owner of bayleaf, said she didn’t think buying her building was possible when the complex went up for sale last year.

It wasn’t until Kuchynka and business neighbor Andreas Wurzrainer, owner of Christopher’s on Whidbey, were helping with a community fundraising in December that the idea sprouted.

Less than a year later, the two business owners created Courageous Adventures LLC and now share ownership of the commercial complex on the corner of Coveland and Alexander streets.

Kuchynka said she and Wurzrainer were helping the Soroptimist International of Coupeville with the Red Dress Ball early this year when Soroptimist member and Whidbey Island Bank manager Janice Vaughan asked why the pair weren’t buying their buildings.

“It was a lot to wrap our heads around,” Kuchynka said.

With the encouragement of Vaughan, real estate agent Janet Burchfield and building owners Doug and Mary Lu McFayden, Kuchynka and Wurzrainer moved forward with the idea.

Initially, the pair were unsure how to proceed.

“We both decided separately that we didn’t want to be landlords,” Kuchynka said.

Then they got the idea of joint ownership. The pair signed papers at the end of August, sealing the deal.

“It’s been a real community effort to make this happen,” said Wurzrainer. “It was all around a great transition from renters to owners.”

Both Kuchynka and Wurzrainer moved into the complex when it was first built in 2006. The move for Kuchynka and her gourmet food shop was an exciting one.

The shops started in 2000 in a small, 200-square-foot space below the current Oystercatcher. In 2006, the store expanded into a 400-square-foot space and then made the move into its current space.

Christopher’s was started in 1984, but Wurzrainer and his wife, Lisa, purchased the business in 2002. At the time, it was located in Mariner’s Court on Front Street.

Wurzrainer said he was approached in 2006 about moving into the new complex.

“We were able to have a say in interior design,” Wurzrainer said. “It was so nice because we had so much flexibility.”

Prior to the complex being built, the lot was vacant for years. Kuchynka and Wurzrainer said owner Doug McFayden worked really hard to build the corner up and make it nice.

“We love having a business in a town that has local support and that we’re able to help out with local nonprofits, like Soroptimists,” Kuchynka said.

In the end, it was that partnership that led them down this journey.

“I like to think we have really strong support in the community,” Wurzrainer said. “Anyone can succeed here in the summer months. The secret is to survive in the winters.

“Ultimately that’s what allowed us to take that next step.”