From Dry Goods to Downtown Icon
Cabona’s has been part of Truckee’s story since 1906, when Dave Cabona opened a Dry Goods Emporium stocked with everything mountain life required—fishing tackle, gasoline, tires, and general provisions. As the town evolved, so did we—trading in rubber and reels for flannel and fashion, bringing a touch of style to Sierra living.
We like to think we’ve been helping locals and visitors dress well for mountain life ever since.
Today, Cabona’s is the oldest retail store in the region and a trusted source for high-quality, casual clothing from brands like Kuhl, Pendleton, Tommy Bahama, Bugatchi, and OluKai. We offer timeless style with a friendly, personal touch—true to our roots.
Rooted in Community
Cabona’s has always believed in giving back. We support over 30 local nonprofits, including Tahoe Forest Hospice Thrift Store, Truckee River Watershed Council, Mountain Area Preservation Foundation, Humane Society of Truckee-Tahoe, and the Rotary Clubs of Truckee and Tahoe City.
We’re proud to be part of this community—and even prouder to help it thrive.
Have questions or want to say hello? We’d love to hear from you. Better yet, stop by our store the next time you’re in downtown Truckee. We’ve got a century of style waiting for you.
Honoring Cabona’s Over 100 Years
Cabona’s is the oldest retail establishment in Truckee/Tahoe region.
Founded by Dave Cabona in 1906, its early beginnings started as a general store catering to the workers of Truckee and those that enjoyed the great outdoors. In 2018, the store celebrated its 100-year anniversary, where it still operates in its original location and is run by the same family.
In the early days, Cabona’s had an extensive sporting goods department that was run by Dave’s best friend, Elton “Slim” Ellert, at that time considered the finest fly fisherman on the Truckee River. The store sold fishing tackle, fishing and hunting licenses, and Slim’s well-known custom made bamboo rods and flies. Cabona’s enthusiasm for the Truckee River and all it offered was very evident.
In fact, on a regular basis, you would find a bucket of ice in Cabona’s front window displaying the local trout caught in the Truckee River that day. Demonstrating that if you bought your fishing tackle from Cabona’s, this is what you could catch.
Even the local Judge Smith ran his office inside the store. The safe, he used to hold all of his legal documents, still sits there today. It was the rumor that Dave always kept a considerable amount cash on hand in that safe. The store included a well-stocked men’s departement that supplied those working in the mill and railyard with jeans, boots, shirts, and gloves.
As time went on, they sold appliances, furniture, linoleum, tires and at one point even installed a gas pump out front.
When Dave married Ametta Kaer, her influence brought in women’s and children’s garments, fabric, and notions. After Rossarini’s, a clothing store down the street closed they expanded their offerings.
Dave was born on July 9th, 1886 in Sierra City, California; his father and mother were from the Liguria region of Italy. He had lived in Truckee since he was a boy.
Dave loved animals, especially dogs, which would accompany him to work every day and stay by his feet. He was a businessman who loved his community and was known to be very active in political affairs. He was one of the original members of the committee for the Pioneer Monument, erected to honor the immigrants who passed through Truckee en route to new opportunities in the West.
Some even rumored he had a lot of connections, and you needed to “ask Dave” about anything or before you did anything in town, including an ‘in’ with the sheriff down in Nevada County.
His wife, Ametta, commented that she thought he was a man ahead of his time. He believed that all women should be respected and should be self-sufficient, including the women of the night that worked on Jibboom Street.
Over the years, Dave’s general store evolved into a men’s, women’s clothing store catering to locals and visitors. Cabona’s has become a family tradition. Almost daily, clients share fond memories of how they used to shop in Cabona’s with their mothers and grandparents. The store continues to be a vital part of the Truckee community. Just as Dave had envisioned it. While Dave passed in 1947, today, Stefanie Olivieri, Ametta’s daughter, is proud to continue the legacy he started.
