IDAHO FALLS, Idaho — A new retail operation in Idaho Falls is filling a gap that one local woman could not find anywhere else: a single destination where people with ADHD, autism, and related conditions can shop, learn, decompress, and connect with others who share similar experiences.
The store, Wandermind, is the brainchild of McKenzie Willmore, 35, a software project manager at the Idaho National Laboratory. Willmore said her journey toward opening the shop began after she received an ADHD diagnosis in her early thirties — a situation increasingly common among adult women, she noted, because the condition often presents differently in girls during childhood and goes unrecognized until later in life.
“It’s more common now that women are being diagnosed in my age group because the signs for ADHD are not the same for girls when they are younger,” Willmore said.
A Community Gap Becomes a Business Vision
Following her diagnosis, Willmore immersed herself in research about how the brain works and discovered the concept of neurodivergence — a non-medical umbrella term used to describe individuals whose brains process, learn, and function differently from what is considered neurotypical. The category encompasses those with ADHD, autism, dyslexia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, Asperger syndrome, and a range of other conditions.
The more she researched, the more Willmore realized she was searching for a physical place that did not yet exist in the Idaho Falls area — somewhere that combined relevant products, sensory resources, and community under one roof. That vision became Wandermind, now open at 549 Park Ave. in Idaho Falls.
The retail floor is stocked with books covering mental health, ADHD, autism, and anxiety. Sensory products — weighted blankets, fidget toys, play sand, and similar items — line the shelves alongside stress management tools. Journaling supplies and planners are also featured prominently. Willmore said research supports journaling as a particularly useful outlet for those with ADHD or autism, who often have a strong capacity for focused, deep engagement with topics that interest them.
“Journaling is a good tool for self-expression and kind of a stress relief tool,” Willmore said. “We also have planners, and I think planners and notebooks can be helpful.”
Sensory Rooms, Community Space, and Fingerboarding
Beyond the retail floor, Wandermind includes two additional rooms that set it apart from a conventional bookstore or gift shop. The first is a sensory regulation room with dimmed lighting, a galaxy-effect light that projects calming colors across the ceiling, and noise-canceling headphones — designed as a refuge for customers who feel overwhelmed by sensory stimulation.
The second is a community room equipped with puzzles, Lego sets, and magnetic building tiles that shoppers are free to use. Willmore said the space will also serve as a venue for events she plans to launch in June, including game nights, puzzle nights, and presentations from mental health professionals and occupational therapists.
The store has one more unexpected element: a dedicated fingerboarding room, carved out for her husband Jonny Willmore’s business, Tsunami Decks. Fingerboarding uses miniature skateboards controlled with the fingers to replicate full-scale skateboard tricks. The room reportedly houses five miniature skate parks. Jonny has been running the fingerboard company for roughly two years.
Because both McKenzie and Jonny hold full-time jobs during the week, Wandermind operates on a limited schedule. The store is open Thursdays from 4 to 6:30 p.m. and Fridays and Saturdays from 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.
What Comes Next
Willmore is working toward launching community events at Wandermind beginning in June, with programming aimed at bringing neurodivergent residents of the Idaho Falls area together in a low-pressure environment. Plans remain in development, but her stated goal is to eventually include guest speakers from the mental health and occupational therapy fields. Community members interested in the store can visit the location at 549 Park Ave. during its posted hours.
For other community news in the Idaho Falls area, including a local school’s fundraising effort for a fourth-grader battling aggressive brain cancer and last week’s National Peace Officer Memorial Day ceremony hosted in Idaho Falls, visit Bonneville County News.