ABSAROKEE — There’s an old gambler’s expression: come big or stay home.

Danelle DeSaveur took the “come big” approach.

Two years ago, she had an epiphany.

“I’d been doing hair for eight years and needed a larger place. Several of my acquaintances were expanding their businesses and needed more space. I thought, why not share a place and complement each another?”

The seed for Chaos Corner was planted.

Now, the converted gas station holds five separate endeavors: DeSaveur’s salon, An Upper Cut; Shannon Zugaza’s handmade soaps, candles and more, Rosebud Crafters; Celeste Barnett’s graphic design, photo and print shop, X Hangin’ X Creative; Ginger Barnett’s café, Ginger’s Coffee Corral; and Bill Peterson’s massage center.

The enterprise opened on Halloween to an enthusiastic crowd, thrilled to find so many options in a single spot. “We’re Absarokee’s first mini-mall,” said DeSaveur, who purchased the building and engineered the remodeling. “We couldn’t have done it without our families.”

Spouses, fathers and friends cut expenses by doing the tear down and renovation, hiring only for plumbing and electrical work.

DeSaveur’s father, Dan Hanson, and husband, Shon, were instrumental in making the dream a reality, she says. “We gutted the place. I gave a lot of thought to traffic flow.”

Sensibly, the coffee shop is front and center, so visitors can sip a latte or enjoy a sandwich before browsing. (There’s also a drive-up window.) Across from the café is the print, photo, gift and copy store. Moving through an archway, the craft shop and salon share a large space with benches to relax between appointments. The massage parlor is toward the rear, the quietest area in the complex.

Although the place doesn’t offer day care, youngsters are welcome. There are colorful, kid-friendly play areas and toys, and older children can entertain themselves while mom, dad or a grandparent has a massage, haircut or pedicure, lunches with friends, orders a custom Christmas card, checks e-mail or shops for the holidays.

An Upper Cut is a full-service salon for men, women and children, with coloring, perms, manicures, pedicures and waxings. DeSaveur also sells flashy purses.

Rosebud Crafts showcases fragrant buttermilk soaps and soy candles made by Zugaza, who also offers custom gift baskets and delivery.

Peterson, a registered nurse, worked at St. Vincent for years. He is a certified massage therapist specializing in Oriental body work, hot-stone massage and deep tissue work. His artist wife decorated his studio in an attractive Asian motif.

X Hangin’ X Creative offers printing, copying, lamination, a UPS drop, digital photo kiosk, wireless Internet, art supplies, posters, banners and decals. Celeste Barnett, the endeavor’s unofficial public relations director, had been a graphic designer for 10 years, freelancing since moving to Absarokee four years ago.

Her mother-in-law owns the coffee shop and café, and Ginger Barnett mixes it up with daily lunch and breakfast specials, cookies, popcorn, candy and a full line of coffee specialties, smoothies and other homemade goodies. Folks will recognize the cheery veteran waitress from her 30 years at the Cowboy and Grizzly bars.

Each of the partners is excited at the collaboration and DeSaveur’s “personality pairing.”

Says DeSaveur, “We all get along and encourage one another. I gave a lot of thought to the individuals before inviting them. We are all very compatible.”

For Celeste Barnett, who shares Zugaza’s Butte roots, “This is a mining town. There are lots of bored wives looking for diversions, something fun to do. We’re it!”

Says her mother-in-law, Ginger: “I suppose every waitress wants her own place someday. I’d been thinking of this venture when Danelle approached me.” (The two have been friends for nine years.) She is excited about her daily specials, including an “SLT” featuring Spam.

And the massage angle? Peterson says he was “walking down the street looking for a place when I heard talk of Danelle looking for a massage therapist in her new complex.” Quickly, he signed on.

Recovering from a serious fall, Zugaza had been making her soaps and candles out of her house during recuperation. “This is tailor-made for my talents and interests,” she says. “We’re having fun. People come in for lunch, then have a spa-shopping day. They love the scent of the candles and soaps.”

The elbow grease of loved ones gave an edge in converting the 2,200-square-foot space. Even the handsome sign is “family made” — by Celeste’s father, Terry Durden. “It’s a real Montana family project, and we all live right here in Stillwater County.”

According to DeSaveur, early reaction is “terrific.”

“We are filling a need. People were driving to other towns — Billings, Columbus, Absarokee — to get some of the services and products we offer. Now it’s all right here. People seem to like the combination.”

And when winter segues to spring and then Beartooth summer, Chaos Corner will sport a patio for outdoor eating, a fenced-in yard for more kid play, and a hitching post so you can ride on up and give your horse a rest.