black and white illustrated image of Nordland General Store

Historical photo of Nordland General Store in 1922

A Local Store-y

The Nordland General Store traces its roots back to 1922, when brothers Elmer and Harry Johnson began operating a small trading post from the shores of Mystery Bay on Marrowstone Island. A ferry boat brought island-produced eggs and poultry, vegetables, and strawberries to the markets of Port Townsend and Seattle in exchange for dry goods and animal feed for Islanders. The store became the heart and soul of our community.

More recently, Tom and Sue Rose owned the store and worked hard to carry on the community legacy. Sadly, in November of 2020, we lost our beloved general store to a fire. Thanks to generous donations by many community members, the Rose’s repaired the structure and readied it for the next occupant as they prepared to retire.

Three years after the fire, we can finally announce that the next Nordland General Store will be owned and operated by our community.

Thanks to the early financial investments of many islanders, we will be reopening the general store as a community-owned and operated business. The Nordland General Store will once again be the heart and soul of our community!

And, like the generations of Johnsons who still live on Marrowstone Island, we intend to be here for our community for the long-haul. Won’t you join our store family?

Won’t you join our store family?

Join Today

Our Next Steps

Our vision for the store today includes a commitment to local farmers, producers and makers, as well as a commitment to stock the specialty and convenience items our residents and visitors depend upon.

The store is currently a blank canvas and we are excited to start building out the space and stocking the shelves with items we know residents and visitors will love.

OUR store will soon be filled with your favorite wines and beer, ice cream, cheeses, prepared foods and baked goods. We will have an area that celebrates local makers and a corner that recognizes our community members. From Mystery Bay goat cheese and The Grainery bread to Marrowstone Vineyards wines and Nordland General Store merchandise, we will create an exciting shopping experience for all.

Four men with tape measure working inside a blank slate general store.

side of building with vintage posters for alaskan seafood and save gas promotions

Our Community. Our Store.

We are a community-owned and operated store. It all starts and ends with you—with us. If we want the Nordland General Store to come alive and exist for many years to come, we each need to play a role.

The store is registered with the State of Washington as a Cooperative Corporation. We are offering lifetime member shares for $250 per household. Every member will be an owner of the store and will be able to vote for the store’s Board of Directors. Each member can also purchase preferred shares to further support the store financially. Preferred shares may offer small dividends, but the real dividend is in knowing you helped the store reopen and become the vibrant center of our island.

Throughout the year the store will offer member-only deals, discounts and special opportunities.

Note that you do not have to be a member to shop and connect at the store! Everyone is welcome!

Learn more about membership

Polar Bear Dip 2016. Line of people on dock waiting to jump into cold water. Bright blue sky.

Our Values

We value our beautiful island and all of the natural habitats we are so lucky to enjoy – from Mystery Bay to East Beach, from Kinney Point State Park to Fort Flagler State Park, from Kilisut Harbor to the Admiralty Inlet.
We value and honor the S’Klallam and Chemakum people and their continuing stewardship of the lands and waters of our small, lovely piece of the Salish Sea.
We value our community and all of the amazing people who call Marrowstone Island home, for a day, or for many generations. The rewards of community service and community connection are what drive us.
We value our local farmers and producers and makers. We celebrate their hard work, creativity and craftsmanship.
We value fair, ethical and sustainable business practices.
We value kindness.

Join us and let’s rebuild our beloved Store!

become a member today

Our Team

Patti Buckland

FLAGLER ROAD
Favorite Marrowstone Past-times: Kayaking in Kilisut Harbor. Morning walks in Fort Flagler. Crabbing in Oak Harbor. Watching wildlife. Beach walking to Nodule Point. Feeding friends and neighbors.
Community Connections: Board Member Friends of Fort Flagler, Salmon Coalition volunteer, Midori Farm Work Trade volunteer
Previously Important Positions: Small business consultant and owner, corporate marketing and finance and high school math teacher. University of Wisconsin, accounting/finance, CPA, Northwestern marketing MBA, University of Chicago Masters Urban Education.
Barcy Fisher

GRIFFITH POINT ROAD
Favorite Marrowstone Past-times: Walking the Fort Flagler trails. Kayaking in Kilisut Harbor. Watching my son skim-board on East Beach. Eating ice cream on the porch of the General Store.
Community Connections: Former Jefferson Community Foundation Advisor, Friends of Fort Flagler Volunteer, Sunfield Farm School Parent Council, Jefferson County Soccer Club VP, Jefferson Land Trust Tides to Timberline Course Participant, LION Member
Previously Important Positions: Stanford University BA, Motorola project manager, University of Washington MBA, GoodThings.com CEO, Business consultant, Philanthropy advisor, Angel investor
Carol Gonnella

BEACH ROAD
Favorite Marrowstone Past-times: Getting together with the amazing residents of this island, kayaking in Oak Bay and under our new bridge, walking Indian Island’s Lagoon Beach and Fort Flagler, bike riding….especially now that she is the proud owner of an electric one.
Community Connections: Past MICA Board President, started “In Our Midst” for MICA.
Previously Important Positions: Retired attorney. After years of a litigation practice, specialized in estate planning, which in addition to a full-time practice, evolved into teaching planning techniques to attorneys nationally. Presently on the board of the Cross Charitable Foundation.
John Gonnella

BEACH ROAD
Favorite Marrowstone Past-times: Anything that gets him out on the water. Kayaking, rowing, harvesting oysters, crabbing and most of all sailing. Circling the wagons often with amazing friends and neighbors, who love this island as he does.
Community Connections: Past tutor in AAUW reading program. Past MIF board member, current FOFF board member. Volunteer EMT first responder with EJFR, CPR/AED/first aid instructor to our island Community for the past five years.
Previously Important Positions: Father of two amazing children who in spite of their up-bringing turned out ok. Restaurant owner in Jackson Wyoming for 22 years. Volunteer EMT in Wyoming.
Jacob Nachel

FLAGLER ROAD
Favorite Marrowstone Past-times: Morning runs at Fort Flagler, beach walks at East Beach, waiting in the spring for the swallows to return, and waiting in the fall for the buffleheads.
Community Connections: Manager at Chimacum Corner Farmstand, seasonal hay bucker at Mystery Bay Farm.
Previously Important Positions: Farm worker in Oregon, Colorado, California, Nevada, and Washington. Farm educator in Nevada. Great Basin Food Co-op sustainability coordinator and department manager, DROPP food hub advisor, and all-around advocate for local independent food systems everywhere.
Tina Podlodowski

GRIFFITH POINT ROAD
Favorite Marrowstone Past-times: Biking the island loop and Fort Flagler trails. Hauling crab pots in PT Bay. Fresh oysters on the fire pit, friends all around. Mornings on the deck with Marrowstone Farms goat cheese on Pan d'Amore bread with Sunrise Coffee in my cup.
Community Connections: 15+ year island resident. Working with the Marrowstone Island Foundation to bring accessible biking and walking trails for all.
Previously Important Positions: Technology Executive. Executive Director at non-profits large and small. Manager for a global communications company. Local elected official.
Linda Secord

FLAGLER ROAD
Favorite Marrowstone Past-times: Beach walking, especially at extremely low tides; happy hour on our deck with friends, on Orca lookout; gathering with other islanders for the Christmas tree lighting; annual Strawberry festival; sleeping in our magical treehouse!
Community Connections: Vice-president and President of Marrowstone Island Community Association (MICA) from 2019 until June 2023. Occasional FOFF volunteer (behind the scenes!)
Previously Important Positions: University of Washington MHA; health-care administrator and organizational development consultant; leadership training and coach; group team building and retreat facilitation; occasional writer; shamanic practitioner
Brian Waldera

FORT GATE ROAD
Favorite Marrowstone Past-times: Relatively new to Marrowstone, but I love crabbing, clamming, and farming oysters. Kayaking and boating are very enjoyable. Love watching porch TV with all the wildlife.
Community Connections: My partner’s family has been here since 1974 and we like meeting our neighbors on Griffith Point Road and Fort Gate Road. Some days you may see me on the side of the road picking up trash.
Previously Important Positions: IT Operations (PGA Tour), IT Operations (GE Healthcare), Major Incident Manager & IT Project Manager, (NBC Universal)