Marilyn Staples has spent the past 30 years turning a former art supply store into a work of art — and one of the most popular stores in downtown Port Townsend.
The Green Eyeshade, housed in a modest building on Water Street, boasts one of the widest collections of kitchen and dining accessories on the North Olympic Peninsula, largely because of Staples’ management.
“I came in to serve coffee and cake on the store’s 10th anniversary, and I never left,” she said.
Staples and her husband, John, an Army chaplain stationed at Fort Lewis near Tacoma, bought a summer home in Discovery Bay in 1971 and moved to Port Townsend permanently in 1980 when he retired.
They still live in that house, an 1888 Victorian on the hill just above her shop. She can almost see it from her office.
They have three grown children, Peter, Ann and Cece, and three grandchildren, ages 26, 25 and 16.
Staples was born in Greenfield, Ohio, and moved many times with her Army husband. This is the longest time she’s lived in one place.
“It’s where I’ve truly settled,” she said. “It’s a wonderful place to live — there’s so much going on, arts, culture, restaurants. What’s not to like?”
Staples had no retail experience when she first ventured into the store in 1980, but when the previous co-owner, Dorine Edwards, asked her to develop a kitchen department in the art supply store, a career was born.
Ten years later, she had the chance to buy the store from the Edwardses.
Now, as the Green Eyeshade gets set to turn 40 in May, Staples reflected on what has contributed to the store’s success.
“Going into business is always a gamble,” she said. “It’s exciting and enjoyable –it’s scary sometimes, but it’s not dull.”
Staples shifted the focus from art supplies to “art of cooking” supplies, filling a void in Port Townsend shopping of the early 1980s.
Staples, 77, still works in the store five days a week, taking Tuesday and Wednesday off.
“I truly love my job,” she said. “I really enjoy interacting with people. I love to see them happy when they find something they’ve been looking for all over.”
Her cozy office is in a corner of the back of the building, reached by navigating through a back room stacked to the ceiling with inventory, from tea kettles to chef’s knives.
The store carries a wide variety of kitchen and dining supplies, including high-end cookware and knives and a colorful line of dishware from Italy.
“As far as I know, we are the only brick and mortar store in the U.S. that carries Bopla,” she said. “It’s a niche item.”
While her typical customer is age 30 and up and female, she sees a lot of young men who are interested in cooking too.
“They want quality knives and cookware,” she said.
Cooking shows like “The Iron Chef” have also contributed to an interest in cooking by men and even young boys, she said.
Staples said she tries to keep up with the latest trends in kitchen supplies and give people what they want — often after they’ve seen it on “Oprah.”
“It would be nice if she let us know in advance,” Staples joked.
It may seem like an odd combination, but the store also carries an extensive assortment of artistic jewelry.
Staples said that is a carryover from the previous owner, who also stocked jewelry. And she has her own reasons for continuing the tradition: “I just think people should look beautiful while they cook,” she said.
While the store is a popular stop for tourists, Staples said at least half her business is local customers or people from out of town who make it a point to stop in when they are in Port Townsend.
Staples said quality is important to her, and even though she can’t compete price-wise with the big box stores, she can provide a level of customer service that they can’t.
“We take care of our customers,” she said, whether that means special ordering or fancy gift wrapping.
Staples credits her staff with the store’s success, including manager Judy Rich, who has worked with her for 16 years.
Other members of the staff have worked there for 10 to 15 years; practically unheard of in the volatile retail market.
“Generally, people seem to stay,” she said.
Port Townsend merchants have long had to weather the downturn in business over the long winter months, but in 2008, they were also dealt a blow by the weakening economy.
“It’s been difficult,” Staples said. “It’s been quite a challenge.”
Port Townsend was also dealt a blow in 2009 when the Hood Canal Bridge was closed for repairs.
Mari Mullen, director of the Port Townsend Main Street Program, remembers how Staples stepped up to the challenge.
When Main Street launched a “Meet Me in Port Townsend” campaign, Staples drew the first spot as a featured store.
“She did it with such style,” Mullen said. “She has grace, elegance and business savvy.”
While Staples is a longtime business owner in downtown Port Townsend, she is not the only one. Many of the business on and surrounding Water Street are owned or co-owned by women.
Julie McCulloch, who owns Elevated Ice Cream with her husband, David, has been serving hand made ice cream for 32 years, while Marion Lodwick has sold toys for kids of all ages for 20 years at Abracadabra.
Jennefer Wood has operated the exotic Maestrale for 12 years, and Sue Arthur and her store manager Jean Schoessler have run Maricee clothing store for 27 years.
Staples said she has contemplated retirement but isn’t ready just yet.
“I know I can’t go on forever, even though I’d like to.”
Staples is a member of Port Townsend and East Jefferson County Soroptimist International, but said her favorite pastime is gardening.
“The store and gardening are my two great interests,” she said.
And what sort of kitchen does the queen of kitchen accessories have?
“That’s my dirty little secret,” she said. “People think I probably have this fabulous kitchen, but I don’t.
“My husband does all the cooking. I don’t cook.”
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Peninsula Woman Editor Marcie Miller can be reached at 360-417-3550 or marcie.miller@peninsuladailynews.com.