PORT TOWNSEND — There still might be hope for stopping the now impending closure of Aldrich’s Market in uptown Port Townsend, but owner Milton Fukuda said he’s not getting his hopes up just yet.
Fukuda announced the closure of Aldrich’s last week with a large sign in the store and even threw a farewell party with his staff Nov. 4.
Over the weekend, however, Fukuda said he might have found someone interested in purchasing the business, which could potentially keep the market open.
Fukuda declined to provide any further detail on the potential deal.
Fukuda stressed that nothing will be certain until Dec. 1 at the earliest.
Fukuda came out of retirement 10 years ago to take over Aldrich’s with the help of his wife, Renee, and son, Scott. According to Fukuda, the past 10 years weren’t easy.
In 2012, the family had to close the market for three weeks for a $2.5 million renovation to the historic building.
Fukuda said the next two years were better. They were able to turn a profit and now employ 20 people.
He said it was never really about the money, though.
“If money is what we were after then we failed,” Fukuda said.
“We’ve taken a lot of hits financially, but the reward is what we got back from the community.”
The family’s lease is set to expire Jan. 31, 2017, and the store will close with the expiration.
The family is not trying to renew the lease.
Aldrich’s Market has a 121-year history in Port Townsend, opening in 1895 and primarily selling school books, stationary and tobacco, as well as fruits and vegetables.
The market continued operating in Port Townsend, but the store was destroyed in 2003 due to a fire caused by kids playing with fireworks.
A newspaper clipping from that day hangs upstairs in Aldrich’s above one of the tables.
Thanks to community support, the store was rebuilt, and in 2007, it was leased to the Fukudas.
The family renovated the space, which now includes a basement; the first floor market and deli; and the mezzanine that houses the store offices, sushi bar and retail area.
Fukuda said that whatever happens, he and his family are proud of what they’ve done with the market and thankful to the community that supported them.
“The emotional reward of being a part of the community and preserving something historical, that’s a real meaningful thing to me,” Fukuda said. “That, to me, is the most important.”
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Jefferson County Editor/Reporter Cydney McFarland can be reached at 360-385-2335, ext. 55052, or at cmcfarland@peninsuladailynews.com.
