PORT TOWNSEND – Papers signed Wednesday transfer ownership of Aldrich’s Market to the Fukuda family of Port Townsend and Sequim, who were to begin running the historic landmark today.
The sale makes Scott Fukuda “principal owner and workhorse” and his parents, Renee and Milt, the fourth owners of the neighborhood market with roots back to 1895.
The former owners, David Hamilton and Jonathan Wyreck, who oversaw the rebuilding effort of the store after a fire leveled the market in 2003, said they believe they have found new owners who will maintain the essence of the store that is a Port Townsend institution.
“We couldn’t be happier about who are going to be the new stewards of the store,” said Hamilton.
He said he realized early on that the Fukudas realized the market was bigger than whoever owns it; that it really belongs to the neighborhood.
