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Business Spotlight: Pacific Coast Candy

Thu, 24 Feb 2022 19:23:47 GMT

Since she was a little girl, Leslie Batdorf dreamed of owning a candy store. On May 1, 2021, that dream came true when Leslie and her husband John opened Pacific Coast Candy in Pacific City.

Located at 34950 Brooten Rd in the Village Shops, this bright, colorful shop is filled with bulk candies of all kinds, Tillamook ice cream, saltwater taffy, chocolates, gourmet popcorn, retro candies, and a very helpful, friendly staff in Jocelyn and Diania.

Five years ago when John and Leslie purchased a home in Pacific City, they thought a candy and ice cream store would be a great addition to their town, and rather than wait for someone else they jumped in.

And by jump in, I mean they did their research. They traveled the Oregon coast with their kids looking at what other stores offered, deciding what they wanted their store to look like and offer, and be.

John is the candy connoisseur in the family and does the ordering. As most business owners can relate to, this has not always been easy with the supply chain issues and delays of the past years.

There is excitement in her voice when Leslie talks about plans for the shop’s future; many of which include involvement in the Pacific City area community; partnerships with local hotels, Dory Days, Halloween, and Sip n Shops.

They carry a number of Oregon-made products now and are continuing to source more. Leslie has more than an idea or two up her sleeve for items she would like to make herself in the future.

The hot chocolate bombs are Leslie’s creation and they are as delicious as they are beautiful. I have tried making them myself and it’s harder than it looks. Not to mention that mine looked nothing like those sold at Pacific Coast Candy!

The support of the community has been amazing and Leslie and John look forward to their One -Year Anniversary celebration on April 30th – May 1st. I have it on good authority that John has been honing his skills for something special during their celebration, that you won’t want to miss.

When asked what advice they would give to someone considering opening a business, Leslie responds with an enthusiastic “Take the risk and try to make it happen! Life is short!” Followed by the advice not to “gamble what you don’t have”, and “do your research”.

Current hours are Friday-Saturday, 11am – 6pm; Sunday-Monday, 11am – 5pm. They will be open daily during Spring Break and for the Summer, starting in mid-June. They can be reached at 503-483-1250.

Business Spotlight: Wild Manzanita

Wed, 28 Jul 2021 08:54:15 GMT

Wild Manzanita owner Natasha Stevens wears a lot of hats. She is cook, baker, bookkeeper, barista and more of this deli, grocery store, coffee shop, and community hang out.

Business Spotlight: Maack Dairy Farm

Thu, 24 Jun 2021 18:31:56 GMT

Tucked into a beautiful little spot, about halfway between Pacific City and Cloverdale is the Maack Dairy and Mary’s Salon. Owners Ray and Mary Maack hosted me for a visit one afternoon and we discussed how they met, raising children, family histories and of course farming.

Ray is a 5th generation farmer. An aerial photo of his family’s farm is above. Settling in Cloverdale with a herd of 35, they milked in a flat barn. Over the years, as most farmers do, they’ve added on, made improvements, and tried new things. They transitioned to parlor milking and then in 2007 they transitioned to organic farming

Their most recent upgrade has been the move in May of this year to robotic milking using the Galaxy system. There are a few others farms in Tillamook County who have transitioned to robotic milking systems as well, but this was my first time seeing them in use.

Ray did the majority of the work to prepare their farm for the robotic milking. Daughter, Gina, a welder, has had her hand in the farm as well. When the upgrade was done to the milking parlor, she did the welding.

This is Mary’s first foray into farming. When she’s not doing farm work, Mary is working in her hair salon that is located in their home.

But it seems she starts and ends her long days with farm work.

Mary’s salon is a reflection of her . . . tidy and organized and filled with family history.

She has made it wheelchair accessible to accommodate anyone who needs that, and has been known to give her clients a farm tour after their hair appointment.

This is a resourceful, close-knit, hard-working family!

Farm hand, Jacob, is never far away . . . milking, retrieving new born twin calves, gathering eggs, feeding cows . . . those are just the jobs I saw during the few hours I was on the farm.

Despite having been discouraged from pursuing this work and life, Ray does it with commitment and humor, and pride. And long hours!

Our conversation often included the demands of farming, the non-stop work, the fact that cows and farming don’t care that it’s your anniversary or Christmas or your child’s school play.

Ray says, “A mountain is as steep as you want to make it”.

And he returned to work.

Thank you Ray and Mary, for sharing a part of your day with me. It was just what I needed to remind me why Tillamook County, and the people who live here, are special.