By Brenda Hanrahan Peninsula Daily News
PORT ANGELES — Swain’s General Store will celebrate its 58th anniversary and grand reopening Saturday.
Managers of the store at 602 E. First St. plan an array of activities, including a portable children’s fishing pond, celebrity appearances, a catered barbecue and a chance to win thousands of dollars in prizes during an in-store drawing.
“We wanted to do something really special to celebrate this milestone, so we planned an event that will be fun for all ages,” said Don Droz, Swain’s manager.
“The June 6 event encourages people to come to Swain’s to shop for some great deals but also to be part of a community celebration.”
The celebration will start at 8 a.m., when a portable fishing pond stocked with 200 rainbow trout will open for free fishing to children 10 and younger.
The pond will be located in Swain’s east parking lot and will be open to fishing until 1 p.m.
“We partnered with the Puget Sound Anglers’ North Olympic Peninsula chapter to make this possible,” said Mike Mudd, Swain’s merchandise manager.
“Fishing poles will be provided, and members of the group and our staff will be on hand to teach children how to clean their catch so their family can take it home to cook for dinner.
“The Lower Elwha Klallam fish hatchery is supplying the water for the pond.”
Big Horn BBQ & Grill of Port Angeles will sell breakfast and lunch items from 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. in Swain’s parking lot.
“If you spend $50 or more at Swain’s between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. on June 6, Swain’s will buy your breakfast or lunch,” Mudd said.
“Lunch coupons — a $9 value — will be handed out at the cash register and must be used by 3 p.m. on June 6.”
Inside the recently renovated store, people will have a chance to meet reality television star Mick Dodge and Pat Neal, a local fishing guide, Peninsula Daily News columnist and KSQM 91.5 radio host.
The two men will be available for autographs, photos and discussions between 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. Neal also will sign and sell copies of his books.
Dodge is the star of the National Geographic Channel show “The Legend of Mick Dodge,” which highlights his love of the Olympic Mountains and Hoh Rain Forest.
Neal is a writer, radio personality and fishing guide for salmon and steelhead on North Olympic Peninsula rivers.
Neal has penned more than 700 newspaper columns that combine history, humor and the wild and woolly life of a river guide.
He writes the “Wilderness Gossip Column” for the PDN, hosts the “Pat Neal Wildlife Radio Show” and provides the “Swain’s Fishing Report” on KSQM-91.5 in Sequim.
A highlight of the event will be a drawing for more than 36 prizes valued from $40 to $500. In total, there will be $8,400 worth of goods and gift cards awarded.
“People can enter the drawing any time between 8 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.,” Mudd said.
“But unlike other store drawings, people must be present to win.
“We wanted to create a personal and exciting atmosphere for the drawing. It will be fun to experience the crowd’s excitement as prizes are handed out.”
Part of the celebration is to thank customers for their patience and support during Swain’s remodeling process, which allowed Swain’s to expand into the former Pacific Refrigeration building.
“When Pacific Refrigeration owner Dave Hassel decided to retire last year, we were able to add 4,300 square feet of retail space,” said Ryan Gedlund, who owns Swain’s along with his siblings, Aaron Gedlund and Kasey Welch.
Construction started in spring 2014, and the renovated portion of the building opened in late October.
“The expansion has opened the store up and made for a better shopping experience for our customers,” Droz said.
“It also allowed us to bring in new lines and expand our product offerings in every department.”
In 1957, Ryan Gedlund’s grandparents Cliff and Bee Swain opened Cliff Swain Sales, a 7,000-square-foot store.
The store featured military surplus hardware and fishing gear. Since then, the store has undergone several expansions.
“We’ve tried not to change too much, but growing is good,” Ryan Gedlund said.
Gedlund and his siblings took over ownership of the store following the 2011 death of their mother, Rebecca Swain.
“Our family has been blessed with great customers and wonderful longtime employees,” he said.
“Swain’s would not have made it to 58 years without these two things.
“We hope everyone will come to Swain’s on June 6 to celebrate with us.”
