On the shores of Mud Bay, a new business: Bay Mercantile

Kariann Pettibone, who grew up in Seattle, had never set foot in Olympia until recently.

She was, of course, familiar with the city because she remembers driving through it on the way to the beach with her mother.

Years later, Pettibone found herself at a crossroads. She used to run her own house-cleaning business, with a goal of one day attending law school. Instead, she learned of a family in the Seattle area that needed a nanny, so she signed up for the job and spent the next 17 years with that family, eventually rising to manage the household.

Once the children were old enough, Pettibone embarked on the next stage of her life. She spent 18 months searching for a new home, still wanting to be within two hours of Seattle. She considered La Conner, Whidbey Island, Harstine Island and Shelton.

But her final choice of destination was Olympia.

“This is it,” she said. “I’m not going anywhere else.”

Pettibone has also opened a business, smitten with a location along Mud Bay, across from Buzz’s Tavern. In fact, she was at the tavern when she looked across the street and was so curious about the property that she finally bought it. Three buildings are on site, including one that is home to her new business: Bay Mercantile.

The business opened the week before Christmas. It sells a little bit of everything. It has specialty food, locally made jewelry, home furnishings — including mirrors that Pettibone has made — plus wine, craft beer and a selection of nautical-themed items such as glass floats. In a nod to the history of the area, she also sells fresh clams and oysters.

It’s also an acknowledgment of the previous owner of the property, she said. A man named Lewis Huston, according to the Thurston County Assessor’s Office, owned the property for years and developed a reputation for harvesting oysters in the area and selling them. A barber occupied the site before Pettibone bought it.

Meanwhile, behind the business is scenic Mud Bay. The back deck looks over the waterfront as well as a fire pit and outdoor seating area. The business has already hosted a private event and Pettibone wants to do more of them, she said.

“Here I am and here’s where I want to stay,” Pettibone said.

This story was originally published April 30, 2016 at 8:06 AM with the headline "On the shores of Mud Bay, a new business: Bay Mercantile."