The Port Gamble General Store has been operating in historic Port Gamble since 1916. On Aug. 2, the 103-year-old building welcomed its new owners — Juan and Ginny Carosso.

Former owners Kim Campbell and Erik Kleiva sold the business to the Carossos after many great years in Port Gamble. Please join all of us in Port Gamble thanking Kim and Erik for their contributions to the town over the years. We thank you and wish you the best in all your future ventures.

The Carossos have lived in Kingston for three years but have been visiting Port Gamble for years. In fact, Juan and Ginny tied the knot at St. Paul’s Church almost 20 years ago. Ginny has visited the General Store for many years as a customer. Juan comes from a technology background and is also an author and a podcast host.

His “At Your Best” book series and podcasts are designed to help folks build a great career and future in the skilled trades. Ginny has a passion for retail and has been working in the field since childhood. She most recently comes from Macy’s and Payless Shoes. She is also a board member for the Kingston Chamber of Commerce and Paws of Bainbridge Island & North Kitsap.

“I want the customer to think of this store as a treasure hunt,” she said. “When people come in, we want them to discover something new, exciting and different. We really want to focus on giving our customers the best service, a fun experience and lots of compelling product.

“We are going to expand gifts, toys and candy at the store, with a nod toward the vintage look and feel of the store. We are really trying to tell stories through our themed merchandise presentations,” Ginny added.

While speaking with Ginny, I noticed several new displays with authentic vintage items that would be seen at an old town General Store. I found myself looking all around to see what other treasures I would find. The Carossos are building up a nice sundries section where you can find all the last-minute items you need while on a road trip through — or to — Port Gamble.

“We are very excited about striving to provide all Washington-based beer, wine, gourmet foods, along with lotions and potions,” she said.

They are carrying on the tradition of great coffee from Olympic Roasting Company, along with ice cream, sandwiches, soup, cookies, pies and candy.

The Carossos will also be continuing the ever-popular Holiday Open House set for Nov. 9. “We are going to do our best to follow in the footsteps of Kim and Erik for the Holiday Open House event. We’re honored to be here and to take the store into the future,” Ginny said.

Stop in and say hello to Juan and Ginny Carosso as we welcome them to the Port Gamble business community. Be sure to visit them at www.portgamblegeneral store.com and follow them on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.

Paranormal Bootcamp 101 Comes to Port Gamble Sept. 13-14

Port Gamble and The League of Extra Sensory Gentleman invite you to join them for a weekend of paranormal education and intellect. Meet and learn from a gathering of some of the brightest minds in the Pacific Northwest paranormal community: Ben Robison, Casey Goodwin, Jay Verburg, Michael White and Neil McNeil. The classes will be held in the historic Franklin Lodge No. 5. The Poulsbo Inn is offering a lodging special of $92 a night for bootcamp attendees. Get all of the lodging information at www.portgamble paranormal.com/eventsandclass es.

Ready, Set, Ghost Walk

Ever wondered about the stories of the paranormal and Port Gamble? Want an inside look at what many consider to be Washington’s most haunted town?

Join paranormal investigator and researcher Pete Orbea for the annual season of ghost walks and special investigations. The first tours are September 27-28. Tours run every Friday and Saturday in October. There will also be a special Halloween Ghost Walk on Halloween night and attendees are encouraged to dress up. Please note: organizers say that paranormal activity and experiences often occur during the tour. Are you ready?

The Port Gamble Ghost Walk Tour runs from 7-10 p.m. and starts at the Port Gamble Historic Museum (entrance located at the back of the Port Gamble General Store building).

The tour includes visits to the museum, post office building, old town morgue, Buena Vista Cemetery, as well as the Walker-Ames House. Learn about the history of Port Gamble and its storied history of the paranormal while getting to experience what it’s like to investigate the paranormal.

Attendees should bring a flashlight and dress for the weather. “Ghost hunting” equipment is also encouraged. Some tools of paranormal research are also provided at the tour.

Tickets are $25 per person and for ages 16 and older. For a full list of tour dates, investigation dates and prices, visit www.portgambleparanormal.com. Be sure to check out the evidence page, as well where you’ll find audio clips from paranormal investigations in Port Gamble and Kingston.

Port Gamble Museum open through September, closes for fall/winter

Take a step back in time in one of Kitsap County’s best little museums located underneath the Port Gamble General Store & Café.

The museum is open weekly from noon until 5 p.m., Friday-Sunday. See authentic exhibits showcasing items from the longest running sawmill in U.S. history.

You will get a sense of what life was like in the mid to late 1800s Port Gamble. A favorite exhibit is the Puget Hotel display that houses items and even the same wallpaper from the one-time 5-star hotel that stood in Port Gamble from 1903-1963.

The Puget Hotel was a beautiful building that was severely damaged in the 1962 Columbus Day Storm. The building was literally twisted off its foundation with all the utilities ripped out of the walls, ultimately leading to its demise in 1963.

Come and enjoy all the wonderful exhibits in September before the museum closes its doors for the fall and winter, reopening in May 2020. The Port Gamble Historic Museum is available for private group tours perfect for schools, historical societies and senior groups. For admission details and private tour information, give us a call at 360-297-8074 or visit www.portgamble.com/museum.

Stay in touch

You can stay up to date with activities and happenings at Port Gamble by subscribing to the monthly Port Gamble e-newsletter at www.portgamble.com. For more information about the e-newsletter, contact the events office at 360-297-8074 or at port gamble@orminc.com. Stay up to date by viewing our 2019 calendar of events at www.portgamble.com or the Port Gamble page on Facebook and posts on Instagram and Twitter.