POULSBO — After years of working and living in Europe, the Gallegos family is finally all back at home in Little Norway to introduce a taste of their travels to local homes.

Seven-year Vinland residents Joe and Ruthie Gallegos recently opened Higuera Imports on Front Street between Gifts of Promise and Karen’s Gifts. The venture is the culmination of a dream of Ruthie’s that was made possible by what could have been a terrible turn for their lives.

After 26 years traveling around the world as a yacht captain and project manager for yachts under construction, Joe said he was beginning to miss being home with his family. They had moved to Holland while Joe oversaw yacht construction for Keith McCaw, when the cell phone billionaire suddenly died in 2002.

That’s when Joe decided to get out of yachts and start an import business with Ruthie.

“What was originally a sudden tragedy and change in our life turned into a great opportunity,” Ruthie commented. “It’s really nice that we have a family business.”

The bulk of Higuera Imports’ stock is hand-made Italian ceramics and volcanic stone tables. Other shops carry similar pieces but the Poulsbo outlet has one difference — they’re possibly the only such store in the United States with stock on hand.

“We researched the table industry in the United States and found that every store said, ‘Hand me your money and you’ll have a table in six months,’” Joe explained. “We decided that we’d deal with big volumes only. We only ship full containers four to five times a year.”

The items were something the couple had admired during their European travels. Joe said since pieces are hand-made and hand-glazed by individual artisans, they can take a long time to make. The tables alone take four to eight weeks each. And while the prices may seem a bit steep at first, Joe said Higuera’s are much lower than most American and Italian stores. That’s mainly due to the fact that the couple goes directly to the source, inspects the pieces, buys them and even packs the containers.

Also, Joe said, the price reflects the quality of the items — he calls them bulletproof, frost-proof, heat-proof and even bird-proof.

“In Italy, this is the kitchen wear,” Joe explained. “It is expected to be usable. When people buy these things, they expect to be able to pass them on to their children.”

Picking up a mug from one of his tables, Joe illustrated the statement by striking it against one of the tables. The thrashing left no mark on the table or mug.

“They’re amazingly tough. If you did that with a piece of ceramics from China, it would shatter,” he said.

Another successful business owner the Gallegoses credit in their venture is Jim Nordstrom, for whom Joe was a captain for some years. The couple hopes to use the same business approach as Nordstrom in allowing for easy returns and exchanges. Joe said they’ll also take custom orders and then let the customer see the item before they decide to take it home.

“We just don’t think it’s right for people to spend that kind of money up front for something they haven’t seen,” Joe said. “And the Italians make such beautiful things that we know someone else will buy it.”

Higuera also delivers within Washington State and will ship outside of the state.

And so far, in only a few weeks, the Gallegoses have seen the idea take off with shoppers. They’ve already sold several tables and taken orders for custom tables and tiles. Joe said it’s all part of a spirit of service and quality that sophisticated shoppers are looking for.

“Our goal is to bring something new and different to this region,” Joe said. “Poulsbo is changing. The people who are coming here are changing and I think Poulsbo needs to grow with the population. People are realizing they can move out of Seattle and have a beautiful place to live and they can still have the Seattle income. But they don’t want to go to Seattle to do their shopping.”

Higuera also stocks bamboo flooring from China and the unique drip-proof flowering candles, which melt into acrobatic shapes and can burn for hundreds of hours. The store will also soon add a line of teak furniture from Indonesia.By CARRINA STANTON

Staff Writer

POULSBO — After years of working and living in Europe, the Gallegos family is finally all back at home in Little Norway to introduce a taste of their travels to local homes.

Seven-year Vinland residents Joe and Ruthie Gallegos recently opened Higuera Imports on Front Street between Gifts of Promise and Karen’s Gifts. The venture is the culmination of a dream of Ruthie’s that was made possible by what could have been a terrible turn for their lives.

After 26 years traveling around the world as a yacht captain and project manager for yachts under construction, Joe said he was beginning to miss being home with his family. They had moved to Holland while Joe oversaw yacht construction for Keith McCaw, when the cell phone billionaire suddenly died in 2002.

That’s when Joe decided to get out of yachts and start an import business with Ruthie.

“What was originally a sudden tragedy and change in our life turned into a great opportunity,” Ruthie commented. “It’s really nice that we have a family business.”

The bulk of Higuera Imports’ stock is hand-made Italian ceramics and volcanic stone tables. Other shops carry similar pieces but the Poulsbo outlet has one difference — they’re possibly the only such store in the United States with stock on hand.

“We researched the table industry in the United States and found that every store said, ‘Hand me your money and you’ll have a table in six months,’” Joe explained. “We decided that we’d deal with big volumes only. We only ship full containers four to five times a year.”

The items were something the couple had admired during their European travels. Joe said since pieces are hand-made and hand-glazed by individual artisans, they can take a long time to make. The tables alone take four to eight weeks each. And while the prices may seem a bit steep at first, Joe said Higuera’s are much lower than most American and Italian stores. That’s mainly due to the fact that the couple goes directly to the source, inspects the pieces, buys them and even packs the containers.

Also, Joe said, the price reflects the quality of the items — he calls them bulletproof, frost-proof, heat-proof and even bird-proof.

“In Italy, this is the kitchen wear,” Joe explained. “It is expected to be usable. When people buy these things, they expect to be able to pass them on to their children.”

Picking up a mug from one of his tables, Joe illustrated the statement by striking it against one of the tables. The thrashing left no mark on the table or mug.

“They’re amazingly tough. If you did that with a piece of ceramics from China, it would shatter,” he said.

Another successful business owner the Gallegoses credit in their venture is Jim Nordstrom, for whom Joe was a captain for some years. The couple hopes to use the same business approach as Nordstrom in allowing for easy returns and exchanges. Joe said they’ll also take custom orders and then let the customer see the item before they decide to take it home.

“We just don’t think it’s right for people to spend that kind of money up front for something they haven’t seen,” Joe said. “And the Italians make such beautiful things that we know someone else will buy it.”

Higuera also delivers within Washington State and will ship outside of the state.

And so far, in only a few weeks, the Gallegoses have seen the idea take off with shoppers. They’ve already sold several tables and taken orders for custom tables and tiles. Joe said it’s all part of a spirit of service and quality that sophisticated shoppers are looking for.

“Our goal is to bring something new and different to this region,” Joe said. “Poulsbo is changing. The people who are coming here are changing and I think Poulsbo needs to grow with the population. People are realizing they can move out of Seattle and have a beautiful place to live and they can still have the Seattle income. But they don’t want to go to Seattle to do their shopping.”

Higuera also stocks bamboo flooring from China and the unique drip-proof flowering candles, which melt into acrobatic shapes and can burn for hundreds of hours. The store will also soon add a line of teak furniture from Indonesia.