PORT TOWNSEND — The Quimper Mercantile Co. has hired a store manager and is projecting a September opening for the new retail outlet.
Sheldon Spencer, a California resident who owns a home on Marrowstone Island, will begin work for the publicly owned general merchandise store June 25.
“Hiring a store manager to focus full time on opening is a critical piece, and we are extremely excited to have Sheldon joining us,” said Chief Executive Officer Peter Quinn. The new store will open in the old Swain’s Outdoors location at 1121 Water St. in Port Townsend.
The Quimper Mercantile Co., also known as QMC, was formed after Swain’s Outdoors closed in February 2011, with the goal of replacing the general merchandise store.
The plan is for it to offer many of the goods not readily available at other stores in Port Townsend.
Quinn also has announced that the company has sold just under $500,000 in stock and is continuing in its efforts to raise a total of $950,000.
Quinn said the company has enough to open the store, but selling more stock would allow it to offer a wider range of products.
“Virtually every dollar we raise from now on will either purchase additional inventory or allow us to add services,” Quinn said.
Spencer’s retail management experience came primarily as owner and operator of Valley Sporting Goods in Modesto, Calif.
After working for the firm since 1978, he and his wife, Sandy, then owned and operated the company for more than 11 years.
The store was more than three times the size of QMC, with 50 employees, Quinn said.
It stocked many of the same lines QMC intends to carry, he added.
Spencer said he and his wife have owned a home on Marrowstone Island for the past eight years and had planned to move there at some point.
“The opportunity to join Quimper Mercantile was just what we needed to complete our move here,” he said.
The new store will open in a 15,700-square-foot portion of the old Swain’s Outdoors location at 1121 Water St.
Those who have purchased stock will receive their certificates in the next few weeks, according to a letter sent this week to the 690 stockholders from Chief Financial Officer Marty Gay.
For more information or a copy of the prospectus, phone 360-379-4693 or visit www.quimpermerc.com.
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Jefferson County Reporter Charlie Bermant can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at charlie.bermant@peninsuladailynews.com.