A little drizzle didn’t dampen the excitement at a ceremony May 3 dedicating the Longhouse Market & Deli in Blyn. After two years of planning, the Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe held an open house with cake, coffee and fruit smoothies for the public before its “soft” opening on May 5. The buzz was uniformly positive as visitors filled the ample aisles. Tribal Council chairman Ron Allen was all smiles as he greeted well-wishers before inviting everyone to the dedication ceremony. Allen recognized and thanked members of the project’s planning team and construction contractors.

“The Jamestown S’Klallam Tribe is a proud people and we are proud to bring this to the community,” Allen said. “We see ourselves at the gateway to the Olympic Peninsula. This project is about our culture and a business, too. The properties we have are all a result of the pride and integrity of the Jamestown people.”

Tribal member Elaine Grinnell also noted the tribe’s reverence for its culture. “I know the ancestors are looking down and saying, ‘Now they’ve got it, they’ve really, really got it.’ I’m just so proud of all the things we’ve done and this is a wonderful tribute to the Jamestown S’Klallam’s culture.”

Patrick and Patsy Adams gave a blessing, honoring the four directions, and sang a ritual song.

“We are just very honored to be here to help make a difference in our community,” Allen said.

The Longhouse Market & Deli is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. In addition to traditional groceries, the 11,000-square-foot market offers fresh produce and seafood in season, a walk-in cigar humidor and tobacco shop, the Raven Wine and Spirits shop and the Harvest Deli, featuring healthy soups, salads and sandwiches. The site also has a six-dispenser Chevron fuel station.