The heart of Uptown
since 1895.
Fresh produce, local meats, a full bakery and the same corner of Lawrence Street that's fed Port Townsend for more than 125 years. Come see what six families of owners - and one whole town - have kept alive.
Washington's oldest grocery store didn't survive this long on its own.
Aldrich's opened in 1895, when Clark Aldrich bought a small variety store from Robert Gray on the corner of Lawrence and Tyler streets. Back then it sold school books, stationery, tobacco, and a little fruit and candy on the side - the kind of everything-shop a growing seaport town needed.
The store has changed hands only a handful of times since, and it has never really belonged to any one owner. In 2003, a fire destroyed the building entirely. Uptown grieved the loss of the oldest grocery store in the state - and then rebuilt it, together, reopening two years later busier than before.
Today Aldrich's is run by the Ligtenberg siblings - Rachel, Christa, and Yos - who bought and reopened the market in 2020 after it closed during the pandemic. They're the sixth family to carry it forward, and they're doing it the same way it's always worked: local growers on the shelves, familiar faces behind the counter, and a front porch where neighbors still stop to talk.
Keep the corner store standing.
Aldrich's has survived fire, recessions, and a pandemic because this town has shown up for it every time. If you'd like to help fund building upkeep, local-vendor programs, and the next 125 years, a donation goes straight back into Uptown.
Support Aldrich'sClark Aldrich purchases a variety store from Robert Gray at Lawrence & Tyler streets - books, tobacco, and produce for a young Port Townsend.
Ownership passes hand to hand over the decades, and Aldrich's grows into the everyday grocery hub of the Uptown business district.
A fire destroys the building. The community mourns the loss of Washington's oldest grocery store - and immediately begins raising it back up.
Aldrich's reopens on the strength of community support, once again anchoring Uptown's shops, cafes, and sidewalks.
Siblings Rachel, Christa, and Yos Ligtenberg buy the shuttered store during the pandemic, becoming its sixth ownership family and reopening it with an expanded grocery, bakery, and coffee bar.
Still Uptown's front porch - full grocery, in-house bakery, deli, and a deck where you can sit with a coffee and watch the town go by.
A full grocery, stocked with an eye for the unusual.
Everyday staples sit beside hard-to-find goods from around the world - and as much of it as possible comes from growers and makers within a tank of gas.
Organic Produce
A rotating case of organic vegetables and fruit sourced from Jefferson County farms whenever the season allows, filled out with organic staples the rest of the year.
Local & Pastured Meats
Pastured beef, pork, and poultry from Olympic Peninsula ranches, plus a case of artisan cured salami and charcuterie for picnics on the water.
Coffee Bar & Bakery
Espresso, pastries, and bread baked in-house every morning - the reason half of Uptown starts its day on Aldrich's front steps.
Wine, Beer & the Beer Cave
A cold cave stocked with Northwest craft beer and cider, alongside a wine selection built for both weeknight dinners and special occasions.
International & Specialty Goods
The hard-to-find pantry items that keep regulars loyal - imported oils, sauces, and confections sourced from far beyond the Peninsula.
Deli, Sushi & Service Kitchen
Made-to-order sandwiches, soups, salads, and a small sushi bar in back - takeout for the deck outside or the park across the street.
A family business, run like the whole town owns a piece of it.
Rachel Ligtenberg
Thirty years at REI, retiring as vice president of retail, before bringing that experience home to Uptown.
Christa Ligtenberg
A 22-year Port Townsend resident and Jefferson Healthcare ER nurse who brings a caretaker's eye to the shop floor.
Yos Ligtenberg
Spent 20-plus years in the wine and beer trade - including a stint at Aldrich's counter itself, two decades before he bought the place.
Meet you at the register.
Aldrich's kept on about half of the staff from the old store when the Ligtenbergs took over, and has grown the crew since. Bakers before sunrise, the deli team through lunch, and the same cashiers who'll remember your order - that's the crew that makes this place feel like home.
Find us on the corner.
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940 Lawrence StreetPort Townsend, WA 98368 - Uptown, at Tyler Street
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(360) 385-0500Call ahead for deli or catering orders
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hello@aldrichs.comGeneral questions, vendor inquiries, and press
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Open daily, 7am – 9pmDeli, bakery, and coffee bar open with the store
Questions, vendor pitches, or a donation to Uptown's oldest storefront.
Whether you're a local grower who'd like a spot on our shelves, planning an order for a big event, or just want to say hello - drop us a line and someone from the family will write back.
- Address940 Lawrence St, Port Townsend, WA
- Phone(360) 385-0500
- Emailhello@aldrichs.com
- HoursDaily, 7am – 9pm