A food desert no more: Mount Baker foothills to get new grocery and hardware store
The Nugents Corner region will soon no longer be a food desert with the arrival of a new grocery store.
Everson residents Troy and Aubree Lozano announced in a news release that they plan to open a store in the former Dodson’s IGA building at 3705 Mount Baker Highway near Deming. It is scheduled to open in August and will be called the Nugents Corner Market & Hardware.
The independently owned store will include an in-house butcher, prepared meals, fresh produce, bread and pet food.
“Nugents Corner will once again be home to the best fried chicken in the county, served alongside house-made pizzas, amazing sandwiches, and fresh salads in our newly redesigned deli,” Aubree Lozano said in the news release.
Locally produced dairy, craft beers, spirits, fruits and vegetables will give the store a strong Whatcom County connection, she added.
Details are still being worked out on store hours, but the plan is to be open seven days a week, from morning into the evening. The goal is to have a staff of 20 employees, some full-time.
The Lozanos purchased the property in November 2018 for $365,000 and have been asking the community about what they want in a store. Aubree Lozano said they’ve been working to include as many suggestions as possible.
For the hardware portion of the market, the Lozanos plan to have a selection of plumbing and electrical repair products, as well as paint, tools and a lawn-and-garden section.
The 20,000-square-foot building was operated as Dodson’s IGA from 1964 until it closed in April 2017. The closure meant residents in the area had to go to neighboring communities to get fresh produce, meat and other groceries, with some having to drive more than 10 miles.
Aubree Lozano said they are thankful for the help they received from the county’s planning and health departments in rehabbing the building.
“The county has been amazing to work with. They want a grocery store out here as much as anyone,” she said.
The Lozanos are currently hiring for positions at the market. For details about employment and the store, visit nugentscorner.com.
This story was originally published June 24, 2020 at 1:00 PM.
