Eighteen month ago I retired from a 35 year Boeing career and purchased Tillinghast Postal & Business Center. It truly was a dream come true. Ever since I was a young girl, my dad would bring me and my family to La Conner in search of antiques at Nasty Jack’s and other antique stores. I knew one day I would live in La Conner and always dreamed of owning a business.

When I made the decision to retire, Tillinghast Postal & Business Center was listed for sale and it was perfect for me. Supply chain was my expertise, so shipping, packaging, inventory, printing and all the services offered at Tillinghast were a perfect fit. My greatest desire was to not only meet, but to get to know locals, merchants, farmers and all those living in La Conner and the surrounding Skagit Valley.

As I reflect over the last 18 months, here is what I have learned. The Skagit Valley is a beautiful place to live and work. The people in the community, our customers, appreciate the services that are provided by this small business. From small to large jobs, Tillinghast offers local and visiting customers the ability to not travel to Anacortes, Mount Vernon, Burlington and beyond and was so convenient during the height of COVID-19. La Conner needs this business. It is important to ensure it continues.

I have had the opportunity to employ some of the best people at Tillinghast. Ginger Olson, Adam McGarity, Renee Odegaard and Sarah Landry Reeves have allowed us to keep the business that Lucy Kelly created to thrive. I truly love coming to work each day, seeing the sunrise through the east windows of the store and greeting each customer that we all have grown to know and love.

In my reflections, I realized that my dream and bucket list has been realized. As much as I love doing what I do each day, I love my husband Chris more. He has been patiently waiting and watching me head to work each day, while the dream of traveling waits. We never know what the future holds, but I have realized that life is short and it is now time for me to spend my time with Chris seeing all the places we have yet to visit and to spend more time with my mom and brother, enjoying our daughters and grandsons, experience time with our friends, old and new and to meet people along the way in our future adventures.

This year, I will be selling the business and wanted you to know the why. It is very important that we find the right person or team that will keep the services available and have the opportunity to enjoy all of you. Just as Lucy did with me, I will stay with the new owner until they have all their questions answered and learn the systems and processes. That kindness is truly what allowed the transition to be seamless to all of you and is the perfect model to follow. What makes this community and valley special and beautiful is you!

Thank you for everything Farmers, Merchants, Locals and Visitors!

Christi and Chris King

Tillinghast Postal & Business Center