Two signs of a growing Mason County business scene emerged this spring: a downtown Shelton café changing hands under a new owner who wants to honor the town’s logging roots, and one of the county’s most beloved local brands preparing a major move to a facility four times the size of its current home. From a coffee counter named for a retired logging locomotive to an ice cream company backed by a state economic revitalization loan, the week’s business news points toward steady, locally rooted growth across the county.
Tollie’s Café Carries Shelton’s Logging Legacy Forward
The small café at 118 S. 3rd St. in downtown Shelton has a new name, a new owner, and a familiar heart. On April 1, Tollie’s Café opened its doors under the ownership of Eric Onisko, a Shelton City Council member who purchased the space from Theresa Landsiedel after she operated T’s Café & Espresso there for six years.
Onisko kept the same three employees and much of the same menu — fresh pastries, handcrafted sandwiches, and Batdorf & Bronson coffee drinks — but he reached back into Shelton’s history for the name. Nearly across the street from the café sits the locomotive nicknamed “Tollie,” a retired engine of the Simpson Logging Company that once hauled timber through the county’s forests. The locomotive has long been one of downtown Shelton’s most photographed landmarks, a piece of industrial history frozen in place on a street that has seen generations of change.
Tollie’s Café is open Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. It joins a cluster of businesses that have recently reinvigorated that stretch of downtown, including Shelton Candy Shoppe, Mestizos Latin Food, and the Wilde Irish Pub — all of which opened on the 400 block of West Railroad Avenue in recent months.
The transition reflects a pattern worth watching in Mason County’s small-business landscape: established spots changing hands rather than closing, with incoming owners choosing to invest in community character rather than reinvent from scratch. Onisko’s decision to retain staff and menu while rebranding around a piece of Shelton heritage suggests a philosophy that serves the neighborhood well. For residents from Belfair, Hoodsport, Union, and across the county who pass through Shelton for appointments, errands, or events, Tollie’s Café is exactly the kind of stop worth building into the routine.
For more information, stop by the café at 118 S. 3rd St. in downtown Shelton during open hours.
Olympic Mountain Ice Cream Eyes Major Growth at Port of Shelton
One of Mason County’s most recognized local brands is on the verge of a major expansion. Olympic Mountain Ice Cream, which has produced its small-batch artisan flavors in the Skokomish Valley for years, is preparing a move to a new production and retail facility at the Port of Shelton — a building four times the size of its current operation.
The new home is an 11,500-square-foot Port-owned warehouse at 130 W. Corporate Drive in Shelton, renovated to serve as Olympic Mountain Ice Cream’s expanded base. The project secured a $1.75 million low-interest loan through the Washington State Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB), approved by the Port of Shelton Commission by formal resolution. Private investment in the project reaches a minimum of $1 million, and the company expects to add 17 permanent jobs over the next five years — a meaningful addition to Mason County’s employment base.
The business case is clear. The Skokomish Valley location, while scenic, sits in territory prone to flooding and power outages that periodically interrupt production — operational risks that the Port of Shelton site eliminates entirely. The move also opens the door to scaling production, reaching new wholesale accounts, and operating a proper retail storefront for customers who want to buy directly.
For Mason County residents who know Olympic Mountain Ice Cream from grocery shelves in Shelton, Belfair, and beyond, or from farmers markets and local restaurants that feature its products, the expansion means more of those flavors, produced more reliably, right here at home. The brand uses local dairy and Pacific Northwest ingredients, and its presence on store shelves from Matlock to Grapeview is a point of quiet county pride.
The Port of Shelton, located off U.S. Highway 101 near Shelton’s industrial corridor, has been an active incubator for Mason County manufacturers and producers seeking room to grow. Olympic Mountain Ice Cream’s expansion adds another anchor to that corridor. The new facility was targeted for completion by spring 2026, with the retail storefront accessible at 130 W. Corporate Drive, Shelton, once fully operational. For product locations and updates, visit olympicmountainicecream.com.
What to Watch This Spring
Both of this week’s business stories share an underlying theme: Mason County institutions adapting, not just surviving. Tollie’s Café is a downtown fixture passing through ownership with its community connections intact. Olympic Mountain Ice Cream is a homegrown manufacturer using public-private partnership tools — state CERB funding, Port infrastructure — to break past the physical limitations holding it back.
The county’s next major business calendar event is the 2026 Expo & Bite of Mason County, scheduled for Friday, July 17 on Railroad Avenue in Shelton — the largest business and restaurant event in Mason County, drawing vendors and visitors from across the region.
Frequently Asked Questions
Where is Tollie’s Café located?
Tollie’s Café is at 118 S. 3rd St. in downtown Shelton. It is open Monday through Friday 7 a.m.–3 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. The café was formerly known as T’s Café & Espresso and changed ownership on April 1, 2026.
Why is the café named Tollie’s?
The name honors the “Tollie” locomotive, a retired Simpson Logging Company engine displayed near the café in downtown Shelton. New owner Eric Onisko chose the name to connect the business to Shelton’s timber heritage.
When will Olympic Mountain Ice Cream open its new Port of Shelton facility?
The new 11,500-square-foot facility at 130 W. Corporate Drive, Shelton was targeted for completion in spring 2026. The expansion was funded in part by a $1.75 million CERB loan approved by the Port of Shelton Commission.
How many jobs will the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream expansion create?
The expansion is projected to add 17 permanent jobs over the next five years, based on CERB application projections submitted to the Port of Shelton Commission.
What is the CERB loan program?
The Community Economic Revitalization Board (CERB) is a Washington State program that provides low-interest loans to support economic development projects in communities across the state. The Port of Shelton applied on behalf of Olympic Mountain Ice Cream for the $1.75 million award.
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