When you first drive through downtown Shelton, it can be easy to underestimate what’s there. But if you slow down and look, the blocks around S. 3rd Street and Railroad Avenue have seen a genuine accumulation of locally owned businesses over the past two years — and spring 2026 added another name to the list worth knowing.
Tollie’s Café: The New Name at 118 S. 3rd St.
On April 1, 2026, Tollie’s Café opened at 118 S. 3rd St. in downtown Shelton under new owner Eric Onisko — a Shelton City Council member who purchased the space from Theresa Landsiedel after she ran T’s Café & Espresso there for six years. Onisko kept the same three employees and most of the menu: fresh pastries, handcrafted sandwiches, and Batdorf & Bronson coffee. The new name comes from the historic “Tollie” locomotive — a retired Simpson Logging Company engine parked nearly across the street — which has been one of downtown Shelton’s most photographed objects for decades.
Hours: Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–3 p.m., Saturday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. It’s a natural stop if you’re running errands in downtown Shelton, heading to the courthouse, or passing through on your way out of town.
What Else Is on That Block
Tollie’s Café joins a cluster that has been building on the 400 block of West Railroad Avenue and the adjacent streets. Recent additions in the same corridor include Shelton Candy Shoppe, Mestizos Latin Food, and the Wilde Irish Pub — all of which opened within roughly the same stretch of months. That kind of clustering matters in small-town downtowns: businesses reinforce each other and create a reason to make multiple stops in one trip rather than passing through.
The Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce, located downtown, tracks business openings and member events. If you are new and want to understand the local business landscape, the Chamber is a useful first contact for both residents and anyone considering starting a business in the county.
The “Tollie” Locomotive — Why It Matters
For newcomers, the Tollie locomotive is one of the most Shelton-specific things you will encounter. It sits displayed on a street near the café, a retired Simpson Logging Company engine that once worked the timber forests of Mason County. The Simpson Lumber Company — which became Simpson Investment Company — was for much of the 20th century the dominant economic force in Mason County, and the logging industry it represents shaped the town’s layout, employment base, and identity in ways that still echo today.
Onisko’s decision to name his café after the locomotive is a small but deliberate act of local identity-making. In a town where longtime residents carry generational memory of the timber economy, a new business anchoring itself to that history is reaching for something real — not nostalgia for its own sake, but continuity.
Olympic Mountain Ice Cream: A Local Brand to Know
While you’re getting oriented, Olympic Mountain Ice Cream is one of Mason County’s most recognized homegrown products. The company has been producing small-batch artisan ice cream in the Skokomish Valley and is in the process of moving to a new 11,500-square-foot facility at 130 W. Corporate Drive at the Port of Shelton — a move funded in part by a $1.75 million state CERB loan and expected to add 17 permanent jobs. Once the new retail storefront is operational, it will be worth knowing for both locals and visitors. Find their products at grocery stores in Shelton, Belfair, and surrounding communities, or check olympicmountainicecream.com for locations.
The 2026 Expo & Bite of Mason County
The county’s biggest business-and-food event of the year is the Expo & Bite of Mason County, scheduled for Friday, July 17 on Railroad Avenue in Shelton. If you’ve just moved to the county, it’s one of the best single events to attend for getting a broad sense of who operates here — vendors, restaurants, services, and organizations all in one place.
Frequently Asked Questions — Downtown Shelton for New Residents
Where is Tollie’s Café in downtown Shelton?
Tollie’s Café is at 118 S. 3rd St., downtown Shelton. It opened April 1, 2026 under new owner Eric Onisko. Hours are Monday–Friday 7 a.m.–3 p.m. and Saturday 9 a.m.–3 p.m. It serves Batdorf & Bronson coffee, pastries, and handcrafted sandwiches.
What is the Tollie locomotive in Shelton?
The “Tollie” is a retired Simpson Logging Company locomotive displayed in downtown Shelton. It is named for the engine that hauled timber through Mason County’s forests during the company’s peak years. It has become one of downtown Shelton’s most recognized landmarks and a symbol of the town’s timber heritage.
What restaurants and businesses are in downtown Shelton?
Recent additions to the downtown Shelton business corridor include Tollie’s Café (118 S. 3rd St.), Mestizos Latin Food, Wilde Irish Pub, and Shelton Candy Shoppe — all on or near the 400 block of West Railroad Avenue. The area also includes the Shelton-Mason County Chamber of Commerce and various service businesses along 4th Street and the surrounding blocks.
Where can I find Olympic Mountain Ice Cream in Mason County?
Olympic Mountain Ice Cream is available at grocery stores in Shelton, Belfair, and surrounding communities. The company is moving to a new production and retail facility at 130 W. Corporate Drive at the Port of Shelton in spring 2026. Check olympicmountainicecream.com for current retail locations.
When is the Expo & Bite of Mason County 2026?
The 2026 Expo & Bite of Mason County is scheduled for Friday, July 17 on Railroad Avenue in Shelton. It is the largest combined business and restaurant event in Mason County, drawing vendors and food options from across the county and region.
For the full spring 2026 business story including both Tollie’s Café and the Olympic Mountain Ice Cream expansion, see New Ownership, New Digs: Mason County Businesses Make Spring Moves. For a broader overview of life in Mason County, see Living in Mason County Washington: The Complete Guide. For the county’s jobs and economic landscape, see Mason County Jobs and Employers: Economic Guide.
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