I have lived on Whidbey for a dozen years, and in that time I have seen some long-time businesses close because the owner retired or died or simply didn’t want to keep the business going.
I just did a Whidbey Local story about a business legacy that will continue: “Joe Gunn continues a family legacy as the new owner of Whidbey Pies and Whidbey Pies Café”
When the original owner, Jan Gunn, decided she was ready to retire, she began looking for someone to buy the business. Her son, Joe, who had been living in New York, decided to return to Whidbey and, after assuming a management position, worked out the purchase of the two businesses.
He has made some small improvements so far, but he also made the decision that it was important to maintain the look and feel of the Café, and to continue to work with the employees who helped build the iconic pie business.
Anyone who has purchased a Whidbey Pie (and they are distributed in many off-island places, as well as several stores on Whidbey), and/or has visited the Whidbey Pies Café, can breathe a great sigh of relief that not only will the businesses continue, but so will a family legacy.