Our Story

Without knowing, Drayton Harbor Oyster Co became something much bigger than what we first envisioned. In 2012-14 we continued what Geoff Menzies had started by first providing oysters to the local community as a very small Community Supported Aquaculture (CSA) Farm. Live oysters were pre purchased ahead of the season for fresh, weekly pickups and the list would usually run 10-20 strong. As we grew more oysters and realized we could do a thing or two we began selling direct to renowned Seattle restaurants. That drive got old quick with the I-5 corridor becoming increasingly choked and the lost connection with the product once they were in someone else’s control. A chance arose to take over the adjoined space next to Tony’s Just a Bite--and it came with an ice cream cooler--so we sold oysters out of an ice cream cooler starting in 2015. This is how it started. Some folks wanted us to shuck them—we pursued that license and were quickly learning how to plate on the half shell. Some preferred them cooked—our sidewalk barbecue became the attraction once that permit was in play Water? All we had was water? A liquor license for beer and wine sales was the next notch--you’re welcome Mr. Flannery. Look, now we’re learning everyone’s names and ya’ll oyster lovers are becoming invested. This quiet community had just happened upon opening their very own Oyster Bar; one where you could sip chilled Rose on a sidewalk in the summertime while enjoying every delicate chew of oysters farmed less than a mile away. An Oyster Bar with views over the expansive Salish Sea taking you to another country. We had built a place to talk about all things oysters, Drayton Harbor, and Blaine. This has become a spot to meet you neighbors, a place to showcase a local product, and importantly a place to showcase what this community can achieve and just how lucky we are. We are and will continually look behind us knowing that with urbanization there will be plenty of support required in order to maintain the overall health of our watershed and its interconnected ecosystems. Success to us is the presence of a Community Oyster Bar in downtown Blaine. We hope it is to you, too, because ‘The oysters on Jersey’s Coast have justly won a name, but we grow better flavored ones, Yessir, right here in Blaine’ (1913 Blaine Journal).