Guemes Island General Store

Close to the dedicated Guermes ferry, with a panoramic view of Anacortes and its ship yards. Well shaped sandwich and burger menu, as well as soups and salads, with a beautiful outside garden. My "ancient grains" vegeburger came in a home baked bun with hand cut fries, the burger was crunchy and very tasty. I also chose a Chukanut Pilsner for the perfect end of summer lunch. Fun place to go, leave time for exploring this small island.

If you're ever in the mood for a unique experience combined with delicious baked goods, then Guemes island is the perfect destination for you. After driving around or checking out the beaches, check out the General store. This charming store offers a good selection of merchandise, including clothing, souvenirs, and more. During my visit, I was able to snag a locally made t-shirt that I know I'll wear for years to come. Not only does this store offer a good selection of merchandise, but they also have a bakery section that is a must-try. The pastries were mouth-watering and absolutely delicious. They were the perfect complement to my shopping experience and made the visit even more memorable. Lastly, I have to give a shout-out to the wonderful staff. The service was friendly and kind, making the shopping and eating experience all the more enjoyable. Overall, I highly recommend checking out the Guemes General Store. With its selection of local merchandise, delectable baked goods, and friendly staff, it's a destination that you don't want to miss when you’re in the area .

Great views! Garden patio! Best Music Venue and Lineups. Excellent seafood chowder! Everything on the menu is good. Talented and prolific baker. Premade Sandwiches and Pizza for quick to go. Local art, clothing, and body products, everything you need for an adventure! A fun destination for dinner and a show but also has all the essentials. Our favorite! We have many family celebrations here. 11/10

Cute little store. If you go you absolutely must check out their fresh homemade bakery items. Its a must have everytime I wait for the ferry!

The Guemes General Store is located right up the road after you get off the ferry. They have a really nice selection of cookies and stickers. There's also a lot of hammocks outside if you want to relax for a bit.

The Guemes Island General Store is a must-visit spot. It offers some of the best food I’ve had anywhere- a few highlights were their corned beef reuben, house made fries, and the fresh caught house smoked salmon. They offer a huge selection of craft drinks to go, a bar on site, and a great indoor/ outdoor seating area that features live music and plenty of space for kids to play out front. If you’re in the Seattle/ Anacortes/ Bellingham area, you need to check it out. It’s worth the swim, but the ferry is easier!

We visit Guemes Island once or twice a year and are enchanted by the island every time. A large part of that magic is attributable to the Guemes Island General Store, and the first time we visited, it was mid-Omicron, so we didn't get to see it in its full glory until this year. The general store is really an anchor for the island, with every necessity I could think of in the market portion of the store alongside a restaurant, small bar, and bakery. The baked goods are amazing and I regret not getting pictures. The restaurant offers a variety of meals that include some delicious hamburgers- I don't know what they do to their buns, but I've rarely had a better one. There are a hearty eight beers on tap, and quite a few more in the convenience section. The store includes a number of local specialties, from homemade jam to art and t-shirts from local artists (the Slow Loris tshirts are to die for). Plenty of parking and an easy walk from the ferry if you're walking on from Anacortes. I hear they host concerts in the summer- we haven't been at that time of year, but I can imagine how enticing it would be with the big lawn, open air seating on the front porch and all conveniently located to the ferry. I look forward to visiting every year and hope you stop by and grab one of those amazing danishes!

Superb food, we visited Guemes during the period of passenger-only-ferry, and found the general store to be a fantastic destination for our cycling adventures. We had the brussel sprouts and fish and chip, absolute perfection. Some of the best fish and chips I’ve had. Good selection in the shop as well. Handy if in need of something specific without the desire to cross the ferry.

There are so many good things about the Store. Friendly staff. Awesome bartenders, and really, no better place to sit and have a beer, watch live music, or just stare at the Guemes Channel than at the Store. If you're a daytripper or a weekend getaway visitor to the island stop here for snacks, bevs or any last minute things you forgot. The store has it for sure, and they are quality goods. No cheap shelf items here. If you're stuck in a ferry line, visit the store for the BEST cookie you'll every have. They bake them right in the store from scratch every morning. They also have a rotating cast of characters in the baked goods case - seasonal pies, crisp, muffins. It all looks delicious. As an islander, I'm definitely based, but the Store is the heartbeat of our tiny community and we're lucky to have it. It's a one-stop-shop for seeing friends, having a beer, grabbing a thing or two, and having a meal, if you fancy.

We stopped to check out this "general store" while waiting for the ferry back to the mainland. With a small selection of bougie groceries, wine and snacks, it's pretty much your only option if you're on Guemes and need to buy food. If you're planning to stay on the island, however, you should definitely bring your groceries with you! The store is fairly spacious inside, although most of the space is for the dining area. The groceries are packed onto shelves that go around the walls. At the front is a small coffee bar and pastry case, along with a case that has a few sandwiches and pizza slices. The food in the case didn't look very appealing, though. We tried a couple of the baked goods. Nothing in the store had prices (a bad sign), but a large chocolate chip cookie and a slice of cinnamon roll cake was $11. A bottle of Coke and a slice of cake was also $11, which seems wildly overpriced. The cookie was fine, if a little hard, but the cinnamon roll cake was dense and slathered with way too much (non-cream-cheese) frosting. My friend seemed to like her carrot cake, though. Service was... not great. The employee ignored us for a while even though we were standing at the register, and then walked away after taking my friend's order, so I had to flag her down again to order. Very weird. Overall, this seems like a place you'd go as a last resort if you REALLY needed something, but based on our experience, I'd avoid it if at all possible.

A quick little 4 minute ferry ride to the island for amazing views, food, & shopping! The vegetarian burger was amazzzzing! Their cookies are homemade and huge. They also had a DING DONG cake the day that we came to eat. They sell local, hand crafted goods, honey, jams, etc. the store itself Carry's anything that you'd need for a little getaway, and the candy section is awesome! They have Beer, wine and spirits!

This was our first time to the island, we were excited to come see what the store had. As we walked up they locked the door, we waited a little bit and some people came out who clearly bought some things, and the worker said they were closed until six then closed and locked the door with no explanation.

I realize this is the ONLY store on the island, but I couldn't recommend anything for beautiful than this space and help. ENJOY!

Such a fun place. The blackberry cider is to die for. My friends loved the fish and chips. I had a sandwich with chicken and pesto that was great. I also recommend the Snickerdoodle cookies. We sat on the deck and watched the ferries. Perfect.

If I could give negative stars, I would so this one star rating will have to do. Overpriced ($14 bowl of soup), unclassy ($14 bowl of soup served in a paper bowl), and meager tasteless culinary entrees ($14 bowl of soup blah). Just way too expensive for what is served.

This is a.wonderful place to have lunch or pick up a snack. You order at the counter; the staff is very friendly. We took advantage of the outdoor patio overlooking the water. Both salads were delicious and it was nice that the restaurant offered non-alcoholic beer as well as the usual beer and wine. We topped everything off with a giant and delicious molasses ginger cookie (the cookie selection draws down fast, so consider ordering early). In all, a completely lovely summer afternoon experience. If you are waiting for the ferry, consider asking one member of you party to move your car into the cue midway through your meal. We lingered so long, we weren't close enough to the front of the line to catch the first ferry that left after we finished lunch.

The food was absolutely Amazing! For a Louisiana Gal that says a lot, as everyone knows Louisiana has Great Food Sha'. The only downfall was when I put my order in I requested No pickles but I had pickles on my burger. ;( But I will be back esp. want to try one of those Bloody Mary's or (Marie's) my go to drink, That people have raved about on here!

I think this place has gotten a bad rap by folks in a rush. Good food, drinks and views. Great selection for being a small local spot. Only deducted a star due to price. I understand that there's a higher cost to get items here due to access, but $47 for a frozen pizza, salame and a six pack seems extra spendy. Worth a stop for lunch if you're on Guemes though!

Really digging this place. Advice for first timers: - The kitchen is closed on Mondays and Tuesdays. Baked goods and prepackaged stuff is available, though, as well as deli kind of stuff left over from the weekend. - There is a bar! So, though the store sells beer and wine, you cannot purchase alcoholic beverages inside and drink them on the premises when the bar is open. The bar has a few beer and cider options, and I assume liquor and wine, too. There aren't tons of choices, but it gets the job done nicely, and the bartender is very nice! - GREAT VIEW! Take the ferry on foot, walk to the store/bar, and enjoy the view. It's glorious. - Beyond just bar indoor/outdoor seating, there is a fenced-in area with a few hammocks, a stage, and a few frisbee stand things for disc golf. Hula hoops were available, too. - Seating: indoor, outdoor covered porch, and outdoor on the lawn at tables. Super rustic place, very casual ambiance. - Two gas pumps are available out front. - The package store carries a little bit of everything - from diapers to frozen pizza. Had a great time there with a big group, a small group of friends, and a date afternoon with my husband. Call ahead if you're going with a big group, though!

Had a beautiful spring bike ride on Guemes island. Look forward to lunch and a beer after a ride. Unfortunately the service was friendly and slow. Food was OK but the beer was cold and refreshing. Unfortunately this is the only stop on the island. It's an amazing location with an incredible view. It looks like the owners are developing a very appealing outdoor space. I hope this was a one off, because this place could be a real jewel.

We stopped by for a few items and were pleased they had everything (eggs, Advil & soda) and a sweet treat too (ranger cookie & snickerdoodle). We appreciated the friendly service at the new covid precautions where they shop for you, wear a mask & have a huge bottle of hand sanitizer available.

I Tried to order something at their window, and was turned away by a lady working there because I didn't have my face "all the way covered", even though I had a freaking motorcycle helmet on, which I have gone to plenty of business wearing during the virus and have never had a problem until going to this place. I would say that's more than a little over paranoid, but what do you expect from people that chose to live on an island. Don't go here.

The Fish and Chips and the Calamari were amazing!! Wish we could have had the whole inside seating experienced, but next time hopefully things will be back normal! Great place to visit!

It's been a year since we've been here, and the mood of unwelcome feeling hasn't changed. Walking in, the girl behind the counter (Aug 2-2021) doesn't even look up or great you because too busy counting her tip jar (pretty empty...). With the most moody and unwelcoming voice she tells me they're not serving today, only the not so good looking snacks on display. Further questions were also answered trying to get us out ASAP. Too bad. Place has good potential with great views.

Honestly this business is complete and total shit. Most of the staff are nice people but completely incompetent. Food always takes 2-3 times as long as you'd think. Also they call themselves a "general store", is that a joke? I can't get a loaf of bread, milk, eggs, or toilet paper but thank god I can get a $12 jar of organic pasta sauce. I can't tell you how many times I've gone in to get something to eat, and after not being given a menu for up to 20 minutes finally just leave pissed off. The owner or whoever runs this business is a complete idiot. It's LITERALLY the only business on the island. It could be an absolute gold mine with the right ownership. They're closed on mondays? That makes a lot of sense. Complete and utter stupidity turned this potentially wonderful meeting place into an absolute shit hole. Will never return, unless ownership changes.

Delicious sandwiches, nice view! The bacon sandwich was the best I've had, packed with thick smokey slices, fresh tomato and lettuce on homemade sourdough that was just right, soft and chewy with barely crisp edges. My husband had the Ruben which was huge and delicious as well.

For those of you who are unfamiliar with Guemes, I would like to provide a little bit more information and add my two cents. First of all, the store changed hands about two years ago and has had its ups and downs with previous owners. That might explain some of the inconsistencies. The current owners are a whole new breed of animal. They hire locally and seem to have picked the most pleasant people around to staff the kitchen, store, and bar. The made to order food is fresh and delicious and most of it is organic and locally sourced. Most of the baked items are better than anything you could get on the mainland and there is always a good variety. I may be chopping off my own hand to tell you this, but they have some of the best carrot cake I've ever had. One of their humongous cookies could last you days. This is not your large supermarket; go to Safeway or the Marketplace in Anacortes to stock up on essentials and fresh items that you will need if you're staying on the island. Think of the island store as part deli, part bar, part restaurant, and part 7-Eleven. The grocery items are essentially liquor, snacks, and convenience items. The Guemes Island General Store is an institution on Guemes and has kept its general name to avoid confusing people who may have visited in the past or who might be wondering if it has changed. It has changed; for the better. Being the only practical place on the island to do this, many of the locals use this as a watering hole. I find them very friendly and welcoming, but the bar area can (infrequently) get a bit rambunctious at times (as with any other place where people are having a good time). They have music events frequently and many people come over on the ferry to grab a meal and enjoy the music and scenery. The store is only closed a couple of days each week during the slow season; during peak season it will be open every day. If you're reading some of the older reviews, I hope my post has answered some of the questions you might have. I moved onto the island two years ago, just as the change was happening. I welcome everything that has occurred and understand that there will be some new surprises coming up that will enhance their offerings even more. Keep up the good work guys.

As a general store, since that's what it claims to be, I would actually award only 1 star, since it probably has less groceries and general merchandise than your average convenience store. It, however, has lots of cold beer and a fair selection of wine, along with a shelf of high priced organic resale foods - no bread, no eggs or cheese (unless I missed them among the coolers full of cold cases of beer), no produce or meat, no toilet paper or paper towels; pretty much only what you can fit in the 150 square feet or so of space they allot for store merchandise. The rest of the large building is devoted to dining and drinking space for their bar and grill, which was closed at the time due to the holidays. Years ago we spent time on the island and counted on the store to provide much of what we needed. This time, we rented a cabin and brought some groceries, but planned on supplementing from the store to support the island economy. Since we don't drink, that was a total bust. I can recommend the cookies and cold beverages, but that's about it. We headed for Safeway, with another ferry ride, to get some more basics, which broke the lovely spell the island had cast upon us. Wise up guys, your days are numbered - sooner or later a real store will appear and your eatery will be just another trendy business that's a major hassle to get to. And trust me, that store will likely sell good sandwiches and soups, too, even during the holidays. PS Per their 2017 online video where they say they have everything an islander would need or can explain how to do without it, I would really like the owner to explain to me how to get along without the numerous products they don't carry. However, the place is beautiful, clean and the staff is friendly.

Great food and amazing selection of beer! Cheese curds, Brussel sprouts, cheese burgers, Ruben, fish and chips were all delicious! Never had a bakery item we didn't like here!

Homemade chocolate chip cookie, hot coffee, and a wonderful place to start your day and watch the channel roll by. Can't beat it

Can't think of a nicer setting to get a craft beer, enjoy delicious food, and soak in the view from the deck. Meat and veggie options abound. The menu mainstay is local seafood, but you should try the outstanding vegan fare (super tasty homemade ancient grains burger). Loved the vegan pizza from the food truck. The owners Mark and Kelly are a pleasure to talk to. Lots of neat music happening in the store on a regular basis, from pickup bluegrass to rock bands drawing a crowd. There's a frisbee golf course in the front lawn next to a new outdoor stage and hammocks for the kids to enjoy. Will definitely frequent this place when I come back to the area.

This place has the worst service and the worst food and I really don't like it please don't visit it it's not a great place at all

My friend Cliff is the best Gordon Ramsey. Aawwwwright. Continuing to write here because apparently my post wasn't long g enough. So how about now yelp?

Love taking the short ferry ride over to Guemes for some live music and good food at the store. But so much more than a store! This is a store with a bar, and a patio, and stages inside and out for live music. The restaurant serves up the basics (burgers) as well as fancier things like pasta with scallops or grilled salmon. I love the brussel sprout appetizer... Everyone there is super friendly; staff and customers alike. You might make some new friends, like I did!

I've only stopped there once, but I was impressed. It seems to have a little bit of everything for the community.

If you like your food luke warm and your fries chewy and soggy this is your restaurant. We ordered 4 meals and none of them were good. The calamari appetizer was OK.

Really good chicken burger. Fun place to hang out and drink and eat. Desserts are to die for and the 6 different over large cookies.

Doesn't matter how good the food, view, or seating when the manager lets their toddler 'play' (meaning pound keys aimlessly) the piano so that patrons can't enjoy their meal or company.

Four adults, two children. Nice view. Crowded restaurant, slow service, mediocre food. Not a good experience.