vernonia’s
voice community
december
09
2007
Cornerstone Naturals- It’s All in the Family
By Scott Laird
Walking into Cornerstone Naturals in Vernonia is like walking into a mix of a
museum and a health food store. Dennis and Marilyn Nix have always been in-
terested in antiques and collectibles. And that’s one of the reasons they opened
their shop, Etcetera, in Vernonia over five years ago. Recently they changed the
name of the store to Cornerstone Naturals and have added natural health prod-
ucts like vitamins, essential oils, creams, and soaps, natural pet products, and
bulk spices and teas to their mix of furniture, books, clothing, house wares and
gift items. The change in focus is based on a higher demand for healthy products
and the family’s commitment to looking for healthier ways to live.
“We were forced to make serious changes,” said Dennis. “Fifteen years ago I
was given five years to live because of extreme hypertension and an enlarged
heart. We worked at changing our diet and cooking patterns, started taking vita-
mins, and cut out sugar. I also slowed down and began appreciating and enjoy-
ing my family and especially my wife. And I’m still here.”
Marilyn also has a life style change story in her background. Marilyn grew up
in Chapman on one acre where her family grew a lot of their own food, hauling
buckets from Scappoose Creek for water. Marilyn’s father was diagnosed with a
heart condition, followed recommended diet and other changes, and is still alive
in his eighties.
“We have seven children
and can’t afford to be run-
ning to the doctor all the
time,” said Marilyn. “We
had to look for alternative
care options and healthier
ways to live. Our kids
drink tea and take vita-
mins. When our family
gets a bug, we tend to pass
things on from one to the
next, but when our kids do
get sick, they don’t stay
sick as long.”
So it made sense to start
selling healthy life style
items in the store. “We
started offering the bulk
teas and spices, and peo-
ple began requesting more healthy items,” said Marilyn. “We saw a growing
need.”
Dennis and Marilyn started their own business when they started selling baby
clothes on Ebay after their youngest, Bethany, outgrew them. Then they inher-
ited Dennis’ mother’s estate when she passed away and brought her things up
from California. “We didn’t have room for everything,” says Marilyn, “so we
opened a shop.”
Dennis and Marilyn have a unique philosophy about selling. “We don’t think
cutthroat business is good. We tend to look at things differently than most peo-
ple,” explained Dennis. “We went from pretty well off to literally homeless a
while ago which changes your perspective and what you consider important.”
“With our consumable items, we try to find the best quality products and price
them fairly,” added Dennis. “We look for the good stuff, including certified or-
ganic spices and quality essential oils and fragrances.”
“We don’t want a thrift store,” said Marilyn. “Any clothing we sell has been laundered,
the stains removed and even ironed. I want things to be clean and presentable.”
VERNONIA INN
Quality & comfort at affordable rates
All of the Nix children are
involved, or have been,
in helping run the family
business. The two oldest
children, Esther, 19, who
is married and lives in
California, and Nathan, 18,
who works at Photo Solu-
tions in Vernonia, have
worked in the shop in the
past. Abby, 16, and Han-
nah, 14, make jewelry to
sell, mind the store and help
decorate. Rachel, 10, Sar-
ah, 7, and even Bethany, 5,
help dust, sweep, decorate,
price items, and clean win-
dows. “The kids are home
schooled,” says Marilyn,
“and after school they can
work. Each is finding their
own creative niche and of-
fering their ideas.”
“Those local handmade items we sell are going to be the collectables of tomor-
row,” said Dennis.
“We have had good support from the community,” said Marilyn. “We have a
good faithful following of local people who come in and shop on a regular basis.
We are increasing our internet sales and have an active website now. We work
hard to make things attractive and interesting. Because this is a bedroom com-
munity with lots of commuters, we tend to stay open later and on holidays so
locals can shop here.”
“Since Stub Stewart Park opened we have seen our foot traffic triple,” added
Dennis. “I think the park is going to change this town.”
For the Nix Family and Cornerstone Naturals, change seems to be a good thing.
$ Bucks
$
Holiday
It’s “Holiday Bucks” time
again in Vernonia!
$ Promo-
tion runs from Friday,
November 16th to Saturday,
$
December 15th, and is open
to all ages.
$
$
$
Purchase $50 in merchandise*
from any of the following
$ $ $ $ businesses, fill out your
$ $ $ Holiday $ Bucks card, and enter
$ $
$
$
to win!
$ $ $
$
$
$
$
$ $
$
$ $ $ $
$
$
$
Combined purchases accepted. Purchases in
increments of $5 each. See stores for details.
$
$
Annabelle Antiques & Truffles
Barlow Bikes & Boards
BITs & PCs
Black Bear Coffee Company, LLC
Buckleberry Cottage
Café 47
City of Vernonia
Creative Memories Ind. Consultant Norina Abeyta
Creatures & Flowers
Friends of the Library
Grey Dawn Gallery
Jazzercise
Karmel's Flower Patch
Muffy’s Enterprises
New Day Massage & Bodyworks
Out on a Limb
$
$
$
$
Pretty Gifts & Things
Sunday’s Best
The Buckhorn Restaurant & General Store
The Clever Cricket
The Independent, LLC
True Value Hardware
US Bank, Vernonia
U.S. Post Office, Vernonia
V&V Leathers
Vernonia Community Learning Center
Vernonia Hardware & Supply, LLC
Vernonia Realty & Insurance Center
Vernonia Senior Center
Vernonia Sentry Market
Wauna Federal Credit Union, Vernonia
West Oregon Electric Cooperative, Inc.
The Vernonia Country Kitchen & Pizza
(On Bridge Street across from the High School)
Open 7 days a week
7am to 8pm
Breakfast, Lunch & Dinner
Pizza Parlour - We deliver!
Call 503-429-6523
503-429-4006
Suite with hot tub & private deck
Individual entrances, TVs
Rooms with hot tubs
www.vernoniainn.com
Continental Breakfast
Handicapped Access
Non-smoking rooms
Home of the famous "Skidder Hamburger",
"Tower Burger", "Logger Burger" and "Chili Burger"!
Also known for our Milkshakes and Pastries!