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About Vernonia's voice. (Vernonia, OR) 2007-current | View Entire Issue (Feb. 7, 2013)
community february7 Worth the Trip: Good Things to Eat in St. Helens By Scott Laird Olde Towne St. Helens has a great new place to grab something to eat. “Good Things,” located at 291 S. First Street in the heart of the St. Hel- ens Olde Towne shopping district offers sweets, treats and yummy eats in a fun, casual and extremely friendly atmo- sphere. Open Tuesday through Sunday from 7:00 AM to 3:30 PM, Good Things is a great place to stop by and get coffee and a baked good early in the morning. They also offer their biscuits and gravy all day long . This is quickly become their specialty and may soon be consid- ered world famous! Lunch is great time to drop in for the daily rice bowl, their also famous hot dogs, a bowl of chili or soup or a cold sandwich. And then it’s time for dessert! Fresh baked cookies, slices of something to do part- son motor cycle, which time, San and Roger came from an actual purchased a hot dog photo. The Campbells cart and starting setting think they have deter- up during the summer mined that the man in in Olde Towne, selling the photo was a police hot dogs during special officer in St. Helens events like “13 Nights named Perry who was on the River.” Over killed in the line of duty. the next few years they The mural is still a work expanded their hours in progress. to weekends and their San takes care business just continued of the baking and sweet to grow. “It was phe- stuff and Roger does nomenal,” says San, the savory cooking, ex- “and we thought, ‘it’s cept for those biscuits, time to move indoors.’” which San gives Roger Roger and Sandra Campbell are The Campbells the owners of Good Things in full credit for. “Those found the empty build- are a real big seller and Olde Towne St. Helens. ing they now occupy he just has the knack for and started from scratch. They opened making big fluffy biscuits that are gor- for business on November 3rd and San geous,” says San. Their hot dogs are says business has been even better than made by Cloverdale, which San proudly A mural of the St. Helens waterfront circa 1918 covers an entire wall at Good Things. pie and other delicious choices are al- ways available. “We wanted a place where we could make homemade things, from scratch and in small batches so every- thing is fresh, says co-owner Sandra Campbell. “We’re just cooking and bak- ing things that we like to eat.” Good Things is the brainchild of Sandra and Roger Campbell. San, as Sandra likes to be called, explains that the couple owned a burger restaurant in Lakeside, Oregon on the southern coast for many years before they got the sailing bug. San says they sold the restaurant, their house and bought a 36’ sailboat. They spent time traveling up and down the Columbia River and ended up in St. Helens before heading up to Alaska for what was supposed to be a summer trip which ended up lasting four years. The Campbells arrived back in St. Helens in 2008 and settled on their boat at the local marina. Looking for expected. Their success is probably based as much on the high quality of their food and baked goods as on the couples friendly nature and welcoming spirit. Everyone who enters is greeted like an old friend stopping by for a visit and a snack. “We really haven’t advertised, it’s just been all word of mouth, which I think is the best,” says San. “It will either make or break you. If you are do- ing a good job then people are going to know about it and that’s what you want.” San says she and Roger love the feel of the old building with its high ceil- ings and have adopted a 1920’s theme. They have added a huge mural by lo- cal artist and friend of the Campbell’s, Antonia Doggett, that spans one entire wall. The colorful scene depicts the St. Helens waterfront circa 1918. Accord- ing to San, the waterfront docks burned down in the 1950’s. The scene on the wall shows a man riding a 1918 Hender- Vernonia Computer Services Computer problems? We can help. Hardware testing, repair, replacement Mac – Windows – Linux Software install/upgrade Virus/spyware removal Custom systems built Housecalls Available Mon, Wed, Fri, Sat 10-6 and by appointment Bill Langmaid (971) 998-3705 bill@rangelights.com boasts are the hot dogs that the Seattle Mariners now sell at Safeco Field. “They are a high quality hot dog,” says San. “The Seattle Mariners are carrying our hot dogs, but we had them first.” she says with a chuckle. San says they also serve Alpenrose ice cream and says they will carry more flavors in the summer. She also says they expect to expand their hours and plan to try doing some BBQ and some other ideas they are working 2013 9 on. “We want to keep things interesting and always be trying new things,” she says. San says they make all their side salads from scratch. The chili is a recipe from their son, who they hope will join them this summer to help with running things. San says she will bake items to order if someone has a special request for pies or other items. “Just about anything someone wants, I’m willing to make it for them,” says San. Right now she features cherry, pecan, apple, coconut creme, chocolate crème, peach, pump- kin pie and more. There are always six kinds of cookies available as well. San and Roger Campbell have a created a great place to find a homemade snack or meal or a tasty dessert. They lot of good things to eat and a fun place to eat them. Good Things is worth the trip to Olde Towne St. Helens. Good Things is located at 291 S. First Street in Olde Towne St. Helens. You can reach San or Roger Campbell at 503- 369-6154.
