Granite Falls country store now home to tourism center

Published 12:01 am Wednesday, March 30, 2011

GRANITE FALLS — Those who visit Mark’s Country Store can now shop for groceries and also pick up information about the Mountain Loop Highway.

The Granite Falls Tourism Information Center has a new home inside the store at 108 W. Stanley St. The information center officially opened in November in donated space at 110 E. Stanley St. It is managed by Granite Falls residents Edith and Randy Farrell.

The new location is more accessible for tourists, Randy Farrell said. More than 400 people visited the center at its old location and as many people have visited the new location in just three weeks.

Mark Walker has owned the store for a year and is remodeling it to be a “more hometown grocery store,” he said. He was happy to donate the space for the Tourism Information Center.

“I thought what better opportunity to really capture the essence of a hometown country store then to have the information center in the store,” he said.

A community event is scheduled Saturday to help introduce the new location of the center, Farrell said. Local merchants are set to offer discounts, prizes and giveaways during the event from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Mark’s Country Store. A dedication of the center is planned to begin at noon.

The Mountain Loop Tourism Bureau also plans to provide information about efforts to promote the Mountain Loop Highway and partnerships with Snohomish County’s Tourism Bureau, Department of Economic and Cultural Development, the Forest Service and the cities of Arlington and Darrington.

Farrell said he and his wife will continue to manage the information center with help from volunteers.

Amy Daybert: 425-339-3491; adaybert@heraldnet.com.