West Marin Culture Shop
The iconic Point Reyes Station barn welcomes the next generation of culinary innovators
When Cowgirl Creamery founders Sue Conley and Peggy Smith closed their beloved shop after 25 years in Point Reyes Station, they left a massive hole in the community—and the stomachs—of locals and tourists alike. Fortunately, they found the perfect business to carry the torch and nourish visitors in the healthiest, most outrageously delicious way possible: the West Marin Culture Shop.
Anchored by Luke Regalbuto and Maggie Levenger’s award-winning company Wild West Ferments, the iconic barn on Fourth Street now houses a carefully curated assortment of foods and drinks, along with gifts, art and flowers.
“When it became known we would be moving into [the Cowgirl Creamery] space, there was such a groundswell of support from our community,” says Luke. “Everybody was, like, ‘You’re the best people we can imagine doing this.’ We had an Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign to make this happen, and everyone really stepped up. So it really is a community effort.”
Everything you see at West Marin Culture Shop has been thoughtfully selected by Luke, Maggie and their kitchen manager (aka “sourcing expert”) Miguel Kuntz. “Every single product we bring in has to be organic or better, with minimal packaging. We’re not a grocery store with a million SKUs, but rather a place that offers the best of the best in order for you to have an incredible picnic or restock your pantry,” says Maggie.
Wild West Ferments has gained a following across the U.S. for its small-batch probiotic foods, all sourced and produced locally and sustainably using traditional food preservation and fermentation techniques. From their pickles to their taqueria-style El Curtido and Roots Culture Kimchi, their products are all grown locally and organically with seasonal herbs and spices.
One of the most popular offerings at the West Marin Culture Shop is Wild West Ferments’ fresh fruit sodas paired with Double 8 Dairy’s buffalo milk soft serve. “We have different sodas depending on what’s in season. In the summertime we had strawberry-rose-geranium soda, peach-almond and pear-coriander. They’re all made from natural fruit with a little bit of raw honey, a botanical, spice or herbal flavor and fermented long enough to become fizzy and probiotic,” says Maggie.
Other offerings include artisanal crackers from The Sourdough Project, salumi and charcuterie from Canteen Meats, chocolate from Louisa Abram, koji-fermented miso from Shared Cultures, Keepwell vinegars, wine, beer, and of course an entire case dedicated to local organic cheeses, including favorites from Cowgirl Creamery. “Cheese is, after all, fermented milk,” notes Miguel. They also sell Brickmaiden Breads’ sourdough baguettes to complement the array of picnic-friendly offerings.
While West Marin Culture Shop is the site’s primary business, the space includes independent proprietors that beautifully complement the shop’s offerings. Flower Bed Florals, run by artist Laurie Sawyer and her daughter, Claire, showcases fresh, locally grown flowers, as well as original artwork, cards and gifts. Elizabeth Patterson from Blue Dot Farm produces yarn and other products made from local wool.
West Marin Culture Shop is also partnering with different food makers to offer hot, prepared foods. Their current tenant is The Farmer’s Wife. “They make all of these bombastic grilled cheese sandwiches and really highlight produce from the farmers market, along with our sauerkrauts and kimchees,” says Maggie.
Just as you could watch Cowgirl Creamery crafting cheese, you can see Wild West Ferments at work in their glass-paneled commercial kitchen. They are opening it to budding chefs and food entrepreneurs as well.
“It’s our way of giving back to the food-producer community because we had such a hard time finding kitchen space when we were starting out,” says Maggie. They’re also welcoming additional vendors. “We’re looking to find new food enterprises, especially local agriculture, and create a community food hub.”
Open since last July, the space is already bustling with energy, enthusiastic visitors and, of course, an abundance of nutrient-rich probiotics. •
The West Marin Culture Shop is open Friday through Monday, 11am until 5pm. For upcoming workshops and classes, visit www.wildwestferments.com.
Elisse Gabriel is a professional writer and editor whose work has appeared in Stone Pier Press, Greater Good Magazine, Williams Sonoma, Sunset and more. redballooncreativecontent.com.
