Regulars of Pickles Deli might miss a familiar face behind the counter next time they visit.
Longtime owner Kim Bailey, who opened the popular Ken’s Korner sandwich shop in 2006, recently sold the business to Chantell Boyle, her manager of four years.
After 18 years, Bailey felt it was time to move on and pass her delectable legacy on to someone else. Though she’ll miss everyone, she has big plans to finally take a summer off and travel, including visiting family on the East Coast and touring the national parks.
But there’s no need to panic, Bailey has assured loyal customers. The quality of Pickles Deli will remain the same under Boyle’s tenure.
“I think it would be kind of a fool’s move to change anything about Pickles,” Boyle said.
By happy coincidence, the new owner turned 34 this week, which is the exact same age that Bailey started Pickles.
Boyle, who grew up on South Whidbey, has a long family history with the shop, where her ex-husband, fiancé and sister have all been employed at some point. She never imagined she’d one day own Pickles when Bailey approached her in 2020 about a job managing her staff.
“I just feel really blessed that she trusts me to take over the legacy,” Boyle said.
She added, “My kids literally call her Auntie Kim.”
A few years after the deli first opened, she recalled bringing her son in, who was then around 3 or 4 years old, for a pickle on a stick.
The shop’s namesake continues to be found everywhere around it, from inside giant barrels to dangling from the ceiling to being served as a spear with each sandwich sold.
“I guess I hadn’t realized what I had created over here,” Bailey reflected. “I know everybody’s names and what they want.”
Her last day on the clock is New Year’s Eve.
The Island Menu, which started last year to feed community members in need, will continue. Bailey said about six to 10 people a day regularly come in and use it. Donations are needed to keep it going.
(Photo by David Welton) Kim Bailey with a barrel full of pickles.
(Photo by David Welton) Kim Bailey with a BLT.
