I dreamed I was sorting through a big box of Atlas palm gloves, the ones with Latex on one side. They were in all colors and sizes. It wasn’t hard to trace this dream to its point of origin: I had finally discovered Lummi Fisheries Supply, hiding in plain sight at the intersection of Leary & Ballard Way.

It all started with boots. I’ve had XtraTuf boot envy since they came on my radar last June as my daughter outfitted herself for field research on a barge in northeastern Siberia. At the time we didn’t know where to shop and drove the streets near Fisherman’s Terminal until a retail location emerged. On the day before Thanksgiving I finally learned that I have been passing the number one outfitter for commercial fishing for 25 years – daily.

Those of you who read my account of descending into the de-watered Big Lock sensed a growing obsession with the rubber boot that is the choice of those who fish commercially. (They wear them 18 hours a day). On the night of the Ballard Writers’ Book Slam I was the recipient of a gift from all the participants, packaged as the At Large in Ballard Survival Kit. The Ballard Historical Society’s 2012 maritime-themed calendar, a bottle of wine and a box of Cadeaux Chocolates (caramel Fleur de Sel) were peeking from my own pair of 16” XtraTuf boots. It was all I could do not to sleep in them that night.

But were they the right size? I followed former commercial fisherwoman Laura K. Cooper’s car to a grey building almost directly across from The Ravioli Station on Leary. Once again a business known throughout the world had escaped my notice in Ballard. The retail location off Leary is more a matter of convenience for locals; Lummi Fisheries Supply (LFS) sometimes ships up to 15 containers per week just to Alaska.

I was intrigued by a cardboard sign below the counter, “Hello, my name is Mr. Jeff.” I knew I’d need to return in my now correctly sized boots to meet Mr. Jeff after Thanksgiving. He wasn’t the only character in residence; the almost invisible building houses a combination of outsize gear and outsize personalities, from “The Legend” through former football star and Ballard alum “The Coleminator.” Visiting from the Bellingham location to provide computer support, Rick Lobb listened silently to the banter that plays out between retail and back office, local and international sales. He let his t-shirt handle the communication.

All the staff has longtime work experience in the marine industry. Jeff Robertson has been at LFS for 15 years. He used to work for one of their biggest customers and his former boss claimed he was going to jump off the Ballard Bridge when he left. Main Manager Jamie Eik was at Seattle Marine for 25 years; he’s been at LFS the last fourteen. After a particularly successful first year Eik received a card from Trident Seafoods Chairman and Founder Chuck Bundrant, “You are what legends are made of…” According to Eik, Jeff took that and just ran with it. There’s now a “Legend” product line.

LFS bills itself as able to outfit any boat, “from bow to stern.” Eik’s marketing creativity has led him to realize how many of those products are also essential in other industries such as janitorial and office supplies. “We do everything,” Eik said, “And we know what we’re good at.”

LFS imports from all over the world and they ship all over the world. Founded in 1967 and owned by Trident Seafoods since 1980 the grey building just looks like a warehouse, which is just fine by them. A more trafficked retail location would interfere with the bulk of their business supplying customers worldwide. Which doesn’t mean Diane Boratyn can’t pick up gloves for her aquaculture business or an aunt purchase child-sized XtraTuf boots for her toddler niece.

I apologized for not knowing about their existence before this year but the folks at LFS couldn’t care less. Anyone who really needs their products finds them eventually whether they are on-line in Korea or in person in Dutch Harbor. But if you want to meet Mr. Jeff in person you will have to find that almost hidden door off Ballard Way.

For more information, visit https://www.lfsmarineoutdoor.com/.