Ole the famous troll of Market Street is retiring and so is owner Solveig Hatley who has run the Scandinavian Gift Shop since 1981.

"I will take life easy and travel. I'm going to Norway in July. I will miss it (the store) very much," Solveig said.

Son Steve Hatley said the family was trying to decide what to do with Ole the famous troll, which has stood on Market Street for the last 10 years. A different troll had occupied the spot prior to that.

Ole will be moving to the Norse Home on Phinney Ridge when the store closes in June at the request of its residents who wrote a letter to the Hatley's asking to have Ole to live with them. The letter was signed by 38 people.

"The Norse Home is a perfect place for him. He will have lots of friends who will welcome him into the family," said Steve Hatley.

According to legend, trolls live in the mountains and forests of Norway. The trolls are legendary in Norwegian folktales.

"Ole is an icon. People want to take pictures with him," said Steve Hatley.

Hatley and her late husband Sverre moved to Ballard from Norway in the 1950s. They started a wholesale business in 1970 selling Scandinavian gifts and later decided to open a retail store in Ballard.

For the import side of the business, the Hatleys brought merchandise from sources in Norway, Sweden and Denmark. Storeowners from across the U.S. purchased goods from them.

They found a location on Market Street that was formerly occupied by Olympic Sport.

"There was no Scandinavian gift shop here and we had the merchandise," said Solveig.

The trademark chalet style arch above the front entry and another one in the store fit the Scandinavian theme they were looking for.

"This was a perfect location, like it was custom built for a Scandinavian shop," said son Steve Hatley.

Steve Hatley has been working at the store part and fulltime since the age of 21.

The area once had numerous Scandinavian businesses. Steve Hatley recalls the Norwegian Knits Yarn Shop and other stores in the neighborhood.

"A number of shops have disappeared over the years," said Steve Hatley.

"In the old days, you could walk up and down the street and hear all the accents. It was always fun to hear," he said.

Solveig ran the store during the days. Sverre worked as a carpenter and would help run the import side of the business after hours until he retired at the age of 87. Then he began working at the store fulltime.

The Norwegian trolls, sweaters, Swedish clogs, candles from Norway, crystal and glass from Sweden and cookbooks became popular items. Ballard musician Stan Boreson's tapes are a best sellers at the store.

"We have a lot of out of towners visiting that don't have Scandinavian gift shops in their towns. They come once or twice a year and always stop to say hi and say how glad they are that we are here," said Steve Hatley.

Former employee and family friend Laurie Porter stopped to visit last week. She worked at the store from 1982 to 1986.

"The 17th of May is always very fun. You see Scandinavians come in with bunads on. I don't speak much Norwegian, so it's always a joy to hear it," said Porter.

For the Solveig and Sverre Hatley, running the store put them in touch with the community. When local banks needed a translator who spoke Norwegian, they called Solveig.

"They loved working here and meeting all the customers. It did not seem like work for them," said Steve Hatley.

Solveig says her customers are sad about the store closing. "We really like Ballard. We like the customers. It's a good area to be in," said Solveig.

Steve Hatley and his mother Solveig plan to remain living in Ballard after the store closes its door for the last time.

Dean Wong may be reached at deanw@robinsonnews.com or 783.1244.