You may have visited these Seaside businesses when you were a kid, and now you’re returning with your own family. Ter Har’s boutique, Pig ’n Pancake restaurant and Phillips Candies shop are among the many establishments in Seaside long run by second- and third-generation family members, and all have decades of fascinating history to share. How much local history do you know? Read up to learn more. 

Enduring Coastal Gifts and Styles

The ubiquitous clothing store Ter Har’s (27 Broadway) celebrated its 70th birthday in May 2021. But did you know the shop started as a hotel and gift shop? It was originally the three-story Merriman Hotel, with a gift store on the ground floor, founded by Bud and Jean Ter Har in 1951. According to the Seaside Signal, the couple worked as traveling salespeople for a Seattle-based gift company before moving to Seaside. When they opened the shop, they lived at the back of the building for some time while raising their two boys, Peter and Jeff. They soon added clothing to the store and moved to Gearhart to use their living space for retail. Though Bud passed away in 2009, Jean still lives in Gearhart while Jeff and his wife, Paivi, run the business with their daughter, Tessa. All of the grandchildren have worked in the business over the years, no doubt leaving their own stamp on the space.

A Family-Run Pancake Empire

When it comes to can’t-miss meals in Seaside, the mountains of fluffy pancakes at Pig ’n Pancake (323 Broadway) might be first to mind. This Seaside-born destination — now with restaurants in Cannon Beach, Newport, Lincoln City and Astoria — all started when Bob and Marianne Poole opened the first location in 1961 with $100 cash and $2,000 worth of borrowed equipment. The Pooles have since remodeled and expanded a number of times. Today Seaside’s iconic breakfast spot seats 240 diners and includes a large gift shop — all carried on by the Pooles’ children and grandchildren, who use the same recipes for buttermilk, Swedish, sourdough and French-batter pancakes that originally drew in the crowds in the ’60s. 

A Sweet Legacy Continues

Rows upon rows of rocky road, homemade saltwater taffy, caramel corn and all the gummy treats delight sweet tooths of all ages at Phillips Candies (217 Broadway) today, just as they did back in 1897 —  making it the oldest continuously run business in Seaside. The Phillips family took ownership of the candy shop at this site in 1936, and longtime owner Steve Phillips Jr. has kept the same exact chocolate recipe in use. Phillips recently sold the shop to another local family, who own the Times Theatre, Funland and other historic businesses in town. Phillips Candies has also reopened after a major renovation, which means more aisles of sweet treats for all.