The Old Dutch Store is a 26- year old store who is loved and appreciated by many around the United States. It offers a large variety of foods that you would find in the local Albert Heijn grocery store in Holland. The store is modeled after one of the quaint stores you would find down one of the rustic roads in a small village found in Northern Holland.

In March of 2003, the store came under new ownership when the Van Schelt-Humphries family took over.

Sharon Van Schelt’s father immigrated in December, 1951. Her father, Peter, was the first in his family to come to America. Nine months after serving in the Dutch Navy, Peter decided to immigrate to the United States from his home in Dordrecht, Netherlands. His family was not happy that he left, but he was excited to begin a new life! Originally, Peter was going to move to California, but after driving in a bus all the way from New York, he decided to make the next stop his home, Salt Lake City, UT.

He came to America with experience as a butcher, $1.75 in his pocket, and a hole in his shoe! When Peter got off the bus, he didn’t know anyone or how he was going to earn money. But, he was a friendly, intelligent man (half of Utah and all of Holland know Peter), and he worked out all the details.

In June, 1952, Peter met his sweetheart, Mitzie Emo. She was born in Utrecht, Netherlands. She too, immigrated to America with her family. This is how the Van Schelt family began!

Back in 1978, Peter was asked by one of the original owners of The Old Dutch Store to help him set up a lunch meat and cheese counter and to work it for only a few months. A few months went by but Peter enjoyed the store so much that he continued working at the store a few times a week for the next 25 years.

The original owners were getting to the retirement age, and Peter was offered an opportunity to keep the Dutch tradition alive in Salt Lake City. His youngest daughter, Sharon, and her husband, Glenn, agreed that tradition and the love of their Dutch heritage was enough for them to venture into the retail business.

Today, Peter continues to work at The Old Dutch Store, but now it’s a family affair. Glenn and Sharon Humphries have enjoyed their new adventure, owning the store. Their daughters, Crystal & Katie, are both heavily involved in managing and marketing the store. And, as for Peter, his work is still not over. He’s now making the bratwurst, the weisswurst, the headcheese and much more while mentoring his granddaughter, Katie in the fine art of sausage making – the old-fashioned way.

The experience is definitely adding to the appreciation of the traditions Sharon’s parents created and followed all the way back to their relatives in Zwijndrecht, Netherlands.

The Old Dutch Store’s objective is to find the European foods that Americans love. The products are imported from Holland, Germany, Norway, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Switzerland, Austria, and Belgium, and customer requests are helping to increase the store’s mix.

OldDutchStore.com wants people to know that Holland is a friendly country and that Dutch people are warm, have strong traditions, and love delicious foods. Let The Old Dutch Store help you find the products that you love!