New places to shop in Allyn

Danna Webster, KP News

Two new businesses opened in Allyn this summer: Marty’s Music and Twisted Angel. Their offices are on the corner of State Route 3 and Lakeland Drive. One third of the building is also occupied by George Kenny’s School of Chainsaw Carving.

Marty’s Music owners, Donna and Marty Bush, are Mason County natives. They met in fifth grade and both came from families where music was played in their homes.

Twisted Angel owner Roy Terry operates a 1919 Singer pedal sewing machine. The Singer and Terry will sew patches for customers on their store apparel. Photo by Danna Webster

“It was part of growing up in Agate,” Donna says. Marty’s mother played guitar and his uncle taught him how to play. Accordions, guitars and harmonicas were played in Donna’s house.

Music is important in the their lives today. Marty leads the music worship at North Mason Bible Church and plays with a group of friends each week. Donna admits to blowing the harmonica a little. “I’m good at playing the radio,” she says.

The store offers new guitars for sale and pre-owned guitars on consignment. Many accessories are available for band and orchestra instruments including strings, reeds, resin, straps, and drum sticks. Music lessons are not available at the store but Marty can match up students with teachers in the area.

This is a first-time attempt for the Bush couple to operate their own business. They decided they should try while they are young. “Marty always wanted to open a music store,” says Donna. “You’ve got to jump in and do it. Take a leap of faith.” The grand opening celebration was Sept. 30.

Next door to the music store is an apparel shop for motorcycle riders. Leather jackets, chaps, shirts and jewelry with biker logos and popular emblems line the walls and hang on racks. The store also carries heated winter wear like Gergings. It is called Twisted Angel and like their neighbors at the music store, owner Roy Terry and his assistant, Kristine Thaves, were ready to try something different. Terry and Thaves have both lived all their lives in Mason County and each of them drives a school bus for the local school district. Both ride Harleys; Terry rides Heritage Softail and Thaves a Dyna Low Rider.

Twisted Angel opened Memorial Day in this new location. The name for the store is patented and was derived after playing with ideas for names. It suggests someone who is not quite an angel, who is “not perfect, just doing the best he can,” says Terry.

Terry had operated for a brief time on property above North Bay Road.

According to Thaves, the store is not just a Harley shop. “It’s for all bikes, not just Harley,” she says. “We have good quality merchandise and great prices. People are happy we are here.”

Twisted Angel hopes to get involved with rides that contribute to the community. Thaves says there are always weekly events for riders and often the rides raise funds for charitable causes, such as the Toy Rides at Christmas time. Poker Runs, where bikers ride from point to point picking up cards, are also popular fund-raisers.

“We love biking,” says Thaves. “Bikers are just one big family. They are the first to stop and help along the road.”

At the far end of the building is George Kenny’s Chainsaw School. The third shop in the building is Kenny’s woodcarving gallery. Kenny manages the building for the new owners and displays carvings on the property adjacent to the building.

Watching chainsaw carvers work is a main attraction in Allyn. According to store manager Shari Stormo, the longtime carving shop has had a good summer. “We are booking right into October for classes,” she says, and adds “that there will be a couple of weeks off for Kenny during the fall hunting season, but the store will keep its regular operating hours.”