With at least 20 years experience operating a clothing store, jewelry shop and restaurant in Cannon Beach, Jim Oyala knew what shoppers sought most in Cannon Beach: food, clothing and art.

When Mary Ann Oyala decided she wanted a coffee shop in the 2nd and Larch complex, she first approached Sleepy Monks Coffee in Midtown Cannon Beach.

But the shops owners, Victor and Jane Harding suggested that they pursue Hillsboro-based Insomnia Coffee Company, instead.

It turned out to be a good suggestion.

We’re thrilled to be a part of 2nd and Larch, said Tyler Geel, who owns Insomnia along with Evan Aldrete. The landlords are amazing, personable people who truly treat us like family. In fact, they’ve donated artwork and a lamp that fit right into the decor of our shop.

Geel called the building masterfully designed, keeping the aesthetic of Cannon Beach proper but with an updated feel.

Truly, it’s breathtaking at night with all the spotlights on the variety of mediums wood, concrete, metal, rock … it sparkles, Geel said.

An added bonus to having a Cannon Beach location, he added, is having Sleepy Monks Coffee in the same town. Sleepy Monks supplies Insomnias coffee beans.

Being in Cannon Beach is a dream come true, he said. Aldrete spent his honeymoon in the Waves Motel across the street from the coffee shop, so we feel like it’s kind of full circle for us to be a part of the community now, he said.

And that is one of our goals to be a part of the community. We’re here for the long haul, investing in the people who are here, locals and visitors, Geel added.

With its high ceilings, benches and overstuffed chairs, Insomnia attracts those who want artisan handcrafted coffee drinks and pastries to accompany their conversations.

We’ve been called the Anthropology coffee shop because of our recycled materials feel, Geel said. Many of the design elements have been purchased from Habitat For Humanity, and all of our lighting and cabinet doors are reused.

We’re believers in taking things that have been discarded and giving them new life. When we use antiques and organic, natural materials, it all seems to piece together quite nicely.

Oil and Vinegar

At The Oil and Vinegar Bar at Cannon Beach, Shelley Crane sells only two products: pure olive oils infused with herbs, citrus or chilies and 18-year Balsamic vinegars infused with a variety of fruits, as well as chocolate. So far, business is good, she said.

I looked at buildings for 1 1/2 years. I came down on four different occasions and watched the traffic, said Crane, who worked in a friends olive oil store in Leavenworth, Wash., before opening her own at 2nd and Larch.

By the time Crane was ready to start her business, she was familiar with Cannon Beach. Her experience as a former Depoe Bay resident also taught her about the vagaries of winter.

The building suits her needs, she said.

I love it, Crane said. Its wonderful. The owners are wonderful. Everyone in the building is great.

The olives in the oil she sells come from California, but some of the olives are descended from groves that originated in Spain more than 100 years ago. The oil is pure olive oil, unlike most other olive oils found in grocery stores, which are 10 percent olive oil and 90 percent canola oil, Crane said.

Her oils are infused with flavors: jalapenos, rosemary, garlic, basil, oregano or roasted chili, lemons, limes or oranges.

On the shelves opposite the oils are imported Balsamic vinegars from Modena, Italy. Aged 18 years in oak barrels, they are the consistency of syrup.

Crane infuses the syrups with flavors of peach, mango, pomegranate, raspberry or chocolate. Theyre good for pouring over ice cream, blending into yogurt or even drizzling over chocolate cake.

The shop does its own bottling and labeling.

Those who have visited the shop often go to the website and order more, Crane said.

Everyone in this complex has something new to add to the town, she said. People are looking for artisan-made goods. Its a reason to come back to Cannon Beach.

Organic Boutique

Mary Tierney came back to Cannon Beach, where she played as a child, to open her Organic Boutique store at the 2nd and Larch complex.

Its always been my dream to live here, she said. The ocean is healing, and the village is a delight.

Everything in the store even the paint on the walls and floor is organic. Tierney researches products thoroughly to determine where they are manufactured (she tries to buy items made only in the U.S.) and whether they are certified organic. Then she tries the products herself.

If I dont love them, I dont carry them, she said.

Her inventory includes clothing, linens, body and hair care products, baby items, eco-friendly dog supplies, organic fruit juices and, of course, organic chocolate.

Recent customers Tracy Abel and Ann-Marie Radich, who both work in Cannon Beach, stopped in to shop for a bridal shower.

Im excited that I can find things for all ages, Radich said. I found something for the bride, and they also have something for my 8-month-old niece.

Tierney said she is thrilled with the location. Because it was just built, she could have a say in the finishing of the interior instead of having to gut an older store.

I couldnt ask for better people to work with, Tierney said. I had been looking for a place for four years.

Sea Soles 

Gina Simone, of the Sea Soles shoe store, agreed with Tierney. Simone owns the store with Melissa Kiefer. They also have a Sea Soles in Seaside.

The Oyalas did an amazing job, Simone said. They waited until they could do it just right.

When she first saw the architectural drawings, Simone said, it just felt perfect. This is a great fit.

Simone, who opened her Seaside store in 2009, had always wanted a store in Cannon Beach but never found the appropriate space. She promotes her business as the provider of fashion footwear of the North Coast.

We try to have brands that people recognize but styles that they dont usually see, Simone said.

Because the stores may have different styles, some shoppers check out the Seaside store, too, she added.

Madeleine Tibbits, of Olympia, Wash., who visited the store with her parents, found a pair of flip-flops she couldnt do without. The family had already visited the olive-and-vinegar store and was about to go to Insomnia Coffee.

The building attracted the Tibbits curiousity.

We just walked up from the beach, and this looked fresh and inviting, said Stephanie Tibbits, Madeleines mother.