Goodwin & Sons Market in Crestline, California, is back to serving customers after record snowfalls in the San Bernardino Mountains crushed the roof of the store in the wee hours of March 1, 2023. Eventually, the entire store collapsed, leading to the opportunity for a redesign.
“We built, we believe, one of the most beautiful grocery stores we’ve ever seen. We brought back the Swiss-Italian roots of the town and gave it a Swiss roof. And not only does it overlook the lake, but we’ve [created] a way where you can appreciate the view,” said George Goodwin, great-grandson of the founder, referring to the elevated indoor/outdoor seating area in the front of the 45,000-square-foot store.
A unique feature inside the store is bookshelves above the wine and refrigerated cases.
“Every book was given to us by a community member, and they wrote a note in it,” Goodwin said.
The store also features artwork related to Lake Gregory, photos of community members, and a photo of late co-founder George Goodwin Sr., who was a dairy farmer.
“It’s like Whole Foods but with a community touch,” Goodwin said.
Goodwin & Sons Market reopened in just 14 months, “which is pretty quick for a store like that,” he said. “The city was supportive because it was an essential store for the community.”
Goodwin’s is the only food store within 5 to 8 miles for most of the area’s 15,000 or so residents.
While the store has been serving customers again since May, the official grand opening took place Aug. 23, the birthday of George Goodwin Jr., who opened the first store with his dad, George Sr.
The town and Goodwin family celebrated the opening with remarks from city dignitaries, music, barbecue and giveaways. The day started with a ribbon-cutting ceremony at 9 a.m., and the festivities lasted until 4 p.m.
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A Goodwin’s store has served Crestline residents for 77 years. The first, small store was opened by the father-and-son George Goodwins in 1946 after George Jr. returned from the three years serving in the U.S. Navy.
A new 8,000-square-foot store was built in 1957; it was remodeled several times to reach 19,000 square feet before a new 42,000-square-foot location was constructed in 1985. That was the store that collapsed.
But the store was able to serve customers even in the immediate aftermath of the roof caving in.
Area residents, some of whom had not been able to get food for days, “walked maybe a couple of miles to our parking lot. Even though our store roof was gone, it was roped off, and we had a warehouse that we were giving out food from,” Goodwin said. “It was just a moment where the community came together. It was very humbling to be able to give food to people and be there to support them and to support ourselves.”
Today, Goodwin & Sons Market is operated by George Jr.’s son, David Goodwin, and grandson, Michael Johnstone.
