JAndy Oyster Co. is excited to introduce someone many of you may already recognize. John Northrop has stepped into the role of General Manager at JAndy Oyster Co., and his journey to Tillamook is one of those stories that reminds us why this community is so special. For this month’s Access Member Spotlight, we connected with John to learn more about what brought him here, what keeps him here, and what he’s looking forward to in his new role.
John grew up in El Paso, Texas, and spent more than 15 years serving as an officer in the U.S. Coast Guard. His career took him all over the country and overseas, but it was his final station in Astoria that made a lasting impression. He and his wife fell in love with the Oregon coast, and even after a move to New Mexico, the pull of this area never really went away.
When he was offered the chance to open a Starbucks in Tillamook, they knew they were ready for the next adventure. Even though that chapter didn’t unfold the way they expected, John says the path forward couldn’t have been clearer. “God opened doors that allowed us to continue building our life here,” he shared and they’re so glad they stayed.
John and his wife have now been here just over three years, and like so many who move to Tillamook, the thing that stands out most to them is the people. They didn’t know a single person when they arrived, but the welcome they received made Tillamook feel like home almost immediately.
“This community is like a big family,” John said. “We felt included from the start.” Even during the uncertainty of Starbucks’ closure, they knew they weren’t ready to leave. Tillamook had become home and they plan to stay.
John’s background is one of those rare combinations of service, leadership, and hands-on business experience. The Coast Guard taught him lessons in leadership sometimes the hard way, and Starbucks helped him soften that military style into a people-first approach.
He also picked up the day-to-day pieces of managing a busy retail and restaurant environment, inventory, staffing, sales, and everything that keeps a business running smoothly. No matter the role, one thing stayed the same, John loves serving people, whether they’re customers or teammates.
That focus aligns perfectly with the culture Todd and Tamra Perman have built at JAndy Oyster Co.. “The key to JAndy’s success is a strong team that cares about our customers and about each other,” John said. “I’m excited to be part of that.”
For John, the best part of joining JAndy is getting the chance to stay connected to the community he loves. When Starbucks closed, the hardest part wasn’t the business transition it was losing the relationships built over years of daily conversations and shared moments.
Now, in his role at JAndy, those familiar faces are showing up again. “I’ve already reconnected with so many people,” he said. “And I’m meeting new regulars every day.”
He’s also enjoying getting to know the team behind the scenes. “Everyone here has such interesting life stories,” John said. “I’m looking forward to learning more about them and sharing those stories with the community.
Be sure to stop by JAndy Oyster Co. and say hello.