Drawing People Back for 50 Years

Owners John and Peg Lowry. Photo by Sue Anschutz

BLUE DOLPHIN HOUSE REFLECTS
COUPLE’S LOVE OF TIME & PLACE
 

The Blue Dolphin House and BDH Studio provide visitors not just a place to shop, but also an indoor and outdoor venue to explore, imagine and learn.

Located on 4.5 acres just north of Ephraim, the shop is housed within an 1860s renovated farmhouse; and a log building once central to an orchard is home to BDH Studio.

Owners John and Peg Lowry’s vision for the business took hold when they moved to Door County, but it is the experience they create and their unique merchandise that entices new visitors to this “jewel in the pines” that has been bringing loyal customers back for exactly 50 years.

One such person is James Fisher, a retired buyer for Gimbels and Marshall Fields and a customer for more than 16 years.

“Peg and John are very passionate about their business. They have a variety of new and different pieces of art and introduce variations of traditional cooking merchandise. Everything is of very high quality,” Fischer said. “While in Door County, the Blue Dolphin House is one of my must stops.”

In 1968 John Lowry, a high school social studies teacher in Kohler, Wis., and his mother, Amy, an active and well-known local artist, opened Blue Dolphin in a rented building at the south entrance to Ephraim. John later met Peg (Nissen), an art teacher from Iowa, in his hometown of Manitowoc, and the couple married in 1971. Peg joined the business and she and John taught school during the year and helped run the business during summers. When John’s mother retired in 1973, they took over the complete operation.

Peg and John will never claim their job has been easy. In the early years of ownership, the couple was living in Manitowoc, teaching in Kohler and operating Blue Dolphin in Ephraim. When Peg resigned from teaching, she and John opened a second store, Blue Dolphin II in Manitowoc. It wasn’t until 1982 that they found the perfect property and made Door County their single business location and year-round home.

“We had a hard time imagining living anywhere else,” Peg said. “It’s more than a lifestyle here. It’s a mindset.”

Relax in the wooden chairs in the shaded perennial garden next to the studio or sit beneath a cupola that sings the sounds of dozens of wind chimes, and one can easily echo this attitude.

John and Peg have always stayed true to their concept to make fine arts and crafts a part of the living environment.

“When you purchase items from The Blue Dolphin, you are buying a piece of that artist. We’ve seen a progression in the arts industry, and customers appreciate functional art for everyday use. We base our selection of merchandise on design, functionality and artistic appeal,” Peg said.

Visitors can find one-of-a-kind blown glassware or vases, paintings and wall art, mobiles, and locally crafted pottery, as well as tableware designed by a nationally commissioned artist. Home accessories include unique wall clock art, custom lamps and tables. Personal art accessories include collections of jewelry and watches in many distinct styles.

Each new season begins as a blank canvas. In March, every room in the Blue Dolphin House and Studio is emptied and arrangements of new merchandise and original works of art are showcased. Some merchandise is selected from well-known names and purchased at buying shows in Philadelphia and New York, while other products are crafted locally. A few featured artists have partnered with Blue Dolphin for more than 25 years.

Blue Dolphin House offers an attractive selection of items for the kitchen, dining, entertainment and much more.

Information about the artisanship or designer is often exhibited on placards near their works. John and Peg believe every moment is a teaching moment with their customers and by knowing more about the artist or the technique used to create the product the public better understands its artistry and value.

For those who entertain, the Blue Dolphin House helps gladden any gathering with distinctive glass serving platters or ceramics featuring hand-cut designs of spectacular color, then baked in a kiln and finished. Unique styles of salad plates and forks, hand-designed stainless steel serving utensils, and a variety of wood ware are also available.

“Overall, residents and visitors to Door County expect more, are well-traveled, and appreciate an entertaining lifestyle,” Peg said. This continues to influence the merchandise choices.

Growing up in Iowa and a member of 4-H, farm-to-table was a way of life for Peg. She always loved to cook and has an interest in gardening. John was in the restaurant business from 1959 to 1968. Both have an appreciation for eating well and incorporating fresh and simple ingredients into their meals. This continues to inspire Blue Dolphin’s wide array of innovative items for the kitchen. A selection of cookbooks highlight recipes for healthier eating, fresh produce and local fruit favorites. Gourmet food and a wide variety of kitchen gadgets and high-quality functional cooking favorites attract customers who really want and like to cook.

As chairman of the Liberty Grove Town Board, John helped bring Northeast Wisconsin Technical College Learning and Innovation Center to Sister Bay. The Center is home to a working commercial kitchen that offers access to a variety of equipment for entrepreneurs interested in developing their products. The college provides resources and classes, such as business planning, budgeting, licensing, food safety, and more help for business start-ups to develop and eventually market and process their products.

According to John, having this resource not only helps the individual owner but also contributes to economic development and vitality of a year round economy.

“I look at my involvement in our community as a responsibility and a way to give back for having the opportunity to live and work here,” John added.

The couple’s business experience is often sought by others looking for advice. What has been the secret to their success? The Lowrys say for them it has been a good division of labor; keeping up with technology and staying fresh with the right mix and vitality; and, most importantly, having an understanding from the beginning that it’s not going to be easy, but the reward is great.

Blue Dolphin House and BDH Studio are open daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. April through October and are located at 10320 N. Water Street in Ephraim, WI or online at bluedolphinhouse.com.