About us
The Hansen family has been part of the Eureka community since the 1800s, and North Coast Mercantile is now in its third generation.
After World War I the Hansen/Sharpe partnership was formed in Burkes Grocery at 1903 Myrtle Avenue. In the early 1930s the Hansen family bought out Sharpe and the business became the Harry O. Hansen Grocery. Harry ran the grocery until his retirement in 1966, then rented the building to other businesses until the city took it down to make room for the intersection at Myrtle and West Avenues.
Harry Hansen and a group of locals formed North Coast Mercantile Co., Inc. The company sat at the foot of "D" Street in Eureka as a wholesale grocery house and Campton Electric Supply. Acquiring Hamm's Beer and Gallo Wine started the beverage division.
Sid Hansen, Harry's son, earned his degree in Accounting from Humboldt State University and started work at North Coast Mercantile in 1951. When North Coast Mercantile and Campton Electric Supply became two independent businesses, North Coast Mercantile became the beverage company and Sid became its President and General Manager.
Growth has been steady and sometimes very exciting. During the 1964 flood, with roads and bridges washed out, commercial fishing vessels and cargo planes brought product into Humboldt County. Anheuser-Busch has been a vital partner of North Coast Mercantile and the North Coast community, supplying bottled water to communities in times of disaster.
Today North Coast Mercantile is in its third generation, with Rob Hansen, Sid's son, running the company. The Hansen family plans to keep serving Humboldt and Del Norte counties for years to come.
- After WWIThe Hansen/Sharpe partnership opens in Burkes Grocery on Myrtle Avenue.
- 1930sThe Hansens buy out Sharpe: the Harry O. Hansen Grocery.
- Hamm's & GalloTwo beverage lines start North Coast Mercantile's beverage division.
- 1951Sid Hansen joins after Humboldt State, later President and General Manager.
- 1964Flood: fishing boats and cargo planes bring product in when the roads wash out.
- TodayThird generation: Rob Hansen runs the company.