Sunrise light on a grove of tufa towers emerging from the water of Mono Lake with soft green and dusty-red wild grasses in the foreground, Canada geese in the shallow water with reflections of the rocky towers, and desert hills in the distance.

Supporting local Lee Vining businesses

Mono Cone swirl cone. Happy me! Selfie by Nora Livingston.
Mono Cone swirl cone. Happy me! Selfie by Nora Livingston.

Lee Vining is getting busier as spring brings more visitors with the arrival of fishing season. In preparation for the fishing season opener (April 30), a few more businesses in town opened their doors after a winter of hibernation. I made it my goal today to support as many local businesses as possible, because we all work together as a town to both provide for locals and bring visitors here to boost the town economy and garner love for this community and its surrounding beauty (like Mono Lake!). If people didn’t visit Lee Vining and support the businesses, it would be a lot harder to protect the lake because a whole lot fewer people would know it existed.

The best part of the day was interacting with the business owners and employees. It reminded me that I am a part of a vibrant, caring community. There is nothing like going into a store or restaurant where the people know your name and welcome you with a big smile.

My shop-a-thon started at the Mono Market. I shop here pretty much every day (so often that the lovely cashier has my charge account number memorized) and I love the variety that the owner, Chris, provides—he has organic options for almost everything, and more easily affordable options as well—and the produce section is well stocked for such a small market.

The Mono Market. This photo is old, note the amount of snow in the background---there isn't that much this year!
The Mono Market. This photo is old, note the amount of snow in the background—there isn’t that much this year! Mono Lake Committee archive photo.

For lunch, I bought fish tacos and french fries from the Whoa Nellie Deli at the Tioga Gas Mart. Longtime employee Jackie and I discussed when Tioga Pass might be opening and how we can’t wait for the live music at the Deli to start again (Thursday evenings throughout the summer).

Next I went to the Bronze Bear Trading Post, where I hung out with the owner Cheryl and caught up on how things had been going with her. We admired the new blankets and sandals that had just came in. I eventually picked out a beautiful turquoise ring that is now settled on my left index finger.

Goodies: Ring from Bronze Bear, Hammer and towel from Beaver's Sporting Goods, and DVD rental from the Chevron. Photo by Nora Livingston
Goodies: Ring from Bronze Bear, hammer and towel from Beaver’s Sporting Goods, and DVD rental from the Chevron. Photo by Nora Livingston.

I crossed the street to check out Beaver’s Sporting Goods. They have everything! Fishing gear, home improvement tools, clothes, kitchenware, games, camping gear, you name it. I chatted with Brad and Margie about the season starting up and walked out of there the proud owner of a shiny new hammer and a soft microfiber towel.

Later in the day, I walked up to the Mono Cone to eat a delicious chocolate and vanilla swirled ice cream cone before the storm came in and made it cold again. Yum! Owner Cara told me her 11-month-old grandson had just started walking, so I poked my head in and watched him toddle around. Big smiles.

I walked across the street to the Chevron station and rented the Pixar movie “Inside Out” which I’ve been meaning to watch for ages. Goodies in hand, I headed back towards the office, proud that I had walked Lee Vining from south to north and achieved my goal of visiting many of the town’s great businesses. But I forgot one! I ran back to my office at the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore and purchased a book from Robbie who was closing the store for the night.

Robbie helps me buy a Wendell Berry book at the MLC Bookstore. Photo by Nora Livingston.
Robbie helps me buy a Wendell Berry book at the Mono Lake Committee Information Center & Bookstore. Photo by Nora Livingston.

Tomorrow, I will start the day at Mono Cup with a nice hot cup of tea and fill my truck’s gas tank at the Shell Station. I got an oil change there just last week. I’ll also visit the Eastern Sierra Interpretive Association‘s bookstore at the US Forest Service Visitor Center on the north end of town.

There are still a few businesses that are getting close to opening and I can’t wait! The El Mono Motel & Latte Da Coffee Shop will open on Friday, May 13. Epic Cafe in Lee Vining, a brand new restaurant, will be opening in the next few weeks. Bodie Mike’s BBQ will open soon as well (it joins its neighbor Nicely’s, the only restaurant open all winter) and the local laundromat will open near the end of May. There are also motels and a few other small businesses that sell services rather than goods. I try to support them as much as possible in other ways.

My day of local shopping was a success and I know that I will frequent these spots all summer. I hope our visitors will too! When you visit, know that these businesses are owned by wonderful, caring, and friendly people that keep this community flourishing.

8 Comments

  1. Great post Nora. Didn’t know there was so much shopping to be done there! Will check ’em out this summer!

  2. Mono Market is my favorite! Can’t wait to shop there. And of course the Mono Lake Committee store. Oh and Mono Cone. Plus don’t forget the Mono Vista RV Park for showers after camping up high. An oasis to be sure.

  3. Great article and well written. The stores and businesses are local owned and the glue that keeps our little town together.
    When people are in town, buy something! Even if you don’t necessarily need it now.
    Looking forward to the first trip this summer to LV in June……….

  4. One of Sandra and my favorite experiences working for the Committee and living in Lee Vining is going to the Mono Mart on those lovely warm summer nights and getting a double mint chocolate chip cone and sitting out front devouring it. There’s always a tourist who stops and asks, “So what do you do for excitement around here?” I look up from my rapidly melting cone and say “you’re looking at it.” They usually walk away with a puzzled look on their face.

  5. Yea Mono Cone! Cara and Rocky are great! So is their food. Never worry about my car, Shelley, Ken, Cory and crew at the Shell station can fix anything.

  6. Please include the Mono

    Inn restaurant as a local business! It is even historic, dating back to 1929, and up to date. Thank you. Jeanne

  7. We’re looking forward to a wonderful meal at the Mono Inn restaurant while we overlook the Lake when we attend a class in late summer. It’s one of the highlights!