Petrikor: The Modern General
Time-honored traditions and designs that are crafted to last.
It’s no secret that it rains a lot in the Pacific Northwest. If you spend enough time here, you’ll come to recognize the distinct, earthy smell of fresh raindrops. It’s called petrichor — an intoxicating scent that connects us to nature and reminds us of home.
This aromatic sentiment inspired Aaron Sheckler and Scott Hulme to explore the importance of simple living and connection to the spaces around us when they created their downtown Everett general store, Petrikor.
“Our idea behind Petrikor comes from the need to slow down a little bit and focus on the products we’re bringing into our homes,” says Hulme. “To make buying more intentional, more of a ceremony.”
Petrikor, which opened its doors in May 2022, offers modern dwellers a curated collection of seasonal home and garden goods rooted in time-honored traditions and designs for everyday living. Whether it’s having the right filter to brew the perfect cup of coffee in the morning, your favorite watering pot to nurture your plants in the afternoon, or an intricately designed corkscrew to open a bottle of wine in the evening, Petrikor seeks to help its customers create a life worth savoring.
“Whatever space you occupy is important,” says Sheckler. “It’s our job to help you enjoy it as much as possible.”
What began as a hobby that combined their mutual love for gardening and sustainable design when they began dating in 2018, Sheckler and Hulme created Petrikor after discovering their knack for transforming interior and exterior spaces with mindfulness and functionality.
The business launched as an online store in 2021, but visions of a brick-and-mortar location took shape in the early days of the pandemic. With lots of time to contemplate and encouragement from other local business owners, Sheckler and Hulme took the leap and rented a space in the historic Pioneer Block Building on Rucker Ave and brought Petrikor to life.
“I like sharing our passion with everybody,” says Hulme. “It lets me know I’m making a contribution to people’s happiness that’s bigger than myself.”
What’s the key to happiness at Petrikor? Selling quality goods from quality makers. Sheckler and Hulme make a conscious effort to source their consumables — such as mushrooms, candles, and soap — from local businesses. They also promote the work of artisans from across the globe who craft tried-and-true products that stand the test of time. How do they know quality when they see it? Everything they sell has been personally tested in their home, garden, or kitchen.
“We’ve done the hard work for you,” says Sheckler. “We use everything in here, so we know others will be happy with them too. These are products we believe in.”
Petrikor’s commitment to selling quality products is only rivaled by its owners’ commitment to becoming a fixture in Everett’s community of diverse and thriving businesses. The shop hosts several exciting neighborhood events, has a loyal customer base, and the couple even joined some friends to open up a hip beer and wine bar next door called Marcel. But most importantly, Hulme and Sheckler contribute to the diversity of downtown Everett business community as gay business owners.
“We want to show that we're proud of who we are,” says Sheckler. “We want our business to reflect that and be a safe space for everyone to feel the same security we feel here in Everett.”
As the summer activities heat up around Everett, the couple has plans to host some fun events; but their top focus remains delivering quality goods that help people appreciate the in-between moment of each day.
“If you strip everything away, we just want to create space,” says Hulme. “Even if it’s just for one thing you can do to make your day better.”
Petrikor offers high-quality home and garden goods, provisions, and home design services in downtown Everett, Washington.
Petrikor - The Modern General
2816 Rucker Ave. Everett, WA 98201
Hours: Wednesday-Saturday 10 a.m.-6 p.m. & Sunday 11 a.m.-4 p.m.
Website: petrikorliving.com
