35 Years of Good Health & Good Business: The Story of Julie Shaffley

Photo by Centralia Chehalis Chamber of Commerce

Shown here is Julie Shaffley, owner of Good Health Nutrition Center

By Cynthia Mudge
For the C-C Chamber of Commerce

Julie Shaffley’s passion for wellness and entrepreneurship began in the 1970s, when the Minnesota native spent summers visiting relatives in Washington. Her sister-in-law’s parents owned J-Vee’s, a health food store and café in Olympia, where young Julie would help out.

“I enjoyed the people, the food, and learning about health food,” Shaffley recalls.

After college in Minnesota, life took a pivotal turn. The store manager of J-Vee’s retired, and Julie was asked to step in. That opportunity launched what would become a lifelong journey in the natural health industry.

Marriage brought another leap of faith. Encouraged by her husband, Shaffley considered running her own business. The chance came when a friend, owner of Lottie’s Health Food in the same complex where Good Health Nutrition Center now stands, decided to retire after 14 years.

On July 1, 1990, Curt & Julie purchased the store.

“That first experience was trial by fire!” she says. “Lottie’s had a loyal customer base that really tested my knowledge.”

She relied on a steadfast commitment to exceptional customer service — a core value that still guides the business today.

About five years later, a prime corner location in the same complex opened up, doubling her space. By 2000, another expansion allowed her to add a café.

While popular, the café was essentially “two separate businesses,” she explains. When her baker retired, Shaffley closed the café and used the space to expand her supplements section, focusing fully on health foods and nutritional products.

Shaffley credits her success to a simple but powerful formula: invest in people. She prioritizes training and education for her staff so they can provide informed guidance to customers.

She also sources only from suppliers who 100% guarantee their products.

Now, more than three decades later, she is serving the second and third generations of customers.

“It’s such a blessing to have customers who trust us — and whose families have trusted us for so long.”

The retail world has changed dramatically, and Shaffley believes small businesses must stay nimble, embrace technology, and view competition as healthy.

The COVID-19 pandemic tested that philosophy.

“We became a safe place for accurate information,” she says. “We had to be at the top of our game to combat misinformation.”

The pandemic also reinforced her belief that people are responsible for their own health. Navigating supply shortages was another challenge — one she met with adaptability.

“Being able to pivot is essential,” she notes.

After 35 years, Shaffley still wakes up each day with the same dedication that began in that Olympia café. Her story is one of resilience, vision, and the lasting value of customer trust — proof that good health and good business can go hand-in-hand.

Good Health & Nutrition Center is located at 503 Harrison.

Shaffley has been a member of Centralia-Chehalis Chamber since 1991. She now serves on the board as its treasurer. She is involved in the community and serves as a commissioner for the Port of Centralia.