Our Story: The Grist Mill Through the Years

For more than four decades, The Grist Mill has been a fixture on Main Street and the only health food store in Klickitat County. Here’s how it came to be.

A Family Beginning

The Grist Mill was opened in 1985 by Harley and Isabel Cordis. Isabel named the store after her childhood fondness for the local mills where her family took their wheat to be ground. The business actually began as a co-op — the Cordis family ordered supplies and divided them among members — and it grew steadily from there. In its early days, the shop sat outside of town, before Willard’s father had the idea to move it into Goldendale.

Fire and Rebuilding

A later location next to the Senior Center on Main Street was destroyed by fire, and the family lost nearly everything. At the community's request, the Cordises rebuilt — turning the old Rialto Club building into the shop customers know today. In September 1995, the store reopened at its current location.

“The general public asked us to go back into business because it was a needed service.” — Willard Cordis

Two Generations of Stewardship

Willard and Ardy Cordis purchased the store from Willard’s parents and ran it together for over 37 years. Along the way, the shop became known for carrying possibly the largest selection of medicinal herbs in the Pacific Northwest, alongside bulk grains, spices, supplements, and hard-to-find health foods. A growing Buyers Club let customers save by ordering through Azure Standard for convenient store pickup.

A New Chapter

After decades of service, Willard and Ardy decided to retire and travel to be closer to family. On June 1st, 2026, Debbie & Don Moore took the reins, continuing The Grist Mill’s mission as Klickitat County’s home for healthy living — with new additions on the way.