If somebody would have asked her two years ago if she would ever consider moving to Sequim and opening a deli, Regina Gibson would have said, "Where is Sequim?"
But at her newlywed husband’s urging, that’s exactly what she did. Regina Gibson, a chef and barista with more than 15 years experience, moved to the Olympic Peninsula from Seattle almost 10 months ago after meeting, falling in love and marrying her husband and business partner, Sean Gibson. The duo opened Re’Sean’s Deli in July.
Sean Gibson works as a respiratory equipment technician at Pacific Pulmonary Services. The couple started their life together in Port Townsend but quickly grew tired of the commute to their respective jobs in Sequim and Seattle. When Sean Gibson, a Philadelphia native, mentioned an empty space for lease in the Olympic Medical Park off Fifth Avenue in Sequim, the wheels in Regina Gibson’s head started turning. She submitted a business proposal to Olympic Medical Center to open a deli and espresso stand in the empty space and won the contract. She put in her two weeks notice with her night supervisor job at a Seattle deli and started packing her bags to move to Sequim. "I saw an opportunity and I went with it," she said.
The deli, located at 840 N. Fifth Ave., is open to the public from 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. Regina Gibson makes and serves sandwiches, salads, soups, bagels, muffins, espresso drinks and other snacks.
Some people say she’s famous for her homemade potato, tuna and egg salads, Regina Gibson said proudly.
The walls at the deli are covered with artwork by Sallie Radock, a Sequim artist, and will change monthly.
Regina Gibson was raised by her grandparents and credits the couple for her success. "Since I was a little girl my grandpapa had me in the kitchen helping him," she remembered fondly.
To honor her Creole grandparents, share her ethnic background and treat the community, Regina Gibson is planning to offer Creole soul food – traditional southern African-American dishes – the second and fourth Friday of every month starting in September. "I really want to bring a little of my culture to
Sequim," she said, noting how the Olympic Peninsula isn’t culturally diverse. "I feel it’s important for people who’ve been around to share their cultures."
"I don’t think it will be an everyday moneymaker," she continued about the bimonthly menu, "but I think it will be fun and well-received."
In the meantime, Regina Gibson said she is enjoying meeting new people, serving customers and exploring the peninsula, which she describes as a "slower paced" environment than Seattle. She’s in the process of creating menus and developing price scales and noted that coffee and food is much cheaper in Sequim than Seattle, sometimes by as much as $2 to $5.
In addition to serving java junkies at OMC, Regina Gibson offers a private catering service for office parties, meetings and other group functions. She’s already hosted two events within the past month and is eager to cater more functions.
Regina Gibson signed a one-year lease with OMC. Beyond that, the zesty entrepreneur doesn’t know where she’ll be. "We will see how this goes," she said.
Coffee and snacks at OMC
Re’Sean’s Deli, located at 840 N. Fifth Ave., inside the Olympic Medical Center Medical Services building, is open 7 a.m.-3 p.m. Monday-Friday. The business is owned by Regina and Sean Gibson and operates independently from OMC. The couple also offers private catering for all events. For more information, call 360-821-1807 or 360-821-1896, or e-mail re.seancatering@gmail.com.
