Wendy Thomas is a world traveler whose multifaceted shop reflects just that.

After spending another three years out of the country in Hamburg Germany, Thomas has returned to Orcas Island. From European olive oil to letter-pressed stationary, Chez Chloe is back and better than ever.

“Opening up the store seemed like a natural way to reintegrate into the community and it’s work I love,” Thomas said.

The original inspiration for Chez Chloe, named after her daughter, came from moving to Paris in 2003. During her three years there, Thomas attended the left bank culinary school, Ferrandi, catered and began the research for her retail shop.

We first saw Chez Chloe emerge in Eastsound Square in 2006 and said goodbye at the end of 2009 when she moved with Chloe to Hamburg where her new husband, Oliver Groenewald, an old family friend and music professor, was based. The new storefront opened the first of May in the Porter Station on Main Street.

With the shop’s rebirth, she has brought together an eclectic combination of European and domestic specialty foods, housewares, linens, cookbooks and unique gifts with a smattering of soaps, hand creams and stationary.

“I’m now carrying specialty foods from as close as Seattle and items from companies like Beekman 1802 and Sugarboo Designs on the East Coast.”

To read Thomas’ blog postings, go to www.wendyellenthomas.com.