Meet Your Merchant: The Potlatch Offers Gifts, Souvenirs and More For Locals, Visitors
Incline Village, NV – One the oldest retail stores in all of Lake Tahoe is located in the middle of Incline Village. The Potlatch, known for its Native American jewelry, opened its doors in 1970 and has been a family operation since.
The store was originally founded by the grandparents of current owner, Lisa Nelson. Nelson’s mother, Lynn Brown, took over in 1987, and eventually passed the business on to Lisa and her husband, Aaron Nelson.
The Potlatch is named after a Northwest Indian gift giving ceremony, the couple explained. Members of the tribe gain status in the community by giving items away. The more items one would give, the higher status they received. The store itself has heavy Native American influences, selling handmade jewelry hand-picked by Lisa Nelson.
