West Seattle businesses: Clementine moving to Pioneer Square

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Linda Walsh has a clearance sale going right now at her West Seattle Junction shop, Clementine.

This isn’t just any old clearance sale. It’s also a moving sale: She’s leaving West Seattle and moving her shop to Pioneer Square.

It’s been eight years now since, in the early months of WSB, we noticed the “coming soon” sign on papered-over windows of what had been a tanning salon at 4447 California SW.

The shoes, handbags, and other accessories Walsh has sold in the ensuing years have received acclaim and attention citywide. Yet making a go of it as a bricks-and-mortar business in an increasingly digital world hasn’t been easy, as Walsh and the proprietor of nearby Carmilia’s, Linda Sabee, told us in this WSB story a year ago. Yet Walsh says she’s not ready to give up on in-person shopping … after eight years, she says, she feels like she finally has a handle on how things should work.

But she’s going to deploy the knowledge elsewhere soon. Walsh says her new Pioneer Square space at 310 Occidental (a former lighting store) just seems to be a better place for what she does and offers. Office workers will be there during the day. Tourists will be there during the summer.

Besides the location, her new storefront will bring a few changes – it’s bigger than her cozy Junction space, including some basement. And Walsh will change the name a bit – it will now be Clementine’s. (Her web address has always been clementines.com, anyway.)

In the meantime, the aforementioned clearance sale continues. She told us today, “I hope not to have to move a single shoe.”

She also hopes for a seamless move to the new space without much, if any, downtime, intending to open there by early September.

SIDE NOTE: Hers is the second business to announce it’s about to leave the block of California SW north of Oregon – as reported here two weeks ago, Shoofly Pie Company is closing in mid-August; no new location in this case – they say they’re just getting out of the retail business.

10 Replies to "West Seattle businesses: Clementine moving to Pioneer Square"

  • Wsrez July 15, 2014 (4:32 pm)

    Wish her all the best! I would imagine shoes with such limited space must be difficult with all the different tastes out there. Pioneer would be a great fit- bet clementines can thrive there like Re-Soul in Ballard, with more space in lofty sort of environment. Seems like with te growth that’s happening all of these places should be getting busier but it may just be a new demographic.

    On a side note, I know a few business owners interested in either of those retail spaces if you have any info.

  • Vanessa July 15, 2014 (5:25 pm)

    Good on you!! Congratulations !

  • Peggy July 15, 2014 (7:25 pm)

    Congratulations, however, I’m sad to see so many businesses leaving West Seattle. For those of us who try to support and shop locally we keep losing opportunities.

  • Jenava July 15, 2014 (9:27 pm)

    I love the shop! Bought some adorable sandals there this weekend. Sad we’ll be losing such a great shop with quality, unique products. But I’ll visit you in PS!

  • heather July 16, 2014 (8:51 am)

    Darn. Disappointed to see another “cool” business leave. If we want a vibrant business area, I’d encourage people to take the time and shop.

  • andrew July 16, 2014 (9:11 am)

    If you want vibrant businesses in the area, you should encourage people to move here. Which requires places for them to live, which requires new development. Unfortunately, most people seem to be against said development.

  • Mrs.T July 16, 2014 (9:19 am)

    Love your store Linda! While I am sad to see you go, I know you will do well in PS. And I will continue to shop your fantastic shoe style!

  • Cheif July 16, 2014 (9:51 am)

    It’s not like the store is going away, it’s a whole five miles move. Sometimes the whole shop local in west seattle thing gets a little ridiculous. It’s still local.

  • heather July 16, 2014 (9:43 pm)

    I disagree Cheif. Neighborhoods are often defined by smaller commercial establishments. They’re often a destination that feed into the entire block.

  • Thd July 26, 2014 (7:33 pm)

    Will definitely still shop there in Pioneer Square. Love her selection and customer service. Class act

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