Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, M.O.I. Designs. New local sponsors get the chance to let you know who they are and what they do:

(Proprietor Desirae Wilkerson)
M.O.I. Designs is an interior design studio specializing in residential and boutique commercial interior design. We believe that great design matters in the way we live and work within our spaces. Every space has potential and every space can be functional, unified and balanced while expressing creativeness and personality.

Whether it’s one room that needs some work, or the whole house, we work with our clients to create the perfect design package to fit their needs. From full-service interior design (concept to completion) to picking out paint selections or creating a simple room arrangement, M.O.I. Designs is dedicated to creating something that is exactly you!

M.O.I. Designs opened in early 2013, spending the first 2 years of business developing our process and building important relationships with vendors, tradespeople and clients through a variety of projects. Our clients tell us we’ve made their projects easier, less overwhelming, and most importantly, more enjoyable. Let’s face it, spending hours at the tile or paint store making sure that your selections look good with your new flooring or furniture can be tiring and can result in important details such as color matching, lighting, and durability being overlooked.

By hiring us, our clients are assured that we will listen closely to their needs. We will take into account all of the details and deliver results in a timely manner so that you can get your projects started and on the way to completion (and look, you’ve just freed up a few Saturdays now that you can enjoy doing something else!). We take a refreshing and realistic approach to the design process by understanding that everyone is different. Your budgets are different and your spaces are different, as are your styles and interests. We appreciate the strong community we have here in West Seattle and try to use local sources as much as possible for our projects. Our goals are to build great relationships and to create comfort, ease and functionality in your most cherished spaces.

To find out more about the services we offer, please visit our website at moidesigns.net and be sure to click on “design process” to read a little more about how we work. Contact us today to set up a free 30-minute meet and greet – we would love to see your space and hear more about your project needs! 206.356.7778 – moidesigns.net

We thank M.O.I. Designs for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Congratulations to C & P Coffee Company (WSB sponsor), announced this morning as Westside Business of the Year along with this year’s other winners of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s annual Westside Awards.

C & P proprietors Cameron and Pete Moores (update: we photographed Cameron today, just after publishing this story) are in their 14th year of operating the cozy coffeehouse and event venue at 5612 California SW. You’ll find far more than “just” coffee and other beverages there – stop in on any given evening and you might also find live music, or a Whale Trail Orca Talk; the many other events hosted there include bazaars. C&P offers private rentals too and supports a long list of community causes.

C & P is one of four winners announced today by Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis. The others are:

HomeStreet Bank‘s West Seattle branch (WSB sponsor) – Westside Emerging Business of the Year: Since HomeStreet opened its West Seattle branch in The Junction two years ago, it’s become a hub for community activities including everything from the WestSide Baby “Stuff the Bus” drive to Santa photos to Seahawk support, as well as opening its doors to community groups.

Melodie VanHouten (at center in our photo, with, from left, Cody Rees, Sharon Lingbloom, Phil Varce, and John Babauta) is branch manager and vice president.

West Seattle Helpline, Westside Not-for-Profit of the Year: WS Helpline, founded in 1989 and currently led by executive director Chris Langeler, offers emergency assistance to people in need in our community, in a variety of ways, including a clothing bank.

(WSB photo: Chris Langeler and volunteer coordinator Theresa Sundin in the WS Helpline offices)

Last year, according to the Helpline website, the nonprofit:

*Served over 3,500 of our neighbors in need.

*Provided $78,454 of value in clothing for 1,592 adults and children at The Clothesline.

*Provided over $70,000 of assistance to prevent evictions and shutoffs for more than 300 local families.

*Distributed more than $10,000 in bus tickets to for medical appointments, job interviews, and basic needs.

Dave Montoure, Westsider of the Year: Montoure is not only in his 14th year as co-proprietor of West 5 in The Junction but also is a community advocate who has served in leadership roles with organizations including the Chamber and the West Seattle Junction Association. He also has supported many community causes and organized West Seattle for Japan as a response to the devastating earthquake/tsunami.

You can applaud the winners in person by being there as they are honored at the 2016 Westside Awards breakfast at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor) at 7 am on May 4th, which also will feature former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice as keynote speaker. Tickets are available now at the WS Chamber website – go here.

A local icon is retiring, and closing her business – the namesake and proprietor of Kathy’s Studio of Dance in The Junction. For more than 30 years, young West Seattleites have taken dance lessons and performed at the studio (4217 SW Edmunds) led by Kathryn Lahey, aka “Miss Kathy.” Since getting a tip about her announcement, we’ve spoken with her a couple of times, and she thought the best way to report would be to share the letter she sent to families:

It is with a very heavy heart and much sadness that I announce that after 39 years I will be retiring and closing Kathy’s Studio of Dance. After our Recital in June, the studio will close. This was a very difficult decision for me to make but the dance world is changing and I am no longer up for the challenge. I started my studio with the idea that anyone should be able to dance – no matter their size, talent or ability to pay. I wanted a professional studio that taught children and adults of all ages- structure, discipline and team work. This was how all the dance studios were back when I started 39 years ago. This worked for many years but times have changed and I need to leave the education of dance to those who are young, fresh and are able to change with the new dance world.

I am happy to announce that a new dance school will be opening in our place. I did not want to leave my dancers, teachers or staff without a possible place to continue their love for dance. Mrs.Christine Juarez will be opening her school WEST SEATTLE PERFORMING ARTS here in our location after we finish our Recital. She will be contacting my students about her program in the near future. This new school will be different than ours as the way I ran my studio is obsolete and not viable in this new generation of dancers. The new dance school will have Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern/Contemporary, Tumbling, Acting, Theater and many other exciting classes in the PERFORMING ARTS. Mrs. Juarez has taught at my studio in the past; my daughter took classes from her for many years. When my daughter took classes from her, it was with Mrs. Juarez’s mentoring that helped her receive a scholarship to NY to dance and be on Starpower’s “POWER PAK.” Mrs. Juarez has been on the staff at Cornish College of the Arts for over 20 years. I highly respect and admire Christine Juarez and cannot think of a better person to pass my students to. Some of our current teachers may even teach at this new dance school.

I thank all of you for your years of loyalty, support and dedication. I have enjoyed the many years of working with the children of Seattle. All I ever wanted to do since I was in 5th grade is be a Dance Teacher. Thank you for allowing me to do that. I was blessed to be part of all your lives.

The show will go on as always. I hope to make it our best show ever. How can we go wrong when it’s DISNEY!

Very truly yours – IN DANCE,

Miss Kathy

This is a business sale, not a property sale; the building’s ownership is not changing. (Side note: It’s not one of the buildings that the recent West Seattle Junction Historical Survey deemed potentially eligible for landmark status, though – see page 13 here – it’s one of the oldest buildings in The Junction.)

(WSB photos. Above, from left, Meeples proprietors Brian Taylor and Laura Schneider with Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis)

Almost exactly a year ago, Meeples Games (WSB sponsor) learned it was the winner of the “Emerging Business of the Year” award from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. Tonight, Meeples hosted Chamber members for their monthly “After Hours” – a chance for local businesses and organizations to find out what others in WS are doing, and to take a much-deserved break from their hard work.

Food and drink were part of the event, and they’re also something you can find at Meeples (3727 California SW, corner of Charlestown, upstairs) any time – it’s a café as well as a place to play games.

Meantime, we’ll find out soon who will follow Meeples as this year’s “Emerging Business,” as the Chamber’s next round of Westside Awards will be presented on May 4th at Salty’s on Alki (WSB sponsor), with former Mayor Norm Rice as keynote speaker – you can register for the breakfast event by going here.

Today we’re welcoming Care At Home of WA, Inc., as our newest sponsor. Here’s what Care At Home would like you to know:

(From left: Hermela Bekele, Diane Tamaluns, Sandra Braun, Vanessa Carr)

As a Washington State Licensed Home Care Agency, we are celebrating 25 years of service in West Seattle and for the Greater Seattle areas.

Care At Home of WA, Inc. assists our elders and people needing care by providing Home Health Aides and CNAs (Certified Nurse’s Aides) and care partners. Shifts can be a 1-hour bath visit to 24-hour around-the-clock care, temporary, long term, or just on call. Business hours are Monday-Friday, 8-5. But we are on call, 24/7, for those urgent staffing needs that can happen after 5 pm and on the weekends.

Our Caregivers assist with vital services such as daily tasks, cleaning, grocery shopping, meal prep, personal hygiene/bathing assist, medication supervision, driving to appointments, and much more. Care At Home helps our elders continue to live with DIGNITY and enjoy life with support where it is needed. We RESPECT the needs and wishes of our elders and their families.

Care At Home understands that living in your own home allows people to live in COMFORT and happiness into their future years.

Our clients have expressed a great deal of relief knowing that our Caregivers and care management can bring a sense of calm during stressful times. We are great matchmakers with someone they can TRUST while providing care and support. We help our elders continue to live with DIGNITY and enjoy life with support where it is needed.

We opened our office here in 1992 as Help Unlimited Homecare under the direction of Vanessa Carr. We are now independently owned and operated, as we were able to “buy our office” in 2014 still under Vanessa’s leadership: “We are so blessed to be working with some of the finest Caregivers. They are truly like family to us.”

We are members of both the South and West Seattle Senior Centers, GSBA-Greater Seattle Business Association, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, and the WA Home Care Association.

Find us: CareAtHomeSeattle.com – 206-937-3100

We thank Care At Home of WA, Inc., for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Last Saturday at the 2016 Gathering of Neighbors, breakout discussion groups included one led by reps from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – our photo above was taken just as participants were settling in. Before the event, the chamber did a quick online survey of its membership to ask their views of our area’s “growing pains,” the focus of this year’s GoN (which itself is an event organized by the community group VIEWS, “Visualizing Increased Engagement in West Seattle”). This morning, the results have been made public, including the raw responses to these two open-ended questions:

“If you could change one thing about transportation in West Seattle, what would it be?”
“If you could change one thing about development in West Seattle, what would it be?”

You can read all those responses, as well as the results of the yes/no questions (including “Has the recent growth in West Seattle generally helped your business?” – 61 percent said “yes”), by going here.

P.S. Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis tells us 75 responses were received; the Chamber has 200+ members (including WSB). Responses weren’t sorted for size or type of businesses. So we’re not saying this is scientific, but it’s an undeniably interesting snapshot.

SIDE NOTE: The Chamber also just announced that former mayor Norm Rice will keynote the May 4th Westside Awards breakfast – ticket info and more is here.

(WSB photo: Andrew Cornwall and Jon Sherman photographed at Origins this afternoon)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

West Seattle’s first recreational-marijuana store is now open. And they’re touting another “first.”

We reported two weeks ago that Origins at 1416 SW Roxbury had become the second applicant to receive a license, but that it was on a faster track to opening than the first one, which is planned for a converted Craftsman at 5440 California SW.

And now, Origins is open; we talked today at the shop with co-proprietor Jon Sherman, who contacted us last night to say they’ve been in “soft open” mode since Monday and are planning a grand-opening event this Friday and Saturday.

Read More

When we reported last week that J.F. Henry in The Junction would close, with its owners Tom and Patty Henry leaving the retail business, leasing his building to someone and something new, the new lease wasn’t final yet. Now, it is, and we’ve heard from the new tenant: Tyler McKenzie recently bought the John L. Scott West Seattle real-estate office at 5242 California SW and will be moving it to the current J.F. Henry building at 4445 California SW.

In the photo atop the story, McKenzie and wife Marguerite Carlson are at left, along with the Henrys at right. As designated broker, McKenzie will oversee the company’s operations. His community-involvement history included serving as president of the Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association board in 2009-2010. The move is still a few months away, McKenzie tells us, as they have permits and designs to deal with to convert the building’s interior. He summarizes, “We are truly excited by the prospect of occupying such a wonderful venue. Our goal is to create a fabulous environment, not only for our brokers, but clients alike. As they visit, clients will come to enjoy all the benefits of the Junction and its businesses, so this is a win-win all around.”

The building at 4445 California SW was a real-estate office in one of its past incarnations, McKenzie mentions. It has more than enough space for his firm, and room to grow. As for JF Henry’s closing date, we were unable to reach Tom Henry this afternoon, so we’ll have a separate followup on that later.

P.S. As noted in last week’s story, this is one of eight Junction buildings that the new West Seattle Junction Historical Survey considers to have landmark potential, pending further research.

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

One of the West Seattle Junction building owners interviewed for the just-released “What Makes the West Seattle Junction Special?” historical survey is about to start a new chapter of his own history.

Tom Henry, owner of houseware store J.F. Henry Cooking and Dining at 4445 California SW, confirms, “We have decided to retire and close our business.”

Henry (at right, in 2014 WSB photo) and wife Patty plan to retain ownership of the building; they have quietly had it listed for lease for a few months and expect to announce its new tenant soon. “We’re going to take off our retail hat and become landlords,” he told WSB today. “We’re too young to do nothing – we’re very busy people – it’s going to be kind of fun. I’ve told people, you don’t know what’s out there if you have to pretty much unlock a door [to open the store] every day.”

He says that while brick-and-mortar retailing has definitely changed with the advent of online, “our business has been fine, and we’ve seen a lot of growth with new people moving in.” It “just felt right for us to be doing something different.”

Read More

(WSB photo)

Playing host to West Seattle’s biggest party tonight, that’s the team at HomeStreet Bank (WSB sponsor) in The Junction, led by (second from left) branch manager Melodie VanHouten. They played host to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s “After Hours” gathering, which rotates between Chamber members’ businesses. Besides the monthly “After Hours,” the Chamber also has a monthly lunch meeting – next one is a “speed-networking” event on March 10th. And nominations are still open for this year’s Westside Awards, as announced earlier this month – here’s how to suggest someone (you don’t have to be a Chamber member, nor does your nominee).

(WSB photo: 1416 SW Roxbury, in which Origins will open)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

The second recreational-marijuana store licensed in West Seattle will likely be the first one to open.

A week and a half ago, we reported on the first store license, for 5440 California SW. That building is set to undergo some remodeling and proprietor Maryam Mirnateghi didn’t expect to be open for up to two months.

Now, the second West Seattle license has been granted, for Origins at 1416 SW Roxbury, #D – and its proprietor told us today that he expects Origins will be open within two weeks, as soon as the city grants a permit to change the use from a medical office.

Sean Miller explains that they formerly operated a medical-marijuana outlet in the same building, as well as one in South Park, both now closed. Origins will be licensed for medical marijuana as well as recreational, but Miller says that component doesn’t go into effect until July.

His company, he says, is being evaluated for two other licenses, including a location over the city/county line but just blocks away in White Center, at 9823 15th SW, and one on the Eastside.

Asked what will set his store apart, Miller said, “The biggest thing that we’re trying to do with Origins is, bring a better name and a better feel to the industry. Right now you walk into a recreational store and you feel kind of dirty and like you’ve done something wrong before you’ve done anything … We’re trying to create an atmosphere like a Starbucks, you walk in and feel really welcome.” He says that includes a “very high-end build … with slates and cork floors. When people look at it, they think it’s a jewelry store because of the level of finish. We want to do that with multiple locations and legitimize the industry,” for customers of all income levels.

He’s expecting to be open along the lines of 10 am-8 pm Mondays-Fridays, 10 am-6 pm Saturdays and Sundays. No website yet, he says.

P.S. As mentioned in our previous story, you can look for other application locations on Mark’s map – one still pending in West Seattle is the site of longtime medical provider Northwest Patient Resource Center at 35th/Roxbury.

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, My Three Little Birds in Morgan Junction! New local sponsors are invited to explain what they’re all about – so here’s what My Three Little Birds would like you to know:

My Three Little Birds is a high-quality resale boutique that has an eye for fashion-forward kids’ clothing, local artists and designers, handmade goods, and unique toys from all over the globe, that everyone can afford. They opened in West Seattle’s Morgan Junction in April of 2014, after owner and local mom Jennifer Young was inspired by her three young daughters to create a beautiful and well-organized space where families can shop comfortably, kids can play freely, and the community can come together.

As their anniversary approaches, My Three Little Birds is growing up and looking to expand, by launching what they believe to be Seattle’s first online resale store catering to upscale children’s clothing, toys, and accessories. They are working in conjunction with Community Sourced Capital, a local company that helps established small businesses expand and grow. It is a unique type of crowdfunding, in that all donors are reimbursed for 100% of their contribution. All supporters can look forward to the thank-you party if this campaign is successful! The minimum target for the My Three Little Birds Campaign is $8,000, and they have a long way to go to reach their maximum of $15,000. If you wish to help fund and support this small business in the fast-growing community we live in, please go here for more information.

What has been most amazing about My Three Little Birds‘ 2 years as a part of the West Seattle retail community is how they have been able to impact their neighborhood in new and exciting ways each year, one connection at a time. Active with the Morgan Community Association, they have sponsored the kids’ area at the Morgan Junction Festival for the last 2 years, and will be there again this summer. They have also enjoyed sponsoring the Harvest Festival and 4th of July Kids’ Parade. An active member of a local group of small-businesswomen aptly named “Ladies Who Do Business,” Jennifer enjoys sharing ideas with other local businesswomen and offering support where she can. The play area has been an ideal location for their Spanish Song and Story Times, Costume Swaps, Kindermusik, Craft Days, Santa Photos, and more. The quarterly Ladies Night Extravaganzas have created a fun following of local women looking for a much-needed night out filled with shopping and mingling with friends.

My Three Little Birds is at 6959 California SW, 206-946-6591, and online at mythreelittlebirds.net. Their message in closing: “Thank you to our family, friends, co-workers, and customers for your continued love and support for our store and our family. We are grateful for all you have done to help this little business along the way. We love West Seattle and are honored to be sponsoring the West Seattle Blog.”

We thank My Three Little Birds for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

More than three years after our state’s voters approved the initiative allowing recreational-marijuana stores, West Seattle is finally about to get its first.

The state Liquor and Cannabis Board has just approved the first license for a West Seattle address – 5440 California SW.

The address belongs to an old Craftsman home converted to professional space, and now about to be transformed to retail space. (It’s almost right across the street from the spot where medical marijuana first came to local attention, at 5435 California SW, also the site of a recreational license application.)

The just-approved recreational-retailer license is in the name of LTC LLC, which had posted the license application notice two months ago. We talked with proprietor Maryam Mirnateghi this afternoon.

She told us that, pending city action on their permit applications for the remodeling work – which she says will not be extensive, because the space has many attributes already as a “cool old house” – they hope to have the store open within about two months.

Another thing needed first: A name. Maybe something reflecting The Junction, though they’re a few blocks south, said Mirnateghi, who has worked in real estate in the area (and purchased the future store location).

This won’t be Mirnateghi’s first shop; she already owns Fusion, a medical-marijuana outlet, which she says will be adding recreational marijuana, on Dexter Avenue downtown.

In the meantime, as for West Seattle: “Let everybody know, we’re working on getting it open.”

Her store might not be the only one in this area for long. At least two other applications are in the pipeline – one for Northwest Patient Resource Center, open almost five years as a medical provider at 35th/Roxbury, and one for Origins on the city side of 14th/Roxbury – you can see them and others on this map that’s been linked in WSB comments before by its creator “Question Mark.”

Last month, the city finalized zoning changes governing where marijuana stores can be located, including buffers of at least 1,000 feet between stores and schools/playgrounds, and at least 1,000 feet between any two stores.

Three biznotes this afternoon:

(King County Assessor’s Office photo)

NEW HOME FOR WEST SEATTLE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE: As mentioned here last month, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce has been looking for a new headquarters. At today’s lunch meeting (full report to come), Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis announced one has been found, courtesy of Potter Construction (WSB sponsor). We talked to Gary Potter afterward, and he has confirmed they’ve just signed a lease – not at Potter’s HQ but not far – the Chamber will be relocating in a few weeks to the building Potter owns at 5639 California SW (which is also home to WSB sponsor Sound Yoga).

PARENTS’ NIGHT OUT, VALENTINE EDITION: Want to go out (or hang out) on Valentine’s weekend while knowing your kid(s) are having a blast? Straight Blast Gym (WSB sponsor) is offering you the chance to do just that – 6-9 pm Saturday (February 13th), SBG coaches will offer a “ton of fun – play games, watch a movie, eat some pizza – while parents get three hours to either go out and enjoy or stay in and relax.” $30/kid – call SBG ASAP to save space – 206-420-1834.

CHOPSTIX MYSTERY: We haven’t been able to reach anyone to directly confirm whether this is a permanent shutdown, but we – and a few readers who have e-mailed about this – have noticed that Chopstix hasn’t been open for some time. The hand-lettered sign on the door simply says CLOSED; the phone goes unanswered. Chopstix opened three years ago, after Pan Africa Grill spent one year at the location, following a 12-year run by the Chinese restaurant Ho-Win.

Due to go on sale in West Seattle today: The first product of a “cottage industry” business born in a Sunrise Heights apartment.

(WSB photo, outside Squatch Crunch HQ on sunny Monday afternoon)

Mari Bingham and Patrick Kelly are making and selling a three-flavor handcrafted small-batch granola line called Squatch Crunch. Today, it’s due to debut on the shelves at West Seattle Thriftway (WSB sponsor).

It’s local through and through, not just because it’s made here and riffs the brand name off a regional icon. The proprietors, now West Seattleites who are partnered in life as well as business, are both local: She’s from Bainbridge, he’s from Juanita; both have family around the region.

The three mixes, all gluten-free and vegan, have regional names – Sodo, Montlake, and Palouse. And the highlighted ingredients include subtle callouts back to related sports teams – Sodo, blue and green (with blueberries, pistachios, and pepitas); Montlake, purple and gold (featuring blueberries, apricots, and pecans); Palouse, red and white (with cranberries, raspberries, and coconut chunks). You’ll find them in 12-ounce bags for starters, with other sizes and flavors likely to follow.

Mari’s been making granola at home for a decade. She has a tech background, and Patrick has studied meteorology (you might know him from weather-related discussions in WSB comment sections) They just cooked up the business idea around Thanksgiving, and it’s rapidly scaling – available first via a market in Greenwood and at Gatewood B&B (which is operated by Mari’s sister), now adding other outlets, starting with Thriftway. Local outlets, of course, they stress, with local sourcing/suppliers for as many ingredients and other components as possible, all the way down to the bags and labels.

You can follow their business on Facebook and Twitter at squatchcrunch.

(WSB photo)

5:26 PM: It’s been the question of the day: What’s going on at the former Feedback Lounge space (6451 California SW in Morgan Junction)?

While plywood’s up now, the facade was all but removed earlier today. Building permits and other documents show a renovation plan that’s been in the works for a few months to add more glass – “reconfigure storefront glazing” – to the front of the building.

We went by late this afternoon to check on its status and found someone who identified himself as a prospective tenant there to take a look. The landlords had told WSB recently that the building remains available for lease – as this listing indicates – and that the “Sound Bar” plan with nearby restaurateur Dan Austin hadn’t gone through after all.

The Feedback Lounge closed six months ago, after more than six years as a rock-‘n’-roll bar and restaurant.

ADDED 5:46 PM: A representative of the building’s ownership tells WSB regarding the renovations, “The building is going to look beautiful … bigger windows and a skylight. More natural light will show off the original cedar beams inside,” and confirms no tenant finalized yet. If you look at the photo in this 2008 WSB story, you’ll note the building’s corner space, home to Zeeks Pizza (WSB sponsor), used to be short on windows, too.

(WSB photos)

The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce celebrated new board members at its annual meeting in The Junction today. In our photo above, from left, are Mary Becker from Nucor, acupuncturist Nancy Ishii from White Crane Wellness, CEO Lynn Dennis, Pete Spalding from Verity CU, and Elaine Chan from FIOH Investments. The lunch meeting at the Alki Masonic Center included small-group discussions:

While membership grew 15 percent last year – adding 44 new members – outreach and growth are always a concern, so attendees discussed strategies for finding out which categories of businesses aren’t currently represented in the group, and figuring out how to introduce Chamber members to new people moving into West Seattle. Speaking of new, just-elected District 1 City Councilmember Lisa Herbold was there:

She’s the guest speaker at the next meeting, February 11th, two weeks from today. And she might get an earful of a key issue for the government-affairs liaison side of the Chamber – “parking, parking, parking,” along with other transportation issues. General issues that came up also included ongoing development and existing businesses dealing with rent increases that threaten to price them out.

The Chamber’s president for 2016 is Elizabeth Pluhta from South Seattle College (WSB sponsor). Find out more about the Chamber at wschamber.com.

On the eve of its annual meeting, the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is in the midst of a big search – for a new office. It’s long been at 3614 California SW but needs to move on. Chamber CEO Lynn Dennis says they need commercial office space, 300-500 square feet, and are open to office-share options. Someplace to offer or suggest? lynndennis@wschamber.com

Meantime, if you’re not signed up for tomorrow’s annual meeting, the CofC suggests you go here fast! It’s at 11:30 am Thursday at the Alki Masonic Center, 4736 40th SW in The Junction. (Looking ahead – City Councilmember Lisa Herbold is the guest for the February 11th lunch.)