35 Replies to "Update on West Seattle's OTHER ex-Schuck's site"

• wsblover July 29, 2008 (11:44 am)

  I thought the top floor was supposed to be a professional business like a dentist or doctors office. This was what was presented at the design review anyway.

• villagegreen July 29, 2008 (12:08 pm)

  Budget Cuts?! The name alone screams suburban strip mall. Should be out of business in 2 to 3 months. What is it with West Seattle and hair salons? I’m amazed with the plethora of crap that already exists. Do we really need more? FYI – there’s another new salon going into the space next to where Divina used to be.

• worms Roxanne, I'm afraid of worms. July 29, 2008 (12:09 pm)

  i was SOOOO hoping another hair salon would go in. There are so few on California… Now if we can just get a dozen more nail shops…

• WSB July 29, 2008 (12:14 pm)

  VG, we had that info but hadn’t reported it yet because we’re still trying to track down Julie from Divina to find out what’s up with her space. But for anyone else reading the thread – the new salon behind Divina will be called Salon 08 and some of those who are involved are from Friends, per what Patrick found out when he ran into someone down there recently.

• wsblover July 29, 2008 (12:24 pm)

  Totally agree Roxanne and VG, I am so sick of all the token duplicate business that go in, then pro density folks try to use that as and arguement for why development is good. More crap is just more crap. We don’t need a nail salon north of the junction zone or a mini strip mall. I am so tired of getting involved in my community then getting screwed in the end.

• JW July 29, 2008 (1:00 pm)

  Well…agreed that California doesn’t seem to need another salon, but I’d stop short of calling it “crap.” These kinds of businesses are great for someone who’s an entrepreneur, someone who wants to provide for their family or whomever, and they don’t have access to a chunk of “VC.” A lot of these businesspeople are immigrants, just looking for that American Dream that you can fortunately still find here and there.

• old timer July 29, 2008 (1:15 pm)

  IMO-
  If the businesses are ‘crap’ the spaces will soon be empty.
  Business can not survive without customers to pay the rent and bills.
  So, SOMEONE is using the hair/nail services in spite of someone else’s opinion that the services are superfluous.
  I wish these people who constantly seek new retail stimulation would start their own businesses, and see how their ideas work out.
  Or, maybe, being true consumers, they HAVE NO ideas, only jaded appetites.

  On another note, with spaces available in the next week, I think “not at liberty to disclose” is realtor code for ‘no tenants yet’.

• wsblover July 29, 2008 (1:44 pm)

  I live close by so this hits close to home. I feel like because I have been involved in this project, I am more than entitled to my two cents. The community was lied to on more than one occasion over the past few years. We have also put up with MANY code and noise violations that fell on deaf ears when reported through the proper channels. Also, would you like to come home and not be able to use the alley or your drive way because they are blocked, or have to pick up construction trash including CONDOMS for some insane reason. No I didn’t pick them or the wrappers up. And for what it’s worth, I have thought about starting my own business in this very retail space.
  .
  There does seem to be a lot of turn over lately so I’m not so sure there is an audience for all of the stable businesses like nail salons.
  .
  No offense by the crap tag, I am all for the US being the land of capitalism. Just because someone posts a comment, it doesn’t translate to whatever you want it to mean.

• th July 29, 2008 (1:53 pm)

  a fitness place and Budget Cuts –sigh…….not something that will make me cross the street.

• wsblover July 29, 2008 (2:00 pm)

  Seems out of place. One does not spend 500k – 750k for a house then hopes and prays there will be a budget cuts or nail salon close by.

• average joe July 29, 2008 (2:01 pm)

  as usual…they ‘sell’ it as professional business space, nobody rents them..and then the developer takes what ever they can get.
  budget cuts…oh boy!
  a cruddy fitness place that has 5 members…oh boy!
  there is so much parking available too, NOT!
  the good news though, is that with all of the starbucks closings, there is a good chance we WON’T get another starbucks.

• wsblover July 29, 2008 (2:05 pm)

  Yeah a gym when they have like 16 parking spaces.. bet they are all compact ones too. I’m not just moaning to moan, you would too if you invested your time into so call smart development. This is a joke and there really is nothing the average person can do about it. Especially now, it’s already built! Note to future patrons, don’t block driveways or park with in five feet of them.. it will cost you hundreds of dollars to get your car back.

• Mr. JT July 29, 2008 (2:18 pm)

  How soon we forget the burned out, cyclone fenced building that sat there for 5+ years. Its a nice looking building. Lets be greatful for at least that.

• West Seattle 4Ever July 29, 2008 (2:21 pm)

  You can’t possibly say that this building isn’t a vast improvement over the old Schucks store with the blank wall and the surface parking. Did that used to be an A&P or an IGA? I can never remember. Anyway, unless they are using it as some kind of tax dodge like some of those permanently empty storefronts north of Morgan, appropriate businesses for the neighborhood will eventually settle in.

• JanS July 29, 2008 (2:32 pm)

  WS4E..it was an IGA back in the day…I lived a block from there when I first moved to West Seattle in ’75, and shopped there often..

• Jack Loblaw July 29, 2008 (2:33 pm)

  I can hardly wait to see the new signs ! Maybe they will re-use the spray painted over Shucks sign that is just about to come down on the Whole Foods lot. I can’t wait to tell people who are coming to visit that they should turn left at the 7-11 and nail salon ! Federal Way is here at last !

• wsblover July 29, 2008 (2:42 pm)

  Oh man, I’ll never forget the burned out shucks after living near it for years. Yeah, WS.. the new Fed Way! Woo hoo! We just need a few more stop lights on California Ave.

• Meghan July 29, 2008 (2:42 pm)

  God, no wonder West Seattle has a citywide reputation for whiners. Just look at this thread. The reason, no doubt, that they signed these businesses (rather than some fabulous small retail store that none of you would probably shop at) is because currently most retail is hurting badly. Even the large stores and chains are having a hard time. And there are already many independent boutiques in W. Seattle, most of which are struggling BECAUSE so few West Seattleites are willing to pay more! But people still get their hair cut (especially on a budget) and exercise. It’s just the free market system our men and women in uniform are always fighting for (when they’re not flying over our heads in $200 million war toys putting our lives at risk for entertainment, that is)!

• WSB July 29, 2008 (2:59 pm)

  Good context. Although I wouldn’t call it “whining” – we happen to have spirited discussion here, even if sometimes the gripes seem to outweigh the bouquets, just because this part of the city happened to have this type of website before the rest, whether you think that’s a good thing or a bad thing. Check out newer sites like myballard.com and you’ll find the same types of discussions … folks want to know what’s in the works for their neighborhood. As somebody else pointed out, the true test will be what happens when the businesses open.

• worms Roxanne, I'm afraid of worms. July 29, 2008 (3:02 pm)

  I was so hoping for a payday loan and a pawnshop.

  I understand it must be tough as a leasing agent given the current conditions, but once you have set your anchor tenants as a salon and a house-o-fitness it is tough to attract other types of prospective businesses.

  But who am I to tell people who they should rent their property to and what kind of business they should start. Mongo only pawn… in game of life.

• villagegreen July 29, 2008 (3:58 pm)

  I’m not saying all the spaces need to be filled with expensive boutique shops. It’s just disheartening to see another Supercuts style hair salon going in. I seriously have never seen so many hair and nail salons in one part of a city. Out of town guests always comment on it.

  With that type of business going in first it’s apparent that this building will house the same sorts of things as Jefferson Square, e.g., Papa Murphy’s, Taco Del Mar, Super Supplements, etc. Those businesses all have their place (I guess), but I’d rather not see them in a suburban looking building right on California Ave. But that’s always the problem with new construction.

  Contrary to what JW stated, these are not the type of leases that your average entrepreneur can afford. These are spaces that large chain stores can afford.

• GenHillOne July 29, 2008 (4:39 pm)

  Did anyone actually go to the Anytime Fitness link and see that they are open 24/7?

• Diane July 29, 2008 (5:03 pm)

  I really like the look of the new building

  AND

  thrilled to hear a 24 hr access quality fitness club will be opening here, just a few blocks from my home

  did any of you even check out the website for this new business?

  and perhaps a less expensive hair salon will fill the needs of many in the neighborhood; most of the hair salons in and around the junctions are way too pricey for my budget

• barb July 29, 2008 (5:50 pm)

  Wow VG, your out of town guests must be terrible snobs, and also what does the comment “those businesses all have their place (I guess)…” mean? I’m sure I will be chastised by WSB for saying this, but damn you people are whiners and terribly snobbish. You don’t want it to be another Federal Way? So you want it to be another Bellevue?

• grr July 29, 2008 (9:43 pm)

  maybe we’ll get lucky and a Popeye’s Fried Chicken will fill the resturaunt space…

• WSB July 29, 2008 (9:49 pm)

  I suspect you’re joking but (and we have had this conversation on WSB before) West Seattle still needs decent fried chicken.

• Fiona July 29, 2008 (9:56 pm)

  Do you folks not remember when the only restaurant (it seemed) in the junction was “Maria’s” (Puerta Vallarta) and the only place to buy clothes was Sears or Kmart!!! There are no more empty, crappy storefronts, and if a store isn’t successful, there are several more just salivating for the square footage. It’s a nice building (sorry if the construction phase sucked) and a few years from now we’ll see great locals running great shops!

• GenHillOne July 29, 2008 (10:04 pm)

  LOL – I’m trying to imagine a workout with the smell of fried chicken wafting upstairs!

• villagegreen July 29, 2008 (10:27 pm)

  Barb – how does commenting on the number of hair and nail salons equate to snobbishness? There’s a good reason that out of town guests (and friends from other neighborhoods in Seattle) comment on it – because it’s true. They ask me why there are so many and I respond that I have no idea. Has nothing to do with snobbishness.

  As for my comment, “those businesses all have their place (I guess),” it means exactly what I intended it to mean. I reluctantly agree chain stores have their place. I would just rather see these new buildings offer reasonable leases so that maybe some of the businesses that are being displaced by the teardowns in the Junction could move in. How about Funky Jane’s, Rubato Records, or the Rocksport. I’d much rather those types of businesses survive in West Seattle. Are you honestly saying you’d rather replace those businesses with Budget Cuts, Super Supplements, a fitness center with 16 parking spots, and maybe a tanning salon if we’re lucky?

  And, yes, I don’t want West Seattle to turn into Federal Way – or even worse, Bellevue. I want West Seattle to continue to feel like West Seattle (even as it grows). I’m pro-density, but anti-crap.

  WSB – I’d cease all ‘whining’ and jump for joy if we got a branch of Ezell’s Chicken over here!

• grrltraveler2007 July 30, 2008 (7:23 am)

  WE WANT A ZIPPYS THERE!!!!!!!!

• Mr.JT July 30, 2008 (8:58 am)

  How bout bringing Spankys back. Was that anti-chain enough for y’all ?

• Jeffro July 30, 2008 (11:27 am)

  I’m conflicted about this place. The parking area looks like your standard strip mall, but I do like that the storefronts are right off the sidewalk. We do seem to have a lot of hair places round these parts, but whatever. What kind of place might I patronize there? Pizza-by-the-slice, teriyaki, Top Pot doughnuts.

• Stacey July 30, 2008 (12:06 pm)

  I am Sooooo EXCITED that there’s going to be a 24/7 fitness facility in the neighborhood! As a full time working mom/wife who takes the bus at 6am with not the best knees….. This is GREAT! I can now go to the gym at 4am without having to drive to Westwood Village! It would be great to get a place that makes fresh fruit smoothies in there! Parking could be a problem for people going at 5:00pm. I simpathize for you and everyone that lives in the neighborhood. But it is local….. maybe within walking distance?

• Carole August 3, 2008 (9:24 pm)

  I do hope the 24 hr fitness center has leased the SOUTH 2/3 of that second floor, as the north side is just about 10 feet from many bedroom windows and walls to the north. And for those of you showing up at 4am, please remember that there are sleeping homeowners, in both condo and single-family homes, just feet away, all that brick and concrete carries sound, so please keep your voices and music down and don’t slam those car doors.

• Debbie October 4, 2008 (2:36 pm)

  I want all the haters to know a little bit about Tram at Budget cuts. She is an amazing hair dresser and the sweetest person you will ever meet. They had their Grand opening yesterday and I was one of the first customers because she is the best at what she does and I will follow her wherever she goes. The place looks fantastic and I will definitely be coming back.

Sorry, comment time is over.