2 new West Seattle businesses: Used cars; furniture consignment

USED CAR LOT MOVES TO THE JUNCTION: The sign’s not up and only a few cars are in the lot, but Automotive Solutions of Seattle has taken over the space at 3925 SW Alaska (map). We discovered this via Twitter, when @WestSeattleCars “followed” us over the weekend. This marks the first car business to open in West Seattle since WS Motors closed on Fauntleroy. The business, which mostly brokers cars online, moved from North Seattle. We asked for a little more info, and here’s the reply:

The owner of Auto Solutions is a West Seattle resident with a daughter at Holy Rosary so the location is very convenient for him. Also, one of our managers is a lifelong West Seattle resident. We hope to eventually have 25-30 cars on the lot. We have access to over 30,000 cars online across the country through dealer auctions so we can find any car a customer is looking for. Our business model is a bit different from a traditional dealer. We have no secrets from our customers, a Carfax is always available as well as a current Blue Book value, we welcome mechanics’ checks on our vehicles and we will always be the most competitive in pricing. We also sell warranties to cover your current vehicle for a huge discount over traditional warranty quotes. We will have a sign up by mid week and will have a grand opening around the 1st of November. We have signed a 7-year lease on the property so we will be around for a while.

FURNITURE CONSIGNMENT BUSINESS: Sold Home Décor Furniture Consignment — offering, according to its announcement, “high-quality pre-owned furniture and eye-catching accessories” — has its grand opening this Saturday, noon-5 pm, at 9003 35th (map), former home of West Seattle Karate (which moved south, as noted here). Owner Maria Groen has been working in “staging” of homes/condos as well as design consulting, and is now expanding into retail. There’s more info online at soldhomedecor.com – about the consignment process as well as the operation in general.

Grazer October 5, 2009 (12:00 pm)

Great. A bunch of crappy cars sitting around waiting for people to by them over the internet. How in the heck does this add anything to our community? Why is West Seattle becoming more ghetto? Add this to the $7 hair cut signs prancing around California and whee I’M so proud of my neighborhood….

Smitty October 5, 2009 (12:15 pm)

People like to buy and sell used cars all the time, not sure I would call it “ghetto”. We’re still at a huge net loss since Huling left (so ahead in your book).

Saw the $7 haircut dancers though – kind of tacky I will admit – but come on, it’s right next to a 7-Eleven fo gosh sakes.

Times are tough.

WSB October 5, 2009 (12:17 pm)

For context’s sake, West Seattle currently has zero car businesses. Can’t speak to whether these are “crappy” cars or not – prospective buyers will have to sort that out. But general perception is that we are going to have to be more self-contained for some years to come given the pending road work at the choke points out of town, and some fretted a bit when the last car business left town. Last activity on this site was a Christmas tree lot last year; it held cars at some point before that.
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Down the street BTW, another former car business is the new home of Cycle U (previously reported & we’re working on an update, since their opening is apparently imminent) – TR

Eilis Flynn October 5, 2009 (12:24 pm)

A furniture place where the karate place was? That’s a tiny storefront! I’ll be curious to see how that works.

Krystal October 5, 2009 (1:00 pm)

A bit disappointed about the car dealership, but it’s great to see businesses starting in a down economy. My hope is that they can do something with the other abandoned lots and buildings in the same area, I think that is what is super ghetto about my neighborhood!

d October 5, 2009 (1:01 pm)

Been waiting for a furniture consignment shop to open in WS!

Yay!

JBL October 5, 2009 (1:34 pm)

Boooooooo! on the Used Car Lot. Fauntleroy used to look like Aurora, now it looks like good USEFUL businesses could move in, but now just another car lot back to the old ways. Sad.

KBear October 5, 2009 (2:03 pm)

Where do you NIMBYs buy your used cars? You DO believe in re-using unwanted vehicles, rather than throwing them away, don’t you? You think your neighborhood is too good for a used car dealership? Would you complain as much if they were brand new hybrids? The place in question was already a car dealership, so it’s not like this is a huge change. Isn’t an operating used car lot better than a boarded-up vacant one? I wish we had rapid transit, so we wouldn’t have to drive as much, but I think it’s great that someone’s selling cars in West Seattle again.

David October 5, 2009 (2:35 pm)

It sounds like a bunch of cheap junk right in the gateway to West Seattle. That’s a great way to make a first impression!

Grotto to Ghetto October 5, 2009 (2:44 pm)

David – The ‘gateway to West Seattle’ has been a strip mall for ages, both Fauntleroy and Admiral.
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Grazer – You think it’s ghetto now? Wait til the viaduct is closed and the West Side is effectively cut off from the rest of the city. THEN you’ll see real ghetto.

Bender October 5, 2009 (2:44 pm)

Listen to you people. This is a West Seattle business with owners who live in the area. I’m ashamed of the way you guys are talking. This isn’t a strip club. It is a respectable business that probably uses services from other businesses in WS. As was mentioned, this very spot was a dealership before. I’d hate having any of you bad-mouthers as friends. Show some damn support for businesses opening up in our area or STFU.

Diane October 5, 2009 (3:06 pm)

ditto most of what Bender said
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yes, please welcome new business; these are our neighbors
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both of these are about recycle/reuse cars/furniture; excellent; big welcome from me!!!

KBear October 5, 2009 (3:07 pm)

…and Fauntleroy NEVER looked like Aurora. Not even close.

homesweethome October 5, 2009 (3:08 pm)

I’m with Bender…this thread is appalling.

mark October 5, 2009 (3:12 pm)

Couldn’t we at least have a combo, used car lot-Trader Joes?

KBear October 5, 2009 (3:21 pm)

We already have one nearby. It’s called Burien.

JamminJ October 5, 2009 (3:46 pm)

what’s ghetto is a bunch of empty lots. I don’t care what kind of business opens up, if a business can make money, hire employees, be a part of the community – more power to them.
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CJ October 5, 2009 (4:15 pm)

Seriously? Please tell me you’re just trying to be funny. Most of you posters ought to be ashamed of yourselves. If you’re idea of “ghetto” is a business opening up on a busy street in West Seattle; you obviously have no idea of what “ghetto” is. Why does everyone now think it’s okay to label anything that’s not to his or her liking as “ghetto”?

Definitions of ghetto on the Web:
· formerly the restricted quarter of many European cities in which Jews were required to live; “the Warsaw ghetto”
· any segregated mode of living or working that results from bias or stereotyping
· a poor densely populated city district occupied by a minority ethnic group linked together by economic hardship and social restrictions

Yeah…that’s soooo West Seattle!

Sheesh…you don’t even sound like real West Seattleites…get the heck out here with that crap! Take your ass back to Bellevue!

squareeyes October 5, 2009 (4:42 pm)

I really am surprised at the negativity regarding this addition to the neighborhood. Have you been past the car lot yet? I have. Granted, they only had four cars out on Saturday, but if they continue to stock the lot with similarly-presented vehicles you will have nothing to complain about.

bluebird October 5, 2009 (5:33 pm)

Congratulations to both new businesses. Welcome to the neighborhood.

Lou October 5, 2009 (6:07 pm)

Glad to see more businesses! Thanks for making West Seattle your home. I can’t believe some of you were referring to the used car lot as ‘ghetto’…unbelievable. Way to make your fellow west seattle neighbor welcome.

Kayleigh October 5, 2009 (6:34 pm)

Jeez, we just got a new cool restaurant (Fresh Bistro) and a new QFC, both of which are nice improvements to the neighborhood. Don’t see how we’re becoming more “ghetto” because someone is selling cars?

Smitty October 5, 2009 (6:39 pm)

Welcome to WS! Thank you for opening your business here!

Leroniusmonkfish October 5, 2009 (6:48 pm)

When will someone open up a clothing store for pets? Winter is coming and some good gore-tex protection for my lil’ friends would be much appreciated.

Seriously…good for someone to take the initiative and open up shop in WS considering the current business environment. You never know…if things get even worse you might be selling your car and/or buying a car from this establishment. Better than a vacant lot isn’t it?

coffee October 5, 2009 (7:44 pm)

I also say welcome to West Seattle. And it is better to see something that is local than an empty lot. At least the new owners are local, Gee was not even from the area.
Leroniusmonkfish, have you tried the local pet store, Pet Elements? I bet they either have or can get what you are looking for.

angelescrest October 5, 2009 (8:07 pm)

Thank you, CJ. I couldn’t agree more with the blatant misuse of the word.

Pete October 5, 2009 (8:20 pm)

I deal with Auto Solutions at my job and can say that they are a very respectable business and from what I can see treat their customers quite well. I just cannot understand all of the negative comments about a business that the poster appears to have no knowledge of….how terrible for anyone thinking about opening a business here in West Seattle and reading some of this dribble.

Leroniusmonkfish October 5, 2009 (9:28 pm)

Coffee, sorry I was just being a lil’ bit sarcastic in regards to clothing for pets. All of my pets over the years have survived just fine without designer clothing. Actually, both lived 18 & 20yrs respectively. Not too bad for a couple of bad-ass cats.

I’m still happy though for Automotive Solutions and wish them the best in their new WS endeavors.

WSM October 5, 2009 (10:05 pm)

Another classic WSB witch hunt.

TBMR October 5, 2009 (10:17 pm)

Welcome! Automotive Solutions sounds like they are upfront and are taking a bit of the risk out of buying a used car. Glad to hear they are from West Seattle and utilizing some of the empty spaces. I am all for a used car lot. We need a used truck- I will have to check them out!

Catherine October 5, 2009 (10:43 pm)

Welcome! I wish you both much business success!

JamminJ October 5, 2009 (11:12 pm)

just curious, if the OP is still reading this thread… what did you mean by ‘ghetto’? what is the problem with used car lots in your opinion? By the looks of it, the posters here seem to welcome the business… who knows, maybe it is a negative. But if you have a beef, would like to hear your opinion on the issue. so whats up?

swimcat October 6, 2009 (8:16 am)

I’m on trend to purchase a car once every 10 years, so the used car place won’t do much for me. I do wish them the best though! I am excited about the furniture consignment shop- it will be a welcome addition to the neighborhood.

Good luck to both businesses!

bsmomma October 6, 2009 (11:21 am)

I am in total agreeance that it is GREAT that a new business is moving in to the community! If I was coming in to West Seattle and saw a bunch of empty lots, I guess I wouldn’t realy think anything much but it probably makes “us look better” to actually have a thriving business community upon arrival. To comment on the Aurora comment…. Have you been there lately or even ever?! Fauntleroy has never even looked close to Aurora! We don’t have have hookers walking up the street! Jeesh! Has anyone been to Detroit/Dearborn, MI lately? Now, that’s ghetto. Seriously, if West Seattle is to Ghetto for some people…. you made the choice to move/stay here…. why not exercise your right to choose and move somewhere else! I’m personally excited to see new business’ coming in! That means things are looking up in the economic world! I hope the owners don’t see this thread. If they do, please know that the crappy comments are not a reflection of the whole West Seattle community…. but being a long time West Seattle resident, they would know there’s a few sour puses amongst us. :o)

okime October 6, 2009 (12:39 pm)

At first reading the first few comments, I was sad- but YAY, I love my WS Community…….

KLS October 22, 2009 (2:16 pm)

For any West Seattle resident that truly desires to learn more about the benefits of Automotive Solutions to our community, one need only observe the new sign added to the lot and drop by to meet the hard working gentlemen that run the dealership. Additonally, contrary to the remarks of some, Automotive Solutions does deal in new cars. The clean and well appointed nature of Automotive’s lot speaks volumes about the owner’s experience and integrity in the industry. I suggest stepping away from the computer keyboard and welcoming this promising business to the community.

Doug October 29, 2009 (9:49 am)

I stopped by the Automotive Solutions and found some very nice cars (not junk) and some nice people. Plus, the owner makes it clear that honesty is his policy. It is interesting to see people quickly judge the business without any true facts. They use words like “sounds like” which means they don’t really know. This owner is offering his knowledge of the car business to the public to help them with an important buying decision. So let’s support him. I will.

Sorry, comment time is over.