Kiwanis Club of West Seattle honors Alki Lumber’s Jim Sweeney

At this week’s Kiwanis Club of West Seattle lunch meeting, the club honored Alki Lumber and Hardware owner Jim Sweeney as an “Everyday Hero.” He donated materials for the Kiwanis service project in June that placed bag dispensers at Westcrest Off-Leash Area, West Seattle’s only off-leash dog park. Alki Lumber was founded by his father William J. Sweeney – a onetime president of the Kiwanis chapter; Jim Sweeney took over at age 20 when his father died in 1959. (Our photo shows him with the Kiwanis Club’s West Niver.) When he started running the business, Sweeney said, Seattle had 131 lumber yards, but today, only a handful remain – they’re planning to expand their hardware section this year, though, and will be an Orgill Hardware affiliate when that’s done.

villagegreen September 9, 2010 (4:20 pm)

Congrats on the award! Does the hardware expansion mean you’ll be sprucing up some of your buildings? Some of the surrounding structures look like they could use some attention, what with the deformed metal, peeling paint, and rotting wood.

In all seriousness, I live in the neighborhood and would love to see the Triangle grow into something other than dilapidated buildings and fast food chain restaurants. Just think, you could get an award next year for kicking off the whole Triangle rejuvenation! And before people chime in, no I don’t want the Triangle to look like Bellevue. I just want it to look like we take a bit of pride in our neighborhood.

cathyw September 9, 2010 (4:54 pm)

Congratulations and thank you for your service to the community.

Silly Goose September 9, 2010 (6:38 pm)

Village Green seriously!!! Not to be mean or spiteful but Alki lumber is awesome and Jim Sweeney is a huge community supporter and volunteer, I might point out that I was a weekly customer to village green until you bought it and turned it into a unorganized mess, sorry but that is the truth so before you start making rude comments like that maybe you should stand in the drive way of your property and take a real critical look at your so called nursery it is dilapidated and quite frankly unappealing to perennial shoppers like me.

Jeremiah September 9, 2010 (8:41 pm)

SG, what village stated wasn’t rude. It was intelligently written; wrapped in sincerity. What YOU said was mean and spiteful. Shame on you.
With that said, I believe one has an obligation to society to always put their best foot forward. Read into that as you like, Silly.

coffee September 9, 2010 (8:45 pm)

I was surprised to drive by today and see quite the political supporting plastered ALL over the location….. As a political canidate told me one time, you can offend potential customers by showing support someone or something.

mrhineh September 9, 2010 (10:45 pm)

I hope you sent CJB to take the pictures :)

WSB September 9, 2010 (10:50 pm)

Nope, if it’s uncredited (either with a credit beneath the photo or explained in the text) it’s usually by one of the co-publishers. In this case, Patrick went to see the Kiwanians – TR

CandrewB September 10, 2010 (6:14 am)

I have never understood why businesses take a very public political position. Alienating 50% of your customer base is usually not the best business move. Although if all of your business comes from contractors and none from the community I guess sometimes it makes sense.

Carson September 10, 2010 (7:40 am)

I do have to give them kudos. I despise the way they do business, politically I find them offensive but they are sandwiched between 2 Home Depots, not to mention having a Lowes within driving distance and they have managed to survive where most others have failed. I suspect, like a secret cult, the BIAW and its members know who is part of their group, who to support and who to shun.

knm September 10, 2010 (8:33 am)

Though I never patroned Alki Lumber, I lived up the street from them for several years. I cannot tell you how many times the nuisance forklifts and delivery trucks took over the street and acted like it was their personal parking lot. I once had to slam on my breaks to avoid a forklift that darted out into the street from the sidewalk without a care to look for traffic and a huge pitcher (that had been sealed) of lemonade spilled all over my car. A street is for cars and travellers to use. It is not, nor should not be used by a private business like they own it. Many families live in that neighborhood (not to mention people that use the YMCA up the street) and I’m sure I’m not the only one who has felt this frustration. Alkl Lumber, build your own parking/delivery lot!

jsrekd September 10, 2010 (8:39 am)

Kudos to Jim & the Kiwanas. They are a LOCAL business, with LOCAL ties, who support us LOCALLY. Who they support politically or personally shouldn’t be an issue to y’all. Seems that I am encouraged to support my liberal brethren because of their political leanings, but when someone conservative shows their colors – we’re lambasted for it. Come on people – do we have to try so hard to be “politically correct?”

Carson September 10, 2010 (8:47 am)

jsrekd,

Politically correct has nothing to do with it. Politics does. If I spend my money at any place of business who supports political candidates then I assume part of the profit they might make could in turn go to fund people and ideas I oppose or agree with. They, or anyone can support, and show their support anyway they want on private property, and in turn, as a consumer, we can support, or not support them based on those views. Nothing politically correct about that, just common sense.

Billy September 10, 2010 (9:23 am)

Congratulations to Jim Sweeney upon receiving your award. I know there many out there who have received donations for your school (auctions),or boy scouts projects over the years. Thank you to Alki lumber for being an LONG standing business in our West Seattle community. For the few Ranters Have a better day now

KG September 10, 2010 (12:08 pm)

The Sweeney family has done more for the WS community for longer than most of you have graced this earth with your presence let alone lived in WS. WS has always had it’s own identity and part of that identity is Alki Lumber which has stood it’s ground through many a rise and fall in the economy. Before you criticize the decisions Jim has made in how to run the place or who to support, please consider following his lead both in community support and in business decisions. Thank you Jim for being such a great leader for us to follow.

villagegreen September 10, 2010 (1:00 pm)

@Silly Goose – just for clarification, I am in no way affiliated with the nursery you mentioned (I don’t even know where it is). I’ve been using villagegreen as my username for years. I’m just a guy that lives in the neighborhood who, probably like most of you, wants his home and and surroundings to be a pleasant place to live.

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