Thanks to the unidentified Electric Train Shop fan who just called to point this out to us: The Junction business has published an announcement on its website – it’s closing in about a month and moving to Burien. The writeup blames the impending move of the state liquor store (reported here in February) for a domino effect forcing the move.
Wow. While I’m really glad to hear they’re just moving and not closing their doors for good, I’m sad for West Seattle that we’re going to lose this wonderful business in the heart of the Junction. :-(
Yeah, I am the “unidentified fan” that reported it and I will miss your shop in the Junction very much. However, since my doctor is at the Group Health facility in Burien, and I will be 60 years old soon, I have a sneaking suspicion my visits to Burien will gradually be increasing!
Good luck, Scott!!!
Thanks, Gen. I asked my husband if he got a name from the caller and he said no, apologies, we always like to give credit when credit’s due!!! However, you’re not getting older, you’re getting better. 60 is the new 30. – TR
First Arcane Comics, now the train store: will West Seattle be left with no places for fully grown men to indulge any of their juvenile hobbies?
They will be missed.
If 60 is the new 30 does that mean I’m going to be turning 60 this year? Or does it mean that you can’t trust anyone over 60? I can’t remember! Getting old is the pits.
It means that for as long as us Baby Boomers are still around we’re going to be annoyingly insisting we’re not old.
There is still Atomic Boys, Jim. So sad to hear the train shop is closing though, lucky for Burien.
Sad to hear it. My nephew loved to go there every time he came to visit. Another piece that made the Junction unique and fun is disappearing.
The state is smart to move the liquor store to Capco Plaza. There is parking there and a supermarket next door. If they can raise the rent 300%, it must have been heavily subsidized or ridiculously low up until now. Burien is probably a better location for an electric train shop in the year 2011.
There is plenty of free parking at the current site. Plus, I liked the fact the liquor store had two entrances. You could stumble in the front door if you were too intoxicated to negotiate the steps at the back door!
I’m sorry to hear they are leaving. This shop added variety to the increasingly repetitive type businesses that keep moving in. I just hope something unique and worthwhile takes over the vacated spot and we don’t get a chain store, yet another “trendy” bar, a nail salon, a teriyaki joint . . .
I fail to see the connection between the liquor store and model trains.
How does a liquor store moving affect a train store? I don’t get it – am I just dumb?
dawsonct:
The liquor store and the Electric Train Shop are in the same building. I believe there was concern that if the vacated liquor store space was leased, they would lease the ENTIRE building, possibly leaving the train shop as the “odd man out”, so to speak.
First off, I truly wish the owners the best of luck in Burin – you will still see me there from time to time to pick up little gifts for my train enthusiast parents in Oregon.
I am really trying not to be snarky with this next comment, but honestly, by chain store do people mean Easy Street, Wing Dome, Cupcake Royal The Sneakery, Elliot Bay Brewery, A Terrible Beauty, Jones BBQ, Café Ladro, or any of the other amazing, terrific, contributing “chain” (IE multiple location) business that have been or will soon become, a part of the Junction and greater West Seattle community? Why the hate on chains, nail salons or teriyaki places? Sure we have a lot of salons but they all seem to be staying in business so obviously they are providing a “worthwhile” service that people use/enjoy. If you want something to come in that is “interesting” or “worthwhile” in your eyes, start working for it – encourage places that you like to open a West Seattle branch, start a WS forum about how great it would be to have “insert interest” come to West Seattle… be active and don’t just wait to be disapointed by whatever person has the bravery to open a place on the Junction.
I’m not sure how you’re comparing the businesses you mentioned to “chain stores,” and by that I mean the big national companies like Home Depot, Office Max, Target, or whatever. They have their place, just not in the cozy W.S. Junction core. We already have a PetCo and more chains have been eying West Seattle for some time. I want to see locally-owned businesses to coninue to survive and thrive and not be pushed out by unaffordable rents or undercut by these big-box chain stores. I also do not “hate” (your word, not mine) nail salons or teriyaki (or Pho or Thai or whatever) places, but do we need one on every block along California Avenue, regardless of whether they are successful? I want to see a variety of services and retail stores that appeal to our diverse community. And it is NOT my job to go out and recruit businesses or start a forum. That is what our WS Chamber of Commerce should be doing.
Sorry, comment time is over.
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