PHOTOS: West Seattle indie businesses invite you to ‘Shop Small’
We’re just back from a trip north to south for this special day of “shopping small” – with hours left for you to get out and visit independent small local businesses, if you haven’t already.
First stop, The Admiral District, where Alki Bike and Board (2606 California SW) proprietor Stu Hennessey is a major evangelist of not just this particular event but also sustainability in so many ways. At Alki B&B, which Stu has owned since 1987, it’s 10 percent off everything today.
Plus his team – Will and Lucas, above – were quick to tell us what else is up – half off tune-up certificates, and a special holiday layaway/hideaway where they’ll keep the gift for you as late as 6 pm on Christmas Eve.
From there, we headed around the corner to Atomic Boys (4311 SW Admiral Way), specializing in toys and retro candy, launched by the Sadow family almost eight years ago. The full name, Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama, is after Kent and Parris Sadow‘s sons, who are now young men, soon to turn 19 and 14, respectively. So what’s big at Atomic Boys? Kent was quick to say – BeanBoozled!
The game and the candy, both. (And more Jelly Bellies in general are due in soon)
A little further south in Admiral, this is the first holiday shopping season for West Seattle Runner in its big new space at 2749 California SW.
Johanna and Tyler posed for us since proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell are at the Seattle Marathon Expo today (the race is tomorrow). What’s new at WSR? Lots of new shoes, they tell us.
Next stop, Meeples Games (3727 California SW, upstairs), the game store/café where proprietor Laura Schneider and team are celebrating their second holiday season with big fun in honor of “shopping small”:
We last stopped by Meeples during their raucous Halloween-night session of “Werewolf,” and Laura says that was such a hit, they’re making a plan for a New Year’s Eve game gathering – which game, TBA.
Ducking over to 3400 Harbor SW, we visited Claire E. Jones at The General Store Seattle, who points out she’s stocking 900 truly locally made items between her storefront and online ordering:
It’s a cozy shop but many are on display. She’s excited about the wreaths you see above – from Kitsap County – and we found some West Seattle-specific items you might consider as stocking stuffers, including these:
Through December 1st, The General Store is also offering the Causetown Holiday Shopping Extravaganza, online or in-store, where part of your purchase can go to a nonprofit – read about that here.
In The Junction, where you have many places to “Shop Small” today and every day of the year, we visited Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW), brimming with activity because of the JOIN pop-up as well as fun items like Ozobot, demonstrated by proprietor John Smersh:
John and wife Frances Smersh just celebrated Click!’s 11th anniversary. One shopper heading in was heard to warn her friend that the shop is “dangerous” – in a good way.
You don’t have to be an angler to shop at Emerald Water Anglers (42nd SW & SW Oregon), our second Junction stop. While you’ll of course find all things fishing, including a sale on Patagonia waders (with new ones due to arrive soon), you’ll also find jackets to keep you warm and dry even if your only outdoors activity is walking from house to car.
Today’s deal – EWA will pay your sales tax.
In Morgan Junction, shopping small is more fun than ever this afternoon at Second Gear Sports (6529 California SW). The sports-themed donuts will make you smile even if you don’t indulge:
Second Gear is West Seattle’s only sports consignment shop, with all manner of items in great shape, from skis to bikes (10 percent off today!) and beyond.
Proprietors Mark and Ellen Bremen just celebrated SGS’s second anniversary.
Make EVERY day Shop Small Day – not just to keep your $ in your community, but also, because they’re cool people with cool stuff! Our traditional disclosure: Of the stores mentioned above, Click!, Emerald Water Anglers, Meeples, Second Gear, The General Store, and West Seattle Runner are WSB sponsors.
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