BIZNOTE: Westwood Village Carter’s store closing in January

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | Westwood

If you’re looking for babies/children’s clothing at big discounts, a closing sale is on at the Westwood Village Carter’s store, which tells us it’s closing January 8th or when it’s out of inventory, whichever comes first. The impending shutdown isn’t entirely a surprise – back in October, when we reported on two businesses opening at WWV, a commenter noted that it appeared the Carter’s store space was for lease. We weren’t able to confirm closing plans at the time, and it fell off our followup list, but today, after Jon forwarded us an e-mail newsletter containing the one-line alert “Your Carter’s at Westwood Village is closing soon!”, we renewed our efforts and got the confirmation. Management says they have already stopped receiving new items, so it’s a clearance sale of what’s on hand. The store opened in April 2014. No word yet on what’s next for the space, which has been offered either alone or as a potential combination with the two empty spaces north of it.

Anne December 19, 2017 (12:17 pm)

Always sad to see a store close- I only shopped there a few times- when I had babies & toddlers to buy for.

My hope is that WWV can get some new businesses to fill the empty space – that will bring folks in – encourage shopping there.

Jim P. December 19, 2017 (1:44 pm)

Beginning to worry me as there’s rather a *lot* of empty spaces now.

A half-closed shopping center drags a neighborhood down but one filled with nail salons, “dollar stores” and check cashing places won’t help either so I hope they can get some good clients.

They seem to be working more about chasing out the vagrants and semi-gang types one sees far too much of but there’s still a lot of people hassling customers or loitering and smoking in front of “no smoking” signs and such.

I see foot patrols of security types but they seem to either have iPod earphones plugged every time I pass one or are checking their smart phones, not watching the area.

I don’t think WWV is getting their money’s worth out of the security employees or contractor or these guys skipped the lecture on situational awareness.

brian December 19, 2017 (2:16 pm)

SMOKING IN FRONT OF A NO SMOKING SIGN????
D Del Rio December 19, 2017 (2:19 pm)

Westwood has had vacancy problems since the 1980s. I have no idea why, especially since Seattle has a booming economy right now. Maybe it needs to be bulldozed and rebuilt as mixed use with housing or something like that.
- East Coast Cynic December 19, 2017 (3:22 pm)
  
  Seattle appears to be booming depending on neighborhood or section of King County: Some areas are less affluent than others and don’t patronize retailers as much as the more wealthy neighborhoods, at least for consumer items beyond basic needs; And as previously mentioned, the ability to shop on line has also detrimentally affected the bottom line of big box stores and malls in pretty much all areas regardless of income.
- Alki Resident December 19, 2017 (3:51 pm)
  
  The rent is too high. That’s why nothing lasts there.

coffeedude December 19, 2017 (2:09 pm)

The issue is Amazon and online shopping. In my hood I see at least 6 daily deliveries from Amazon cars, and its not just 1 box for 1 house. LOADED cars with multi stops. On-line shopping is killing retail stores. SHOP LOCAL, even if it is a chain store. Those employees need jobs too.

Lorelei December 19, 2017 (2:25 pm)

Lower rents so small businesses can populate and I’ll shop there!

justme December 19, 2017 (2:48 pm)

Lorelei,

Exactly! You hit the nail on the head. California Ave is becoming less and less of a retail junction each year. While rents go up, only banks and restaurants can afford to move in. There are more retail shops leaving the junction next year from what I’ve been told. They can’t afford the rent.

Eric1 December 19, 2017 (3:19 pm)

Malls are dying everywhere. I don’t think the traditional mall will survive in the form we used to know them as. If you think of WWV only two stores are busy: Target, and QFC with 24 hour fitness being busy also. I like all the other stores but 90% of my shopping at WWV is Target and QFC with the other 10% at Toshis, Big 5 and the pet store.

Overall 75% of my shopping is Costco (including clothes) 10% online and 15% WWV. Occasionally, I shop somewhere else. The point is if isn’t something that I need today, I will get it at Costco and my specialty items are bought online where selection is vast. For the most part, Amazon, Costco and WWV have me covered and I don’t have to drive any farther than Costco.

Jim is right about the riff-raff and empty storefronts. The only “successful” mall in the city is probably U-Village. Higher end specialty stores free of riff-raff. I don’t necessarily want WWV to become UVillage south but there seems to be very little middle ground (Would you visit Pacific Place downtown? And I haven’t visited any of the other shopping centers in Seattle in decades). But if you ask people what store would you like to see in WWV, you would get a lot of blank stares along with a plethora of niche stores that just dont work as online stores. Nothing that really matches the 1960’s mall model; thus the dilemma of dying malls.

Trickycoolj December 19, 2017 (5:02 pm)

Same. I get tons at Costco and fill in the smaller items from Target, Ulta and Trader Joe’s.
East Coast Cynic December 19, 2017 (8:13 pm)

I would not object to WWV becoming U-Village South: Molly Moon’s Ice Cream, Rachel’s Ginger Beer, and Delfino’s deep dish pizza:); I would be going to WWV where I don’t now. But, unfortunately, we don’t have enough of the disposable income demographics to support such businesses.
- H December 19, 2017 (10:40 pm)
  
  Love those suggestions! Also a neighborhood medical clinic like the Swedish location on CA would be patronized.
- Eric1 December 19, 2017 (11:15 pm)
  
  LOL ECC… You would be surprised on the similarities between Westwood Village and University Village back in the day. Lamont’s, Ernst, Pay n Save in very similar 1960’s buildings. Indeed when I first moved here, there was an eerie similarity between the two since I lived in WS and worked in the U-district.
  
  .
  
  Granted, the remodel of WWV is no where near U-Village but U-Village has probably evolved 2 or three times in the past decade or so to leap fway ahead of WWV. I think U-Village has had a “positive” feedback loop (if gentrification is positive) on the neighborhood as the area’s disposable income go up. But the shops and homes on the other side of the Burke Gillman weren’t all that fancy not so long ago. These days, not so much.
  
  .
  
  I’d wager that the disposable income of WS is getting higher and the population size of WS is larger than most people think with a good proportion of that in affluent water-view locations. Given that people are trapped on the peninsula, the WWV area could get gentrified quickly as “the destination” if you didn’t want to drive more than 30 minutes or fight for parking in the junction. Additionally, since WWV is part of the urban village with a new Vapid Ride bus service, it might not take that much to get the ball rolling.
S December 20, 2017 (9:06 am)

A Michaels would be nice. I think it might do well.
newnative December 21, 2017 (9:30 am)

Actually the only mall I go to is Pacific Place because it’s easy to get there by bus. I’ve been to Northgate (by bus) twice and if it weren’t so far away (and a 3-bus ride) I’d go more often. It’s pretty busy a lot of fun.

Julia December 19, 2017 (3:52 pm)

Having just shopped for baby clothes for the first time in years, I was appalled at the list prices. Ended up getting things at discounters, including WWV Marshall’s. I never considered going to the Carter’s store, assuming it would be full retail. I can’t imagine why anyone would shop there.

Kim December 19, 2017 (4:59 pm)

I get virtually ALL my kids’ clothes there because it’s so inexpensive. It’s one of those stores that is constantly running sales and handing out coupons, so you never pay the full retail price. I’d get most pants and shirts for $5 each, maybe $10 tops. I’m really going to miss it.
Emily December 21, 2017 (7:29 am)

They always have coupons and sales. I have never paid full price for anything there. Marshall’s children’s clothes are not cheaper, especially the sets of Carter’s clothes they sell.

Mamasuze December 19, 2017 (5:01 pm)

I’m not sure why people assume what prices will be at a retail store without ever going in. (Julia) That Carters store is amazing! So many great deals, it’s almost ridiculous – many items are often 40-50% off (better than Marshalls). I will miss them.

Trickycoolj December 19, 2017 (5:09 pm)

Would be nice to have another clothing option locally. That’s the one thing I can’t reliably buy online and I can’t Buy all my clothes from Costco and Target (lord knows I try) so the fill in is usually at Southcenter at Nordstrom when budget allows. WWV Ulta knocked out one of my former regular reasons to go to Southcenter. But I’m not sure what else fills the gaps at WWV. Such an awkward layout and experience. Not pedestrian friendly but too short to drive between stores and weird tight parking in some sections. Maybe a neighborhood branch of a medical clinic? Polyclinic, UW, something in network? An eye clinic that actually takes my crappy vision plan?

S December 20, 2017 (9:05 am)

I read that as “clothing optional” and had to laugh. Awkward shopping!

JCW December 19, 2017 (10:53 pm)

Please please please let there be an Orangetheory that takes its place!

WSB December 19, 2017 (11:10 pm)

Orangetheory Fitness is already coming to The Whittaker so I doubt they would want to have a second location that close…
https://westseattleblog.com/2017/08/west-seattle-biznote-orangetheory-fitness-coming-to-the-whittaker/

S December 20, 2017 (9:04 am)

I think the site flow is part of the problem. Target does fine, because Target is WS’ only department store and it’s highly visible. But everything else has weird parking and strange lanes (the weird two lane to one lane next to B&N and QFC) and you have to navigate around QFC. If it had a straightshot from the B&N entrance through to the Post Office, that would help. It’s just not a shopping experience that invites you to walk around all the stores. It’s a shame, someone invested some $ in that little side garden over by Jamba Juice and the outdoor store. It’s pretty. Too bad it’s not a shopping focal point.

becca December 20, 2017 (10:49 am)

I’m surprised it made it this long, The same with the dress shop. I think we need a FroYo.

WSB December 20, 2017 (11:06 am)

Sorry to say, the lease notations are “no food.”

zark00 December 21, 2017 (10:18 am)

The road diet on 35th is likely having a negative impact as well. I like the slower traffic, I think overall it was a good thing. It’s only about 2.5M home to WWV, and pre-road diet that drive took about 7-10 minutes. Now it takes around 15-20 mins, and just that slight difference makes the trip feel like a hassle. I’m not saying it really IS much of a hassle just saying perception has a big impact, and the perception is that it’s now a ‘pain’ to go to WWV. I think the road diet is good, I really do, but I’m pretty certain it has also impacted things like WWV that rely on 35th to get their customers to them. Painting some lines on 35th might help too – they’re basically completely gone – I filed multiple fixits for line painting but they will have less than no impact. It is SDOT after all, and they hate WSea. I also agree the layout at WWV is weird and always has been.

Sorry, comment time is over.