BIZNOTE: New ownership for Alki Mail & Dispatch, as a milestone anniversary approaches

(Photo courtesy Alki Mail and Dispatch)

Above are Bree Fitts and Don Wahl of Alki Mail & Dispatch (4701 SW Admiral Way), who have a big announcement – Bree is taking over the business!

Bree was born and raised in West Seattle and is a graduate of Chief Sealth high school. She came to work for Alki Mail & Dispatch in 2011 after the California Ave. Blockbuster Video closed, where she had previously worked as a shift manager for about 5 years.

She has been managing Alki Mail for the past several years for Don and he has decided after 30 years (we celebrate 30 years in business on November 17th of this year) he is ready to step away, but it was important to him that it went to someone who was as dedicated to the business and its customers as he is, and there was no question it would be Bree!

She is passionate about customer service and dedicated to providing nothing but the best for her customers. She is so proud and so excited to join the club of women small business owners in her hometown and hopes to see Alki Mail grow even more with the support of the community.

We plan to have an anniversary/customer appreciation party sometime in November, so be on the lookout for the announcement when we decide on a date! A reminder of Alki Mail’s services: Private mailbox rental, packaging, shipping, printing services, notary public, faxing, scanning and coffee! We are open Monday-Friday 7 am-7 pm, Saturday 9 am-5 pm, and Sunday 12 pm-4 pm.

Alki Mail has been at this location for 15 years, after the first 15 at the beach.

Ssyphus August 16, 2019 (4:29 pm)

Well done Don! I can’t tell you how much I have appreciated you over the years. And, best of luck to Bree.

pamela August 16, 2019 (5:06 pm)

Don – 30 years?? I remember like yesterday using the computer in the back of the space on Alki. Your kindness and generosity to your customers and the community is appreciated and remembered fondly! Pam

Shane August 16, 2019 (5:26 pm)

I love you both and am so happy to see Bree taking over.

Danny McMillin August 16, 2019 (6:34 pm)

Don,You changed my life for the better! I remember walking into the ‘Spatch a few days before the official opening and asking you and Don Cavanaugh if you could make me custom rubber stamps. And of course you both answered with an emphatic “YES!” Followed by, “Do you have a level we could borrow?” I met so many people who became my friends from dropping in for a coffee and hanging out for a bit. That included many of the wonderful employees who worked for you. One of them was Doug Sowers, a fine lad from Spokane. I eventually joined his band, Eat the Feeling, for a couple of wild and crazy years during the height of grunge. Man, so many good times. Why you even employed me in one of your other side businesses. It was truly a sad day when you moved the ‘Spatch from the beach to “Upper Alki.” But it was the right move for a growing business. I wish the best for you in your new endeavors. And all the best to Bree as she takes the helm. macdanny

KD August 16, 2019 (6:51 pm)

Bree, open another one farther south.. White Center, Top Hat, Burien.. please! Congratulations!!🎉

Olafur August 16, 2019 (7:06 pm)

Wow, Don, good for you! Seems like just yesterday that I used to come in to the beach location to fax documents for work, but now I’m realizing it was 22 years ago. How did the years go by so fast? Best of luck to you in your next adventure and best of luck to Bree, carrying the business forward!

Abyk August 16, 2019 (8:56 pm)

Don you should have a changing ownership party or something!

Wendell August 16, 2019 (9:19 pm)

Congratulations Bree. Buena suerte Don.EB

James August 16, 2019 (10:06 pm)

Congrats Don, Alki mail was a great resource to my design business when I first opened Studio Bolo, shipping, faxing and always a friendly conversation. Crazy thing, you look exactly the same as when I walked in 28 years ago.

Erich August 17, 2019 (8:01 am)

Thanks Don and congratulations to Bree. You both rock. Erich #170

Lisa August 17, 2019 (8:15 am)

I love this place. So glad to see it continue on this way!

A-Red August 17, 2019 (10:27 am)

Thanks, Don, for giving Beth and I the opportunity to run our little shave ice business on your patio down at alki, a quarter century ago. You were very generous and helpful in your support. Best wishes on the next chapter!

G and G August 17, 2019 (2:05 pm)

Congratulations!!We have been with you at Alki Mail for over 23 years! So happy the business stays with one of our own “West Seattle”. Your winning ways will be missed and Bree has been a rock during these years.

Bree August 17, 2019 (4:47 pm)

Thank you everyone so much for all of your support! I appreciate all of you so much!

Susan Staples August 18, 2019 (1:21 pm)

To Don, you are the best neighbor ever! Your staff has always become friends. To Bree, yippee! Congratulations on your becoming an entrepreneur. Alki Mail has been my savior ( cut off thumb), my go to place when my heart was broken ( my Moms passing) , and always the best darn coffee in the world! Don, don’t be a stranger!

Sherri Chun August 18, 2019 (9:32 pm)

About 10 years ago we entered the Milk Carton Derby, and you and your staff saved every single milk carton for me for weeks! Thanks to you we had plenty of cartons to keep our boat afloat. Memories were made that day! Thanks for being a great community partner.

Steffanie August 18, 2019 (11:40 pm)

Congratulations Bree! You always make my day and everything just as easy as can be :)

wendy meyer-goodwin August 21, 2019 (11:41 am)

Don, I love you like nothing else…and I don’t mean as. As one of your oldest employees, I, as Danny, met so many fun and interesting people……most of all you and Don C. You really did change my life and influence me to be a better person.

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