(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)

For dozens of past West Seattle Art Walk nights, Click! Design That Fits has bustled with artists, art lovers, and shoppers. Tonight – the elegant space in The Junction was almost bare, just a few “garage sale” items left as the shop prepared to close forever.

Proprietor John Smersh (above with Click! team members Adia and Diane) had hoped to hand off the shop to a new owner, one year after the passing of his wife Frances Smersh, whose jewelry art was the inspiration for the shop they originally opened in North Admiral in 2004.

But as reported here, a prospective new owner couldn’t agree on “sustainable” lease terms with the building’s owner, so John has been having a liquidation sale, and told us tonight that almost everything sold. Some jewelry and cards were about all that remained when we stopped in. Any remaining office supplies and fixtures will be offered to other merchants. Meantime, browsers were still streaming through, along with well-wishers; one woman told John, “You’ve brought so much beauty to West Seattle.” His next chapter? First, he told us, some travel; then he’s leaving himself open to possibilities.

P.S. On a personal note, we thank Click! for almost 15 years of support as one of our first WSB sponsors; local business advertising is our sole source of operating revenue.

Last weekend we reported that Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) might permanently close if its prospective buyer couldn’t reach agreement with the building’s owner on a new lease. Click! proprietor and co-founder John Smersh has just sent word that a deal was not reached. Here’s his announcement:

It’s official – the potential new owner of Click! has been unable to negotiate a sustainable lease with our landlord, and as such our last day open will be tomorrow, Thursday, September 8th. We will continue to liquidate our remaining inventory and will be offering store fixtures and other items at garage sale prices.

We will be open until 6 pm today (Wednesday) and 11 am-8 pm Thursday, staying late during West Seattle Art Walk for last-minute sales and fond farewells. Thank you to everyone who has been part of the last 18 years with us!

If you’re on the Click! mailing list, John promises “one more email newsletter next week with information on how to stay in touch going forward.” He put the shop on the market in May; it was in The Admiral District for its first six years before moving to The Junction,

(Photo courtesy Click! Design That Fits)

Today, Click! Design That Fits in The Junction is closed in memory of co-founder Frances Smersh, who passed away one year ago today.

Frances’s husband and Click! co-founder John Smersh says the future of the shop (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) is about to be decided, one way or another.

As reported here four months ago, Click! has been up for sale. John has a prospective buyer, but there’s a third party to the deal: “While we’d like to remain optimistic that our potential new owner and our landlord will reach an agreement on a lease, at this time the landlord is asking for a rent increase that would be unsustainable for our business model, and as such our deal may fall through. We are reviewing all possible options but are faced with our own lease expiration and as such have been liquidating remaining inventory at 20-40% off.”

So one way or another, Click! will be closing “within the next several days,” he says – whether temporarily or permanently, that depends. If the former, “new ownership could take over as soon as October 1, after a short break for transition.” If the latter: “If we don’t reopen under new ownership, we will remain closed, grateful for the 18 years of love the West Seattle community has graced us with. We are honored to have been trusted with curating a collection of gifts and home accessories for our friends and neighbors.”

John says the current plan, subject to change, is for Click! to be open – with the liquidation sale continuing – 11 am-6 pm Wednesday (September 7th) and 11 am-8 pm Thursday (September 8th, open late for the West Seattle Art Walk).

(Photo courtesy Click! Design That Fits)

After almost two decades in West Seattle, first in Admiral and then The Junction, Click! Design That Fits (WSB’s longest-running sponsor) is looking for new ownership.

Click! proprietor John Smersh made the announcement this morning: “Our sweet little shop (dare we say neighborhood gem?) is seeking a new owner who will continue to share thoughtfully designed, contemporary goods with our community … someone in our community who shares our vision, values, and aesthetic and has dreams of thriving in local, independent retail.”

From the announcement, the backstory:

John and Frances Smersh grew Click! Design That Fits from its humble beginnings as an extension of Frances’s jewelry business in the Admiral District to the well respected Junction destination you know and love. From the beginning, our hope was to find someone to take it over when the time came that we were ready to move on to our next adventure.

Frances’s diagnosis of Young Onset Alzheimer’s Disease in 2015 at age 48 meant a significant plot twist in our narrative. Shortly after diagnosis, our incredible crew stepped up, taking over day to day operations and allowing John to focus on his caregiving responsibilities as Frances’s disease progressed. Many of you likely saw John and Frances at Click! during that time, as her desire to stay connected with her community continued throughout it all. Frances passed away last September, and John and the Click! fam have been beyond blessed with so much continued love and support from all of you. We’re ready to pass the torch and keep the love-fest going. It’s time for Click! to transition to new ownership.

From the start, Click! has represented community and connection. For over 17 years we’ve been building relationships between the often overlapping groups of our designers/maker/artist colleagues and vendors, our neighbors in West Seattle and beyond, and our staff-crew-fam. These connections have allowed us to survive and thrive, even in times of hardship. It would not be surprising if our next owner is already a part of this community, or connected to someone who is.

The original home of Click! was 2210 California SW (now Zelda Zonk Consignment); in 2010, the Smershes moved the shop south to a larger space at 4540 California SW, where that “community and connection” has included countless in-store events, from West Seattle Art Walk receptions to author signings. The shop also has embodied community by supporting and featuring local makers and West Seattle-themed merchandise. And it’s supported sustainability with reusable items for everyday living. (Plus, if in-person shopping is not your thing, Click! has long offered online shopping.)

Putting the shop on the market does not mean any immediate changes, Click! says: “While we are anticipating a transition period over the coming months, we’ll still be open regular hours.” That’s Wednesdays-Saturdays 11 am-4 pm and Sundays 10 am-4 pm. They’re also noting, “Please know that our crew (John included!) aren’t able to answer questions about the sale and that all inquiries will be directed to our broker.” She is Carrie Topacio (carrie@vantageseattle.com, 206.402.5567).

(Photo courtesy Click!)

It’s the time of year when gardens are just starting to show their color, from spring blossoms to foliage. Observing, celebrating, and being artistically inspired by what’s growing around us is the subject of West Seattle writer/artist/gardener Lorene Edwards Forkner‘s new book “Color In and Out of the Garden.” You can talk with her about it right now at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor). She’s there until 2 pm today, signing books and answering questions. (Click! asked her a few for this preview.) Do some Mother’s Day shopping while you’re there!

As previewed here!

While you’re in The Junction on Sunday for the West Seattle Farmers’ Market, take a side trip into Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor) for the first event there in many months – a book launch for West Seattle artist/gardener/author Lorene Edwards Forkner. 10 am-2 pm on Sunday (May 1st), she’ll be at the shop to sign her book “Color In and Out of the Garden” and “chat color and gardens,” as Click! describes the opportunity. The shop’s event preview quotes the author as explaining that her book “is a memoir in plants and color. It’s about looking out and looking in,” sparked by a daily practice in observation. She hopes “that readers will be inspired to look closely with great heart at the world around them.”

Six years after Click! Design That Fits co-founders John and Frances Smersh announced that Frances had been diagnosed with young-onset Alzheimer’s, Frances has died. Here is the remembrance her family is sharing:

Frances Suzanne (Cousins) Smersh passed away on September 4th, 2021 at the age of 54, in Seattle. She died from complications of Younger Onset Alzheimer’s Disease, which she was diagnosed with six and a half years prior. She is survived by her husband, John Francis Smersh of Seattle, and sister Natalie Cousins-Robledo (husband Ted Robledo, son Enzo) of Pasadena, CA.

Frances was born in the Greater Los Angeles area, where she lived with her mother, father, grandmother, and sister. After graduating from St. Joseph High School, she studied at Loyola Marymount University, earning her degree in Sociology in 1989. It was there at LMU that Frances met her partner for life, John. After college they lived in Venice Beach, CA for two years. They married in 1990 and moved to Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood in 1991, where she started her first business, Smersh Design Jewelry. The couple moved to West Seattle in 1994 and bought a home in the North Admiral neighborhood.

Living in West Seattle, Frances continued to explore the art of jewelry making, first designing and creating and then selling her pieces at art fairs before expanding to wholesale markets, eventually selling her work in hundreds of stores across the US and internationally. Her passion for art and design flourished over the years, leading her to expand and innovate her jewelry using unconventional materials like Concrete and Pearls, Cork, and Powder Coated Steel to make exquisite, wearable art.

In 2004, it was Frances’s creative spark that inspired Click! Design That Fits, a contemporary gift and accessory boutique co-created and curated by herself and husband, John. In 2010 they moved the store to the West Seattle Junction, where it continues to thrive today.

Following her successes in jewelry, Frances transitioned to creating visual art through painting and sketching, regularly showing as the featured artist at Click!. Her catalog of work is vast and diverse, and has garnered a great deal of attention within the Seattle art-loving community.

Above all else, Frances had an inspiring, uplifting, and giving soul and she always went out of her way to bring joy to the people around her. All who knew her were touched by her kindness and she will be greatly missed.

In lieu of flowers, please consider a donation to the Washington State chapter of the Alzheimer’s Association.

Services will be held in late September. Updates will be made to the Caring Bridge journal as details are finalized.

The Smershes shared Frances’s journey with her community; five years after moving their shop (WSB’s longest-running sponsor) to The Junction, they shared the news of her diagnosis at just 48. They shared this update in 2018, and Frances was able to attend an exhibit of her work at Providence Mount St. Vincent in early 2020, just before the pandemic.

Spend local! We’re continuing to get West Seattle businesses’ updates in the wake of this week’s statewide rule changes, and we’re sharing them along with updating our ongoing lists. Here are three more:

CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS (4540 California SW): From this longtime WSB sponsor:

We’re open with lots of options on how to get your Click! fix.

Visit our brick and mortar shop in the heart of West Seattle’s Junction. We’re open 6 days a week, our regular hours will be updated at this link throughout the holiday season. Our capacity is 4 customers in-store at a time with a 20 min limit. If we’re at capacity a crew member will ask that you wait to enter. Face masks are required and we have a number of sanitizing stations throughout the store. Please mind the floor markers to keep distance from others.

We’re also are open for Private Shopping Appointments (in-store or virtual) during the afternoons + evenings on Tuesdays and Sundays. Learn more and book your appointment here.

Our Gift Helper Service is the perfect non-scheduled (and discreet) way to get personalized gift suggestions sent straight to your inbox! Just fill out this form and we’ll be back to you shortly.

Most of the shop is also online – click though our virtual Click! (ha!) by exploring current window displays and featured collections from the home page or perusing categories in the menu bar above. All web orders over $75 ship free within the US and we’re taking the show on the (local) road with free West Seattle delivery on orders over $50!

HEAD TO TOE: From the day spa in The Admiral District:

Head To Toe Day Spa is open for services as well as retail & gift certificate purchase. We encourage anyone wishing to purchase products or a gift certificate to call & pay in advance so we can have their order ready for curbside pickup. We also accept retail & gift-certificate orders through our website which can then be mailed or picked up. Appointments can also be requested online.

When we reopened in June after a three-month closure, we took extensive measures to ensure the safety of all guests & staff including:

Reducing spa capacity for staff & guests
Mandatory hand sanitization & temperature check for anyone entering the spa. Masks required at all times.
Mandatory sanitization in treatment rooms between all services as well as hourly spa wide sanitization.
HIPPA air filters & LED sanitizers in all rooms.
We encourage bi weekly COVID testing for all staff (no staff members have tested positive since March).
All service providers wear KN95 masks as well as face shields during all services.
Where possible all cloth surfaces have been removed or covered & single-use products are used whenever possible.
We will soon have an outdoor open air cabana with space heaters for guests to wait under to ensure social distancing in our lobby.

We care deeply about our spa guests, each other, and our families & friends. We will continue to do all that we can to support this amazing West Seattle Community we call home.

For appointments
M-F 8:30 am-7:30 pm
SAT 8:30 am-5:30 pm
SUN 10:30 am-6:30 pm

For retail
10:30 am– 5:00 pm Daily

SEATTLE DIVE TOURS (4217 SW Admiral Way): Not just tours!

Offering scuba-diving tours, training, and travel.
Small retail shop/training space. What we don’t have in store – we can get from our vendors including Aqualung, Diving Unlimited, Light and Motion.
Owned and based in West Seattle. PADI 100% AWARE, Green Star Dive Resort. Member of 1% for the Planet

Offering:
Curbside service
West Seattle Delivery
Discount Code for online store and booking system ‘WSI’ – 10% off any item for West Seattle residents
We’ve also added a specific ticket on our booking system for new divers to complete their Open Water E-learning and Pool work with us here and you can do your Open Water check-out dives in your warm-water location.

Got a business update? westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Two business-reopening updates today:

CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS: The longtime WSB sponsor at 4540 California SW reopens for in-store shopping tomorrow:

Thursday afternoon we’ll be re-opening for in-store shopping and can’t wait to see your (masked) faces!

99 days ago we temporarily closed the shop in response to the (ongoing) COVID-19 pandemic. And what a 99 days its been. We’ve baked so many cookies, gotten really good at packing up online orders and marched with our community. We filled our website with your favorite items from the store and held a fundraiser that raised over $2,700 for social justice causes. We’re listening, learning and evolving day by day and are so looking forward to reconnecting with you again in person.

All the details on what to expect when we re-open are right here. Our hours for this week are shown in the image below (hours may change week to week).

A million thank yous for your support through this whole thing. See you soon.

While curbside pickup is continuing too, the in-store shopping hours this week will be 3-7 pm Thursday and Friday, 11 am-5 pm Saturday, 10 am-4 pm Sunday.

SKYLARK: The patio out back is open! Matt from Skylark sent a photo:

He says, “We now have our patio open! There are several tables with more to come, all of which have plenty of space between, as do our tables inside. This area is dog friendly, umbrellas are on their way, and we have no-contact ordering and payment options. Now we hope the sun sticks around!” (Overcast as we write this, but pleasant outside anyway. Skylark is at 3803 Delridge Way SW.)

Two business updates todayL

CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS: The longtime WSB sponsor at 4540 California SW has curbside shopping, so here are a few updates you might want to know:

WINDOW SHOPPING

We’ve got a brand new window display for the first time in a long time and boy does it feel good.

Both window installations are 100% shop-able. If you see something you love while walking by, scan the QR codes or visit the “Main Window” and “South Window” collections from our homepage.

(They’re not exactly in the window but you should know we just received a new skincare line, including spray sanitizers.)

SALE

Check out our brand spankin’ new Sale section online and score some serious savings. Sale is for online, phone, email and DM orders (we do not have in-store shopping at this time). We are definitely available to answer questions and if we’re at the shop, can even show items through the window while on the phone, 206-328-9252.

CURBSIDE SHOPPING

While we’re not “open” in the traditional sense just yet, we’re glad to have our crew back in place, working regular hours for deep cleaning, curbside pickups and local deliveries.

Having our team back means that our turnaround times have gotten quicker — in most cases, orders will be ready same day (or very early the next!).

Through next Sunday (May 31st), hours for Click! at curbside are noon-2 pm and 5-7 pm weekdays (except Memorial Day, which will be noon-2 pm only), noon-2 pm weekends. They deliver in West Seattle two to three times weekly, usually Mondays/Wednesdays/Fridays in the early afternoon. For updates on hours beyond that, check here.

GLOW MEDISPA REOPENING: With medical and dental practices cleared to reopen for non-urgent services, Dr. Kate Dee is reopening her offices in The Junction (4409 California SW, starting tomorrow) and Kirkland. Glow has resumed online appointment-booking. In line with state rules for reopening, they have a variety of safety protocols in place, from staggered appointment times to mask-wearing for patients and providers. Dr. Dee adds in a message to clients, “Though it will be a long time before anything feels truly normal, we hope that we can inch toward that goal. I sincerely hope you all have stayed healthy. And just know we really want to give you a big hug, as we greet you with a bow.”

Got business news? Email is the best way to reach us, westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

Two more West Seattle business updates this morning:

CLICK! DESIGN THAT FITS: This longtime WSB sponsor just announced:

Permission granted! You know that old saying about permission and forgiveness? Well… we did exactly the opposite of what it says. We asked the state for permission to ship orders. And they said YES.

We’ll be shipping twice weekly, are doing free contact-less deliveries within West Seattle (orders $50+) and free shipping on orders over $75.

Our web store will continue to be updated with in-stock goodies and we’re always available by email or IG DM. We’ve also got a brand spankin’ new Gift Helper form for personalized gift suggestions, the next best thing to being together in the store :).

Rick Moreno continues as our featured artist. The entire gallery of work is online for a little virtual Art Walking and we now have prints available upon request too!

ALAIR: From the South Admiral gift shop‘s proprietor Shandon Graybeal:

I have been offering local, no contact delivery and it’s been really nice to see how many people are staying home and flattening the curve. It’s also been fun to go to customer’s houses and see things like door mats that they got at Alair.

Also, we have always offered a gift concierge service and this week, we’ve been doing a lot of Easter baskets. I feel like Easter kind of snuck up on us and I have baskets, grass, and things to fill it with. People can email us at info@alairseattle.com and tell us about the kid/kids and a budget and we put something together and email them back! (We can even drop them off!)

Got a business update? Email is the best way to get it to us – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

It’s not just restaurants/beverage businesses – some retailers are going delivery/pickup too, like longtime WSB sponsor Click! Design That Fits in The Junction. Their message to customers:

Guys. This COVID-19 thing is out.of.control. We want you, our staff, and our vendors to stay healthy at all costs. We’ve decided that it’s in our collective best interests to temporarily close the store starting on Tuesday 3.17.20. We will remain closed until further notice.

We’ve been blown away by the support you’ve given us over the past week as this thing has gotten bigger and crazier. We can’t thank you enough for supporting the locally owned, independent businesses who employ your friends, neighbors and kids and give back to West Seattle in countless ways. We go into this break buoyed by your dedication to this community and the small businesses that make it tick.

While we’re closed we’ll be doing a TON of website updates so you can still get your Click! fix. Our web shop will remain open and we’ll be shipping orders regularly. Orders over $75 will ship free anywhere in the USA. If you’re local, we can deliver within West Seattle for no charge (orders of $50 or more) and will have curbside order pickups by appointment (any order amount).

Keep your eyes peeled for email and social media (Instagram, Facebook) updates from us and definitely reach out to us at hello@clickdesignthatfits.com if you have thoughts, questions or concerns.

Thank you again for being the best. We love you and are looking forward to seeing your faces again in the near future. Until then, stay safe and wash your hands!

Click! is at 4540 California SW.

Until 7 pm, you can stop in and join the party as Frances and John Smersh celebrate 15 years of their shop Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor). Treats, deals, more (as previewed here)!

This Saturday, October 5th we’ll be celebrating our 15th anniversary from 4–7p.

During the event, take 15% off your entire purchase (except Pop-Up items), peruse our Employee Art Pop-Up shop and cheers to another 15 years with us.

From all of us to all of you – THANK YOU

More info here.

Perfect weekend to shop local! The photo is from Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor), where Eda from Boejack Design has a pop-up under way until 3 pm. Click! tells us, “She handcrafts bags in leather, vegan leather, and Japanese fabric.” More info here.

(Got a shopping spotlight? Let us know for the WSB West Seattle Holiday Guide!)

Annual Girls’ Night! Details here.

The cover image for the map/postcard promoting this quarter’s West Seattle Art Walk events – starting with tomorrow night’s WSAW – always has a backstory. This time around, there’s a lot to tell.

The image is a painting by Frances Smersh, the West Seattle artist who is co-proprietor of Junction shop Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) with her husband John Smersh. She is also this month’s featured WSAW artist there, so you can visit Frances and her work there Thursday night (October 11th) 5-8 pm.

In conjunction with the showcase, Click! has an update for the community about the personal news they first shared three years ago – that Frances is living with younger-onset Alzheimer’s Disease.

Writing on the Click! blog this week, they explain that the disease has continued to progress. “This last year Frances has struggled with more challenges that the disease has presented, and found that art is an area that she can still thrive. … With painting as her primary focus for most of the last year, she’s produced an impressive body of work!”

You can see the show during tomorrow’s Art Walk. The update continues, “She has titled her show ‘With a Little Help from my Friends,’ an acknowledgement of the extra assistance she now needs.”

After details on how Frances is doing now, the update explain how that assistance is more vital than ever:

If you or someone you know would enjoy spending time or sharing a meal with (or providing a meal for) Frances, please reach out to John and let him know what you would be up for. She loves being with people and is pretty game for most activities. Friends have started a GoFundMe page in hopes of helping with some of the extra expenses they now face; donations of any amount are hugely appreciated.

Read the full update here. And go see Frances’s show at Click! on Thursday night, 4540 California SW, 5-8 pm.

You still have an hour left to go spend a bit of your Saturday night shopping – and celebrating – at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW; WSB sponsor). It’s the 14th anniversary for the shop owned by John Smersh and Frances Smersh, 8 years in The Junction after 6 in North Admiral.

Along with a storewide sale, the celebration includes a tradition in its third year – a loft pop-up shop with Click! employees selling “small collections of their own creative endeavors: photography, illustration, jewelry, clothing, and more.” The party continues until 8 pm.

P.S. If you miss the chance to wish the Smershes a happy 14th Click!-iversary, consider stopping in during the West Seattle Art Walk on Thursday night (October 11th) – Frances will be the spotlight artist!

This Saturday October 6, 5–8 p, you are invited to raise a glass and celebrate 14 years of Design That Fits in West Seattle!

Let us pour you a glass of bubbly while you enjoy a 20% discount* on all purchases during the party.

Up in the loft, we’ll host our 3rd annual pop-up shop showcasing the creative lives of our own Click! crew including jewelry, hand-painted clothing, photography, and other 2-d works.

(L-R, Frances Smersh, Michelle Ting; photos courtesy Click! Design That Fits)

A new Smersh Design Jewelry collection is launching right now at Click! Design That Fits (4540 California SW: WSB sponsor). Today’s event continues until 6 pm. Co-proprietor John Smersh explains:

Young-onset Alzheimer’s disease has made it difficult for Frances (Smersh) to do many things, but she continues to be creative with the help of friends! This collection “Nos Familles” (our families) is a collaboration with Click! assistant manager Michelle Ting.

More details on our site – notably:

*Purchase of any design from the new collaboration will include a free piece from Frances’s existing Tattoo collection.

*We are introducing new colors (not eligible for gift with purchase, sorry) to the Tattoo shapes.

*We are collecting donations of your old jewelry in any condition (broken, missing pair) for the Women’s Shelter Jewelry Project, a program run by the Seattle Metals Guild to help homeless and disadvantaged women through shelters in the Seattle area and the YWCA Dress for Success Program.

Read more about Click!’s involvement with the Shelter Jewelry Project by going here.

Tonight’s the night you can congratulate Frances and John Smersh on 13 years in business with Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) – originally opened in Admiral, then moved to 4540 California SW in The Junction seven years ago. Tonight’s centerpiece – a pop-up in the Click! loft with creations by Click! team members, including this work by Chayse:

Adia, Elyssa, and Michelle are part of the pop-up, too.

You’ll also find some of Frances’s 2-D work (she’s branched out from jewelry) – look for even more during the next West Seattle Art Walk on October 12th. Tonight’s party is on until 8 pm, with treats and in-store specials as the Smershes celebrate another year of selling cool stuff from furnishings to accessories and beyond (including locally themed items you won’t find anywhere else) as well as art and wearables.

Still some time to get over to Click! Design That Fits (WSB sponsor) in The Junction to meet West Seattle-residing, nationally acclaimed cookbook author and food educator Kim O’Donnel. Her newest book “PNW Veg” has just been published; she calls it her “edible love letter to the Pacific Northwest,” where she has lived for nine years. If you know that this is O’Donnel’s third book of vegetarian recipes – after “Meat Lover’s Meatless Celebrations” (2012) and “Meat Lover’s Meatless Cookbook” (2010) – you might guess she’s vegetarian. But you’d be wrong; she’s just living a “less meat” lifestyle. Until 9 pm, she’s at Click! (4540 California SW) signing books and offering tastes of highlights from “PNW Veg,” including desserts and potato/onion/stinging-nettle frittata as well as black bean and beet burgers.