Key, Sean, and Yesenia took a moment for that photo just before cutting the ribbon to open the new West Seattle Junction location of their shop Rush Hour, less than a block south of the storefront where they’d been since June.

The move to 4517 California SW was already in motion even before the two crash-and-grab burglaries at their former storefront, which is awaiting demolition and redevelopment. The new space was Seattle E-Bike for a little while and Jan’s Beauty Supply for a long while. It’s bigger than Rush Hour’s previous spot, and a new mural by @TheyDrift spans the entire south wall:

Most of what Rush Hour carries is wearable, including shoes:

They also have unique shirts, jackets, and other apparel. A line was waiting to get in once they opened today:

In addition to shopping, you’ll also be able to visit Rush Hour during Art Walk – Yesenia told us they’re excited to participate, and very grateful for all the community support. Store hours are noon-8 pm Tuesdays-Saturdays, 11 am-6 pm Sundays, closed Mondays.

Today we’re welcoming a new sponsor to the team of local businesses and organizations advertising on WSB: Moon Room Shop and Wellness in north Morgan Junction. When new sponsors join us, they get the opportunity to tell you about themselves – here’s what Moon Room would like you to know:

Moon Room Shop and Wellness is inspired by and created from imagination! We are a unique and eclectic retail gift shop that sells crystals, rocks, jewelry, 100% pure and natural essential oil body products and sprays, high-vibration art prints, and custom original T-shirts such as our popular Lincoln Park shirt. We also carry natural incense and sustainable smudge, intention candles, chimes, sun catchers, lamps, and so many other fun treasures that uplift and inspire joy in our daily living. We are always adding new fun items to our store while continually striving to offer our customers an affordably vibrant shopping experience.

Our crystal, rock, and mineral selection is selectively curated to appeal to the beginning and casual rock hound all the way to the collector looking for that nice specimen. We carry a great variety of tumbled and polished stones, crystal towers, spheres, free forms, and also some really cool fossils. Our jewelry section is filled with a beautiful and varied selection of gemstone rings, necklaces, earrings, and bracelets. Whether you are treating yourself or buying a gift for someone special, there is a lot to explore and enjoy at Moon Room.

To show our gratitude to everyone who has supported Moon Room and to all those we look forward to meeting, we are running a “West Seattle Rocks!” sale today (Friday, December 1) through Sunday, December 3, where everything in the store and online is 15% off! Come see us in person at 5902 ½ California Ave. SW in Morgan Junction or order online for pick up or delivery at www.moonroomshop.com. Use special code WSROCKS for online discount.

And to accommodate busy schedules for this holiday season, we are offering in-store private shopping bookings from 9-11 AM for the month of December. Book your own half-hour slot to browse and shop. Minimum $50 purchase required. Gift cards are available too! Book your private shopping excursion at calendar.app.google/3dwq2bQc9mKkqRHT9

We look forward to seeing you!

Much love,
Moon Room

We thank Moon Room Shop and Wellness for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!

HomeStreet Bank in the West Seattle Junction (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) is continuing its tradition of showcasing another local business/nonprofit every month, and this month, the spotlight has been on Meeples Games, with a special display in the branch and a drawing at month’s end. That’s why Meeples Games proprietor Laura Schneider visited HomeStreet (whose Joyce Leslie is at right in our photo with Laura) on Tuesday – to draw the winner of a $100 gift card. (Just in time for holiday shopping!) If you haven’t been to Meeples, the shop is upstairs at 3727 California SW, with numerous weekly gaming events as well as retail offerings. The December spotlight at HomeStreet will be on ArtsWest (WSB sponsor), where “Snowed In” opens tomorrow night.

(Photo courtesy Thunder Road Guitars)

As previewed here, Black Friday transformed into Truck Friday at Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor), where proprietor Frank Gross booked the Dick’s Drive-In truck to come be part of a special event – they’re raffling off this $2,300 guitar:

And if you buy a $10 raffle ticket before the truck leaves at 2 pm, you get a burger and shake. (The truck is just there as part of the raffle – no separate sales.) Sasquatch is there for photo ops, too. TRG’s sale, meantime, lasts through Sunday. (So does the sale at co-housed The Bass Shop, also a WSB sponsor – details on that here.)

Two updates:

OPENING DAY FOR SHUG’S MINI: The sibling shop to Shug’s Soda Fountain in Pike Place Market is finally officially open at 3800 California SW, as of less than an hour ago. Above are West Seattle-residing Shug’s proprietors Colleen Wilkie and Paul Dormann. They plan to be open noon-9 pm Fridays, Saturdays, and Sundays for starters.

We took photos of the Shug’s Mini menu – ice cream here, beverages here. They’re still awaiting their liquor license so the adult beverages aren’t available just yet.

CLOSING DAY AT STAPLES IN WESTWOOD: As first reported here last month, this is the final day for the Westwood Village Staples Store.

We went in to ask; they’re open until 6 pm but as you’d expect, there’s not much left (they’ve been having a 75% off clearance sale). Two-thirds of the store is already roped off and dismantling is under way – even the webpage is gone. No official word yet what’s next for the space (or for that matter the similarly sized ex-Bed Bath and Beyond to the west).

If you can get to West Seattle Coworking (9030 35th SW; WSB sponsor) at noontime tomorrow, you can learn secrets to avoiding burnout – and more – free! Here’s what’s happening:

On Thursday, November 16th @ 12 pm, Chieko Watanabe, a long, experienced motivational coach will share some secrets to avoid burnout and to set achievable priorities and expectations. If you find yourself playing catch up more often than you should, then you will be glad you have attended. Info and (free) registration is available: here!

(Photo sent by Shana)

Five years after Pike Place’s renowned Shug’s Soda Fountain – owned by West Seattleites – announced plans to add a “mini” location at California/Charlestown, it’s finally opening! They told us earlier this fall that they were very close, and now they’ve set the date: This Friday (November 17th), noon-9 pm. Since originally announcing the West Seattle plan, Shug’s has had plenty of community involvement, including pop-ups right outside the doors that are about to swing open, but now it’s time to finally welcome people inside. The menu board has been visible through the windows for some days, as shown in the reader photo above and others sent to us – scoops, cones, sundaes, floats, and some adult drinks (which is why a liquor-license application has been posted on the door).

(WSB photo, October 2)

11:56 AM: The impending closure of the Westwood Village Staples store – first announced last month – doesn’t just mean one less retail outlet. It means the end of other services provided there, such as TSA Precheck. We’ve received this note from Shana Anderson, who says she’s the main TSA agent at the store, and wants you to know this:

We close next Friday, the 17th, but I just found out that the Burien TSA won’t open for a month.

If people need Precheck before the holidays, they should go to tsa.gov and make an appointment. The closest Precheck places other than West Seattle are Renton and Fife.

12:57 PM: Shana just emailed again after learning that Wednesday is the last day at Westwood.

(Photo by Sara Raymond)

We told you back in June about Panterelli, the coffee-and-pastry shop in The Junction owned by Jacques Nawar, who ran Pizzeria Credo a block away for a decade. Today we received an announcement that Panterelli will celebrate its grand opening this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, after having been in “soft open” mode for four-plus months. Panterelli focuses on éclairs and choux à la crème (cream puffs, pronounced “shoe”), and will introduce new choux creations as part of the grand-opening festivities. As the announcement explains, “Panterelli is named for the chef who created the distinct pastry style for Catherine de Medici in 1540.” It also says Panterelli – at 4210 SW Alaska – will soon expand its hours, currently 9 am-3 pm Wednesdays-Sundays (closing earlier if and when they sell out).

An Alki business is closing, and is also now up for sale. Here’s the announcement we received from Outer Space Seattle:

It is with a mix of emotions and deep gratitude that Outer Space Seattle, the beloved Indoor Playground and Party venue located on Alki Avenue, announces it will be shuttering its doors this December.

Outer Space Seattle, known for its space-themed play structure and creative artwork, has been a haven for children and families in the West Seattle community since its inception just four short years ago. Outer Space hosted countless memorable events, was often present at outdoor community events, and fostered a sense of belonging among its patrons and staff.

Owner Caitlin Huertas is currently seeking another organization, individual, or group who may be interested in carrying forward the spirit and legacy of Outer Space Seattle, either at its current location or via a relocation of its play structure to another suitable site. Absent a suitable successor, their last day of operation will be Friday, December 22nd. Outer Space would like to remind families that if you have any active gift-cards or play passes, to please redeem them before closing as we are unable to provide refunds.

For more information please contact Caitlin Huertas at info@outerspaceseattle.com.

For inquiries, or expressions of interest in acquiring Outer Space Seattle, please contact Susanna Tran or Julie Shizukuishi of West Coast Commercial Realty at 206-283-5212.

Susanna Tran susanna@wccommercialrealty.com
Julie Shizukuishi julie@wccommercialrealty.com

Outer Space Seattle was announced for the 2820 Alki SW spot four and a half years ago; before that, it was home to Marée Bistro.

Family-owned Menashe & Sons Jewelers is celebrating 50 years in business this holiday season, and the party starts with an open house that’s happening right now. Until 8 pm, you can visit the shop at xxxx California SW in The Junction to enjoy snacks, sips, and deals – in connection with the anniversary celebration, the shop is offering sales including at least 30 percent off everything in the store. You can also visit to congratulate Jack and Linda Menashe on not only their 50 years of business success but also 52 years of marriage!

A little more than two months after Dere Auto closed at 35th/Barton, the repair shop has reopened as a Meineke Car Care Center. That’s what departing Dere staff told us in August was planned for the site, replacing Meineke’s 17th/Roxbury location, which closed because of impending redevelopment. Hours for the new Meineke will be 7:30 am-6 pm Mondays-Saturdays.