Almost eight months after we brought you first word of Gary’s Place opening on Alki, the “expansion of West Seattle Arcade” is about to open. Co-proprietor Elyssa Cichy sent word tonight that they’ll “have a ribbon cutting and soft opening at 4 pm on Tuesday, December 17th, and then be open officially on December 19th.” She adds, “We will offer a great lineup of pinball, classic arcade machines like Ms. Pac-Man, Defender and Donkey Kong, Japanese imports, and rhythm games. Also available will be beer, snacks, and pizza.” While Gary’s Place – named for Matt Cichy’s dad, who owned and operated arcades around Seattle a few decades ago – has been billed as a more-adult experience, it will welcome all ages, “but we ask that minors be accompanied by an adult.” It’ll be open 7 days a week, noon-11 pm Mondays-Thursdays, noon-midnight Fridays, 11 am-midnight Saturdays, 11 am-11 pm Sundays, at 2820 Alki SW (in the space previously occupied by Outer Space Seattle). The Cichys opened West Seattle Arcade at 2758 Alki SW in July of last year.

The sign in the window says “Rug Sale Pop-Up Shop,” but what you’ll find at 4452 California SW – just north of Oregon – is more than just rugs. Proprietor Sev emailed us to explain the shop is in that space – site of future development – through the end of December, selling “handmade rugs, handmade antique decorative pillow covers, Turkish bath spa towels, purses, and other unique stuff.” Much of the merchandise – not just the towels – is imported from Turkey, with some from Morocco and India, Sev explains. This is a local enterprise – Sev and husband have lived in West Seattle for 27 years. The pop-up shop is open 10 am to 7 pm most days. The space was previously occupied by West Seattle Coworking, which moved its north space to 3703 California SW (its south space remains at 9030 35th SW).

If there’s anything guitar-related on your holiday list, get down to Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) right now – with an in-store purchase, you get lunch from the Dick’s Drive-In burgers-and-shakes truck, which is at the store until 2 pm. (If you miss the truck, the sale lasts longer – online as well as in-store – through Small Business Saturday.)

Today we welcome Atelier Drome, our newest WSB sponsor. When businesses join the sponsor team, they get the opportunity to tell you about what they do – so, meet Atelier Drome!

Atelier Drome is a woman-owned, multi-disciplinary design firm specializing in architecture, interior design, and branding. While our office is located in Seattle’s historic Pioneer Square, we consider West Seattle our second home as the place where we’ve completed a variety of residential, commercial, and multi-family projects. Several of our team members, including one of our principals and long-time resident, Shannon Wing, live in West Seattle. Shannon herself has recently navigated a home remodel to accommodate her growing family.

Founded in 2012, our firm is known for its client-centered, collaborative approach. We attract clients who seek design professionals dedicated to understanding their needs and expressing them through exceptional, personalized design. Our approach is simple and client-focused: we listen intently, making every effort to realize your vision while ensuring the process is approachable and engaging.

New to the area and wondering why choose us? Our clients appreciate our dedication to truly understanding and enhancing their vision, whether it’s for their home, their business, or their brand. They value the attentive, personalized service that transforms their spaces and, by extension, their lives.

Our residential work in West Seattle in particular, showcases a range of successful remodels and additions. Each project tells a story of transformation, creating spaces that fuse functionality with joy. From expanding kitchens for family gatherings to adding additional stories or reconfiguring layouts for open, flowing interiors, we tailor each design to reflect the homeowner’s dreams.

Clients return to Atelier Drome and refer us to others because of the meaningful connections formed during the design process. They appreciate our ability to guide them from concept to completion, enjoying the journey as much as the final product. Our ability to transform complex challenges into elegantly simple solutions keeps them engaged and in love with the final product.

Whether it’s a home remodel, a new café, or a dynamic office space, our commitment is to deliver designs that not only meet but enrich the lives of our clients. We create spaces and brands that are functional and beautifully aligned with each client’s unique needs.

Website: www.atelierdrome.com
Email: info@atelierdrome.com
Phone: 206-395-4392
Address: 119 South Main Street, Suite 310, Seattle, 98177
Instagram: instagram.com/atelierdrome
Facebook: facebook.com/atelierdrome
LinkedIn: linkedin.com/company/atelierdrome

We thank Atelier Drome for supporting community-collaborative news by advertising on WSB! Call 206-293-6302 if you’re interested in learning how.

(WSB photo, July)

Four months ago, we reported that city permit files showed a Gene Juarez salon was penciled in for the former Sound Credit Union space at 4730 California SW. At the time, the company’s CEO Katie Trent had no comment. Today, she emailed us this announcement:

I am happy to now confirm that we have leased the space formerly housing Sound Credit Union.

We are thrilled to bring our award-winning salon and skin care services to the Junction. Many of our staff (including me) live in West Seattle, as do many of our existing guests. It is a privilege to join the vibrant business scene in West Seattle/the Junction, and we look forward to making a positive contribution through additional foot traffic to the Junction as well as involvement with the many wonderful community events throughout the year.

Trent says they’re hoping to open in April. She adds:

The salon will feature our full complement of salon services, including texture/curl specialists and specialty extension services. We have been certified carbon neutral for beauty services by our sustainability partner, Green Circle Salons, since 2022 and intend to carry that practice to this location. Our skincare team offer a full suite of facial services as well as waxing, lash and brow services.

(WSB photos)

Dave McCoy is thrilled that the new location of his fishing-focused shop Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor) is in the heart of The Junction (4707 California, steps from Walk-All-Ways), where they’re getting the kind of exposure they couldn’t enjoy at their previous 42nd/Oregon location. EWA has been in the new space for almost two months, but has been officially celebrating its grand opening these past two days. Even if fishing’s not your thing, there’s a lot to see – Dave is still stoked about uncovering the space’s original flooring:

He notes that since fishing is a sport with a strong element of nostalgia, the classic flooring fits right in. And then there’s the “rod wall” and mural by Chris Habermann:

Toward the back of the store, a place to hang out:

EWA has all sorts of events and programs (and guided trips), making it more than just a place to find merchandise (outdoor apparel too, by the way):

The grand opening continues until 6 tonight. But Dave would love to see you any time you wander in – 10-6 Mondays-Saturdays, 11-5 Sundays.

(WSB photo – seen in new EWA space when it opened in late September)

When we first visited the new space for West Seattle’s only fishing-focused shop in September, Emerald Water Anglers (WSB sponsor), at 4707 California SW, proprietor Dave McCoy promised a proper grand-opening celebration later in the fall. That’s happening the next two days, Friday-Saturday, November 22-23. Here are some of the highlights announced by EWA:

We’ll be featuring presentations by:

–LOC Waders, maker of revolutionary breathable waders like none other, introducing themselves to the West Coast via our new space.

–Vision Fly Fishing spey rods, of which we’re proud to be the exclusive North American dealer. Let’s get one of these in your hands so you can experience it for yourself.

–Patagonia, Bruce Skinner will be in store talking about what’s new for Patagonia in the upcoming season.

To help get you excited for winter fishing and the year beyond, Dave McCoy will give presentations on fly fishing around Seattle on the 22nd and 23rd at 4 PM. We will also have resident tiers in store representing some of their favorite patterns.

Capping off Friday’s festivities, Bill Marts, longtime friend, lifelong wild-fish advocate, influential fly angler, and industry professional will be celebrating his 80th birthday with us — and we invite all of you to join.

EWA’s hours are 10 am-6 pm Mondays through Saturdays, 11 am-5 pm Sundays.

(Katie, in photo provided by Flower Lab)

When we reported this past week on changes coming to the southeast corner of the Admiral Junction, Bebop Waffle Shop‘s end-of-year closure news included word that co-housed Flower Lab (2600 California SW) would eventually be going online only. Flower Lab proprietor Katie wants to be sure you know that’s not happening any time soon: “We are going to be remaining open in the Admiral location through Mother’s Day – we do want people to stop in and shop our floor (we’ll be selling off giftware), and we will be keeping our coolers stocked to continue selling in-person and for deliveries over these next months prior to moving things online. We’re so grateful for the chance to continue serving as your retail florist in this special space, which will have new life breathed into it once again in 2025. As we prepare for the future, we’re gradually transitioning to focus more on e-commerce flower delivery, but in the meantime, we’re here — ready for your calls, online orders, and visits to the shop. We’d love to welcome you in and help bring beauty into your lives as you’ve brought it into ours.”

Three independent West Seattle businesses are about to throw anniversary parties, and you’re invited:

CARMILIA’S: The boutique Carmilia’s is turning 22! 4-8 pm tonight, the party at 4528 California SW will feature “bubbles, nibbles, and fun,” discounts on new arrivals, gifts with purchases while they last, door-prize drawings, more.

AND ARLEN: Turning two! Just received from Miranda:

On Saturday, November 16th from 5-8 pm to celebrate our 2-year anniversary for our jewelry store And Arlen (4130 California Ave SW), we’ll have snacks, drinks, raffle prizes, and a gift with purchase.

OUNCES: Turning eight! The party at 3809 Delridge Way SW is one week from tonight:

Come celebrate 8 Years of Ounces! Every year, we love to use our Anniversary to say thank you to all the people who have come to Ounces over the years! This year we’re showing our thanks with FREE French Fries & $5 Beer!
Stop in anytime from 5-7 pm Thursday, November 21,for FREE French Fries from our new Burb’s Burger Box, All Beer just $5, and other fun surprises! As always, this event is FREE, Family Friendly & dogs welcome!

A reader asked in the WSB Community Forums about the status of Snapdragon, the Vashon Island-based bakery that has a satellite operation in the West Seattle Junction. They temporarily closed the Junction shop – on the lower level of the Center for Active Living – for a fall hiatus, and originally promised they’d be back at the end of October. That’s come and gone, so the reader wondered, what’s up? We pinged proprietor Megan, who replied that they’d been having some staffing challenges, but in fact, “We will be back open actually first thing in the morning! 10 am.” For now they’ll be open 10 am-3 pm Wednesdays-Sundays, possibly bumping back to 9 am in the not-too-distant future, and perhaps some other extended hours.

Two corners of Admiral/California have vacancies – and now we’ve learned that change is on the way for a third. After reader tips, we’ve confirmed with Cori Luckenbach that she’s planning to close Bebop Waffle Shop at year’s end, after a decade. But the intersection’s southeast corner is not going dark – she plans a reinvention:

There IS a silver lining. The flower shop is moving to all-online ordering and they will be moving out of the space (sometime next year). I plan on taking over the entire space and converting it into an event space. Which I have experience with from running South Park Hall. In January I’ll be selling a bunch of our furniture and equipment then beginning the remodel. For me pivoting to an event space will support the local restaurants that want to offer catering and also have space for people to come together with events that I’ll curate and a space for people to rent.

Since our email exchange, Cori has published this official announcement, including:

MANY people are asking how to support me during this transition and all I ask is come TIP my staff, pay in CASH, tip in CASH, buy all our merch, lobby for tax breaks for small businesses, AND BOOK the space when we open.

Before rebranding as Bebop, Cori’s shop in the front of the corner space shared with Flower Lab was the Admiral Bird coffee shop.

(Photo courtesy Matt Vaughan)

10:08 AM: Thanks for the texted tip. The Easy Street crew is cleaning up after flooding again this morning, one month after the indoor deluge that damaged records and clothing. But this time, proprietor Matt Vaughan says, it’s the café, not the record store. Though last month’s flooding was blamed on a pipe from an upstairs apartment, Matt says the source of today’s flooding remains undetermined. The café is closed until cleaned up but he says tonight’s 7 pm in-store performance with Thee Deception is definitely still on.

10:54 AM: Matt clarifies that the flooding was definitely from above – as in, over the café.