In the two and a half weeks since we first told you about Village Green Perennial Nursery owner Vera Johnson‘s fight against potential foreclosure, she’s gathered thousands of electronic petition signatures, and rallied dozens of people in similar straits, so they can all learn about – and exercise – their legal rights. If you are facing default or foreclosure, the next support-group meeting is at 5 pm Sunday at Community School of West Seattle (9450 22nd SW). Vera says lawyer Edgar Hall will be in attendance to answer questions and offer “resources for pro-bono services,” among other things, and she invites attendees to “bring laptops, so we can look up our info and search for fraudulent docs – wi-fi available.” Then on Tuesday, she has an appointment with Bank of America; next Friday (one week from today), she’s planning to deliver to BofA the signatures from her petition on Change.org (not too late to sign – go here), which now total more than 8,300. A benefit is also in the works; you can follow the progress by “liking” this Facebook page.
Today, we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Breathe Hot Yoga, which has now added a West Seattle studio in The Triangle, on the north side of Link (also a WSB sponsor). As is WSB tradition for new sponsors, Breathe Hot Yoga was invited to share what they would like you to know about their business:
Breathe Hot Yoga was founded by Amber Borgomainerio and Ross Yearsley. Amber is well known as an expert yoga teacher whose greatest passion is sharing the gift of a regular yoga practice with her students. It should be no surprise that Breathe‘s mission is to bring authentic, accessible and affordable yoga to Northwest urbanites hungry for healthy life challenges.
Breathe Hot Yoga opened its doors in South Lake Union in early 2009 and is now excited to announce the opening of our West Seattle location at 3750 SW Alaska (map). Amber is no stranger to West Seattle, having brought hot yoga to West Seattleites as the manager and lead teacher of the West Seattle Yoga Center from 2002-2008. Everyone at Breathe Hot Yoga is excited about being back in West Seattle, and we look forward to reconnecting with the community as well as making new friends! You will love practicing yoga with us at our beautiful new studio! Breathe Hot Yoga is online at breathehotyoga.com, and reachable by phone at 206-659-0092.
As Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) continues its 40th anniversary celebration, it seems fitting that this afternoon, the Admiral store is hosting a celebrity guest who’s been going strong as long as they have (and then some) – Graham Kerr, who, if you are 45+ or so, you might remember from his frenetically personable “Galloping Gourmet” TV series long ago and far away – but he’s gone on to do a lot since then, and right now he’s promoting his new book – “Growing at the Speed of Life,” about growing a kitchen garden – which he’s signing at the store till 6 pm.
New driver? Or — even if you’ve been driving a while — never had, or took, the time to learn how to check your car’s oil level or tire pressure, or recognize when it needs service (BEFORE a breakdown)? Got other questions about your car West Seattle Autoworks (WSB sponsor) is the latest local business to offer a free educational event – co-owner Todd Ainsworth just sent word of a “car clinic” they are going to launch, once a month for starters, with the first one set for Tuesday, August 2, at 6 pm. RSVP ASAP to get one of the 10 spots (Todd wants to make sure everyone has room to park!) – call 206-257-5344 or send a note through the online form at wsautoworks.com. West Seattle Autoworks is at 35th/Webster (map).
4 PM: We’ve confirmed another business has signed up to move into the new retail building on the northwest side of the new Admiral Safeway site: Menchie’s Frozen Yogurt, which sells self-serve fro-yo and toppings. They are Los Angeles-based and internationally franchised, with only one other location in the Seattle city limits right now, on Queen Anne, but another coming to University Village. We’re awaiting comment from company HQ for additional details (such as, estimated opening), but one point of note from the Menchie’s website — it appears the Western Washington shops they have right now are all open till fairly late at night, 10 or 11 pm. That’s the second tenant publicly confirmed for the new retail building; first one, as reported here in April, is Umpqua Bank.
5:10 PM: Just added a photo of the under-construction building where Menchie’s and Umpqua (and other/s) will be located. A Menchie’s spokesperson tells WSB they expect to be open in September.
The Admiral Neighborhood Associationis asking local businesses to answer a quick survey to help gauge the priorities and state of the local business community – as first reported here Tuesday – and they’re looking forward to having responses in by 5 pm tomorrow. If you have a question about the survey or need the link, which they are not publishing publicly but will provide by e-mail (it was in a letter sent to 120+ local businesses), send a note to info@admiralneighborhood.org.
If you had somehow missed our previous reports that Les Schwab Tires was moving into the former Huling/Gee used-cars site at 38th/Alaska in The Triangle, it’ll be hard to miss now – the big sign’s going up today. We first reported in January that Les Schwab was remodeling the site; last month, the company told us they’re expecting to open in September.
The Admiral Neighborhood Association – which meets tonight at 7 at Admiral Congregational Church – has taken a big step forward in its attempt to bring together local business owners. This week, according to ANA president Katy Walum, ANA sent a letter to more than 120 businesses in the general Admiral area, including a link to an online survey that ANA hopes to use to “gauge the current characteristics and priorities of Admiral’s businesses” and “gather cohesive information about what is important to all in the Admiral business community.” If you received that survey, they’re asking for participation by this Saturday; Walum says it’ll only take you three minutes. Once they have the results, ANA will invite participants to a gathering at Porterhouse, date/time TBA, at which Safeway representatives also will be on hand to talk about the new store (still scheduled to open August 12th). The survey is not public, so we don’t have the link to share here, but Katy has one very important point:
ANA member David Whiting has worked tirelessly to put together this survey and to compile the business names and addresses for this mailing, but we know that some businesses may have been missed. If you are a business owner in the Admiral District (we are including all businesses north of SW Charlestown, east to the Admiral Viewpoint, and west to Alki Mail & Dispatch) and did not receive this letter, please contact us at info@admiralneighborhood.org so that we can verify that you are a business owner or leader in Admiral, and email you a link to the survey.
Hard to miss the flyers around The Junction, affixed to utility poles, touting “resurrecting the Redline,” the bar/restaurant that used to be in the 35th SW/almost-Avalon spot now inhabited by The Bridge. The flyers mention Twitter (here) and Facebook (here) accounts that so far are fairly devoid of details, so we dug up contact information for former Redline proprietor Scott Goerig, to ask if he’s involved: Scott’s reply: “I am part of a team who are in fact doing it, as I retained the brand. The twitter and facebook are brand new and will be updated as we progress construction and can let West Seattle know where, what, and when as we progress. Its gonna be a state-of-the-art electrifying spot that will appeal to every single person. Think of it as a popular board game, good for use; ages 2 – 102. Stay tuned.”
If you routinely drive along Fauntleroy near 35th, just west of the entrance to the West Seattle Bridge, you might have noticed a more-visible-than-usual burst of tagging vandalism earlier this week. Part of it is shown above (with the tags themselves blurred, as is WSB policy). Tagging is always a double crime – not only has someone’s property been vandalized, but the owner is usually expected to clean it up, and that can cost. Bob Heinemann knows this firsthand, since the vandalized building is the place where he’ll soon be moving his SIMA Martial Arts studio (it’s currently in the 42nd/Alaska building that will come down when the Conner Homes project starts going up). Just after we took the photo, we met him there, talking to someone about getting it painted over. (By the way, the city has a new paint-out program this summer – check it out here.)
(From left: Tom Henry, Patty Henry, Carol Middleton)
Today we welcome, as a WSB sponsor, J.F. Henry Kitchen, Tableware & Gifts, which since 1984 has been West Seattle’s only full-line kitchen store and fine dinnerware showroom. Today through West Seattle Summer Fest weekend, JF Henry is having its annual clearance sale. Tom Henry says this is where you can find “really cool, quality, can’t-live-without, you just gotta have, surprises.” During Summer Fest this Friday, Saturday, and Sunday, you will be able to browse J.F. Henry‘s outdoor tables and save 50 percent or more on placemats, totes, Italian stainless steel, hand-painted table linen, and seasonal barbecue sets, to name a few things.
Tom and Patty say J.F. Henry Kitchen, Tableware & Gifts is one of the few places where you can still shop hands-on for fine dinnerware. Their showroom allows you to not only see, but also to touch and feel china that can be used for special occasions or everyday use. Tom also says they’re there to also help you find kitchen and tableware that fit your needs and budget. No need to go to a mall, says Tom – you can completely supply your kitchen, and have full dinner-table settings, without leaving downtown West Seattle, and you can make an “informed decision” about what to get for your home. J.F. Henry is at 4445 California SW, 206-935-5150; they’re open till 8 tonight for Shop Late Thursdays, and you can check out the sale throughout Summer Fest.
That’s the back patio at Locöl (7902 35th SW), where Kyle Duce asked if we’d help get the word out about it, now that the sun is back. He says it’s open 7 days a week with full service, closing at 11 pm Fridays/Saturdays, 10 pm other nights. And while Locöl will be closed on the Fourth of July, Kyle says its new summer hours kick in Tuesday: 4 pm-2 am weekdays, noon-2 am Saturdays/Sundays, kitchen open till midnight 7 days a week, live music around 7:30 pm Sundays and Mondays. Data point: We believe Locöl is the southernmost bar-with-patio in West Seattle. Runner-up, Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor, 6451 California SW), with lots of sunshine on its west-facing deck out back.
Now, heading farther south, into White Center:
WSB/White Center Now contributor Deanie Schwarz snapped the photo during a recent visit to Zippy’s Giant Burgers (9614 14th SW), now the newest biz with a photo booth … something they certainly couldn’t have fit into their original, mega-cozy quarters in Highland Park.
Two and a half months after we first reported a medical-marijuana business was taking over the 35th/Roxbury ex-Payday Loans space, Northwest Patient Resource Center is open. WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz, who broke the original story, confirmed tonight that NPRC opened on Monday. It’s one of at least three medical-marijuana businesses in West Seattle (we get periodic reports there are a few other that keep a low-profile, but have yet to confirm any of those reports). Deanie talked with NPRC co-owner John Davis at the newly opened business; he says they are open 9-8 Mondays-Saturdays and 1-6 pm Sundays, and she reports that the proprietors “are quite thrilled they have been approved for credit cards.” As for the legal status of medical-marijuana businesses, they remains in that so-called “gray area” – examined by Deanie in this report earlier this month – with new state legislation looming next month that some say will make them clearly illegal – though a court challenge seeks to prevent that.
Till 7 pm, you can drop by the open house for The Grove/West Seattle Inn (36th/Alaska) and see the results – so far – of their makeover, firsthand. We’ve been chronicling it since it was announced in January by the new owners of what was Seattle West Inn and Suites, and before that, TraveLodge. They’re expecting their first guests this week, and showing off rooms for the first time, though they’re not all done yet.
The Grove will have 46 rooms, and ownership spokesperson Lynn Sweeney had told us during this sneak-peek tour last week that about half would be done for their reopening this week. Also on hand for tonight’s open house, manager Joey Disque:
The redo is all the way down to the rooms’ shell – new carpeting, window coverings, beds and other furniture, bathroom fixtures, kitchen fixtures (in the half dozen or so with kitchenettes), art, paint, even metal railings replacing what was plastic. More info’s on their website at grovewestseattle.com.
This afternoon, we welcome The West Seattle Fabric Company in the Admiral District as a new WSB sponsor. As per WSB tradition, new sponsors get to share information about what they do: The West Seattle Fabric Company is a shop with a fresh approach to sewing. We see ourselves as a creative sewing center where people of all skill levels and interests can find inspiration for any project. We carry cheerful, vibrant fabrics that are sometimes hard to find. Because we are a fabric boutique, we are constantly bringing in new fabrics, so there is always a reason to pop in and see us. Since opening the store 6 months ago, we have already expanded our space and significantly increased our inventory to better serve our community. We’ve created classes that help teach pattern reading, sewing projects, and we’ve just launched our first quilting series for beginners. Looking to the future, we want to bring in rotating craft supplies and projects for all ages and offer children’s sewing parties that would be perfect for birthday celebrations.
The West Seattle Fabric Company‘s Monica and Greg Skov were both raised in Spokane, but met in West Seattle where they now live with their daughter Olivia. In addition to being part of the community as business owners, they have become actively involved in melanoma and skin-cancer awareness. Greg and his twin brother Chris coordinate the annual Steve Casey Memorial Golf Tournament every August to raise money for melanoma awareness and research. In the future, Greg and Monica hope to establish the program “Casey’s Quilts,” which would donate quilts to people fighting melanoma in the Seattle area.
MOLLY MOON TRUCK COMING TO ALKI: Another ice-cream truck is heading this way, according to a note from Diana @ Coastal Boutique – she e-mailed to announce that the Molly Moon’s truck will be outside their store 3-5 pm tomorrow, and varying times “every Friday in July.” (West Seattle is already being visited by the Parfait ice-cream truck on Saturdays, 11 am-2 pm, next to Marination Mobile at 35th/Graham.) Diana also says Coastal is having a trunk show tonight, 6-8 pm, with jewelry, drinks, and snacks.
(4:55 pm view from the “live” construction-site webcam looking south at front of store)
As the new Admiral Safeway gets closer to completion, we have been checking with Sara Osborne from the project team to ask about any changes. August 12th remains the scheduled store-opening date, she tells WSB. The new commercial building on the northwest side of the site still has only one officially signed tenant, Umpqua Bank, but Osborne says, “There is considerable interest.”
Safeway also has a few community initiatives coming up: More than 20 West Seattle-area employees will join the playground-building party this Saturday (June 25) at Lafayette Elementary across the street from the new store. Osborne says, “Safeway will be providing refreshments and is also going to purchase a bench for the school’s Play It Forward fund.”
Safeway also plans to attend the West Seattle High School freshman orientation on August 31st, to “provide taste samples of nutritious lunch offerings for the students, as well as have an eScrip information booth.”
Last but not least, Osborne says, “We plan to host LEED tours right before the store opens. This means we will provide tours for interested groups who want to learn how a grocery store obtains LEED designation. If there are organized groups interested, please contact me at sara.osborne@safeway.com.”
The longest days of the year are here, and summer officially starts with the solstice on Tuesday. (Warmth is bound to follow.) So the West Seattle Junction Association is ready to launch Shop Late Thursdays this coming week, with participating stores staying open till 9 pm on Thursday nights, all summer long (not just the Thursday nights with extra fun like West Seattle Art Walk or Summer Fest Eve). Nineteen merchants are on the list already (and remember there’s a growing number of restaurants/lounges to enjoy while you’re there too). More info’s on The Junction’s website.
With center director Laurie Paul and regional manager Mahira Aleem beaming, and State Sen. Sharon Nelson helping, a handmade “ribbon” was cut this morning to officially dedicate West Seattle’s first Bright Horizons child-care center, the largest of three businesses on the ground floor of the new Link Apartments at 38th/Alaska in The Triangle. (BH and Link are WSB sponsors.) The center opened last month (here’s their photo gallery) and has been ramping up to get ready for this community celebration. One high-profile visitor, seen in our photo below with Sen. Nelson and center director Paul (who is a longtime West Seattleite, though till now she’d worked for BH in Bellevue), was West Seattle Chamber of Commerce CEO Patti Mullen:
Special guest stars today: The Not-Its, performing their bouncy “kindie rock” for some very enthusiastic young fans:
The Not-Its have a new album coming out in a little more than a week – Tuesday, June 28th – titled “Tag, You’re It.” Bright Horizons, meantime, is open Mondays-Fridays, and if you would like to find out more about their center, contact info can be found here. In addition to its extensive space on the north side of Link’s ground floor, it has outdoor playspace nearby, too.
About a block from where one former Huling Brothers Auto site is being transformed into West Seattle Trader Joe’s at 4545 Fauntleroy Way, another, as we’ve been reporting since January, is being remodeled to house Les Schwab Tires, at 38th/Alaska. We’ve long had a request out to the company for some information that city files didn’t reveal – such as, when are they expecting to open? Les Schwab had declined comment till all the permits were in, but today we have a few official details, directly from the company for the first time:
1. The new store will open in September. The final date is not yet determined.
2. The store will employ 10-12 people and additional employees will be hired based on the volume of business.
3. The store manager will be selected from an existing pool of Les Schwab employees, based on the company’s promote-from-within policy.
4. The retail space is 12,000 square feet with six service bays and there
will be an additional 4000 square foot basement that will be used for warehousing product inventories for customer tires, wheels, brakes, shocks and alignments.
As is the case with the TJ’s project, this one is neither demolishing nor constructing a building – an existing structure on the site is being remodeled.
(From left, photographed at Tram’s Salon, are Lan, Tram, and Mary)
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Tram’s Salon, which recently opened at 4110 California, just north of The Junction. New sponsors are offered a chance to tell you about themselves, and here’s what salon owner Tram wants you to know: She has been styling hair in West Seattle for about eight years. She says she opened her own salon because she believes being able to both work and live in West Seattle is a joy.
Tram’s Salon offers men’s, women’s, and children’s cuts, as well as coloring and perms. She also has a line of products that includes Paul Mitchell, Nioxin, and American Crew. Tram says that at her salon, she strives for perfection and believes everyone should get a great cut at a reasonable price.
Tram’s Salon welcomes walk-ins – here’s a map to the location – but you can also call in advance, 206-935-2970. The salon is open 9 am-9 pm, Mondays through Fridays, and 9 am-7 pm on the weekends.
We thank Tram’s Salon for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Vera Johnson‘s fight against potential foreclosure, she’s gathered thousands of electronic petition signatures, and rallied dozens of people in similar straits, so they can all learn about – and exercise – their legal rights. If you are facing default or foreclosure, the next support-group meeting is at 5 pm Sunday at 
As is WSB tradition for new sponsors, Breathe Hot Yoga was invited to share what they would like you to know about their business:
Though Year 1 has seen “faster than expected” growth, according to owner Morgan Herzog, that’s not why his store is moving.
This afternoon, we welcome 
Looking to the future, we want to bring in rotating craft supplies and projects for all ages and offer children’s sewing parties that would be perfect for birthday celebrations.
The longest days of the year are here, and summer officially starts with the solstice on Tuesday. (Warmth is bound to follow.) So the 
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