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West Seattle Sunday: Last weekend day before Christmas!

December 19, 2010 7:59 am
|    Comments Off on West Seattle Sunday: Last weekend day before Christmas!
 |   Holidays | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

(12/5/10 WSB photo)
IN THE JUNCTION: Today’s West Seattle Farmers’ Market promises not only its usual tastiness 10 am-2 pm, but also live music 10-11:30 am and a West Seattle Tool Library demonstration at noon, according to market management. Also at/around the Farmers’ Market, the blown-glass ornaments created by Brad Burzynski to raise money for Brian Teachout‘s family (explained here) will go on sale at 10 am – get ’em while they last. At 11 am, the Hometown Holidays festivities begin – Santa photos at Donna Ryan Photography, 4218 SW Alaska – this week’s $15 donation goes to the West Seattle Food Bank; mule-drawn carriage rides (line up at the KeyBank corner of California/Alaska); also at that corner, treats and more at the headquarters for Hometown Holidays, presented by the West Seattle Junction Association (with co-sponsors including WSB).

HOLIDAY SHOPPING ALL OVER WEST SEATTLE: Since this is the last weekend shopping day before Christmas, your local West Seattle merchants await you all over the peninsula! In the Admiral District, for example, the toy/novelty/retro shop Atomic Boys (4311 SW Admiral) is OPEN today for a “bonus day” of holiday shopping, 11 am-5 pm. Atomic Boys is part of WSB’s first-ever Holiday Shopping Guide; while you’re in the Admiral District, stop by nearby Alki Bike and Board (open noon-5 today). South of Admiral, Skin Care by Casey is also open 9-6 today (3272 California SW) especially for shoppers; further south at 3727 California SW, stop by Budget Cuts for a special prepaid-haircut deal. Also in the guide: Avalon Glassworks in the Luna Park district (bring food-bank donations for discounts – $1 for each item, up to a $10 discount!). And in The Junction, the 11 stores you’ll find in the guide include Funky Jane’s Consignment with a Sunday sale; Clementine with daily deals; Click! Design That Fits has gift suggestions you can check out online before stopping in; today’s the last day of the toy drive for Treehouse at Twilight Artist Collective; looking for cellular presents? Sound Advice is OPEN today with special holiday hours, noon-5 pm … In The Triangle, Mountain to Sound Outfitters (in the guide with its Seattle Ski Shuttle) is open 11 am-5 pm today … That’s just a sample; check out all the deals and other holiday info here – and if there’s anything you want to save for a reminder, each business’s listing can be shared individually via e-mail, Facebook, Twitter, etc., using the Share This icon. … Also of note: If you’re shopping Westwood Village today, it’s Santa’s last day there too, noon-4 pm, bring a food bank or diaper donation for your photo!

ALSO HAPPENING TODAY: Want somebody else to wrap your presents? Local animal advocates are at it again today, wrapping for donations 1-5 pm at Beveridge Place Pub … Also from the WSB West Seattle Holiday Events page, local churches have special events including the West Seattle Eagles Band in concert at 11:30 am with a potluck at Tibbetts United Methodist Church (WSB sponsor), a Moravian Lovefeast (explained on the page) at St. John the Baptist Episcopal Church, 4 pm, a special dessert-theater production by Taproot Theater at West Seattle Christian Church tonight (5:30 pm) … Got room in your heart for a furry friend? Kitty Harbor‘s final day open till next June is 1-6 pm today.

West Seattle holiday scenes: Bakery Nouveau, Admiral Pub

With just one week till Christmas Eve, we checked out four West Seattle holiday events tonight. First: Bakery Nouveau‘s open house in The Junction – packed house, of course, but then again, that happens most regular days too. The renowned bakery’s two-hour event offered holiday-treat samples and the chance to place pre-orders (which they’re taking till next Tuesday, according to the BN Facebook page). Over in the Admiral District, the party’s still under way at Admiral Pub, where they’re playing poker, celebrating “ugly sweaters,” and most important of all, collecting diapers – Adele explained it for us on video:

As Adele mentioned, Admiral Pub is collecting diapers through the end of the month – about three-fourths of the way to the 6,000-diaper goal as the night began, but you can bet they’d love nothing more than to far exceed the goal, so drop off diapers there even if you can’t make it to tonight’s festivities.

New owner, renovations announced for West Seattle’s only motel

themotel.jpg

(WSB photo from 2008)
Seattle West Inn, the former TraveLodge in The Triangle, is about to get a makeover under its new ownership, according to a news release just out of the WSB inbox. Working on more details, but for starters, from the news release (which you can read in its entirety here):

Saddle Rock Hospitality has assumed management of the Seattle West Inn, West Seattle’s only motel. The motel was recently acquired by a local investment group committed to reinvestment in the property with a goal of repositioning the motel in the marketplace.

Seattle-based Seattle Rock Hospitality took over management of the property in early October. Hotel veteran Joey Disque will oversee the motel operations and renovation. The motel concept, once complete, will offer price/value-appropriate lodging with a unique guest service paradigm for today’s traveler. The facility, services, and environment will facilitate contemporary guest activity by offering ‘most-valued’ amenities and self-enabled services.

“With our 50 guest rooms and more than 1,000 square feet of meeting space, this property has immense potential to be a draw for business and leisure travelers as well as a convenient location to host meetings and local events,” said Joey. …

Renovation plans include updated guest rooms, the addition of food and beverage services, full-service meeting and banquet facilities and new landscaping including the addition of an outdoor patio. The facility offers a variety of length-of-stay accommodations including the standard overnight as well as a mix of extended stay rooms and suites. Renovation is expected to begin in early 2011, during which time the property will remain open for business.

At one point, Harbor Properties – which has almost finished building the mixed-use Link nearby – was considering buying this site, but the deal was never completed. County records show the site was sold in September for $3 million; its previous owners bought it almost 11 years ago for $2.4 million. Its new owner is SSLL, LLC, whose partners include one of the owners of two properties across 36th from the motel site; another owner of those properties’ is also owner of the commercial building immediately north of the motel.

West Seattle Fabric Company now officially open for business

Just moments after officially opening the doors at 11 this morning, West Seattle Fabric Company already had its first customers. It’s been less than 2 months since we brought you first word that Monica Skov would open the shop in the former home of Click! Design That Fits (longtime WSB sponsor that’s now in The Junction), but she is open and enthusiastically welcoming everyone who steps through the door:

That’s Monica and her proud husband and daughter. Today she also unveiled the shop’s official logo, which you’ll see on its window and A-board outside:

West Seattle Fabric Company is at 2210 California SW and will be open until 5 today, noon-4 pm tomorrow. There’s more information on its Facebook page. This is West Seattle’s first fabric store since Hancock Fabrics closed more than 2 years ago to make way for the long-stalled Fauntleroy Place development, where it was supposed to have a new store.

West Seattle business: Liberty Bell Printing to close its storefront

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

“It’s going to be hard,” acknowledged Liberty Bell Printing owner Michael Hoffman, talking with WSB this evening to announce the closure of his Junction storefront after December 22nd.

He wants to stress that he is NOT closing the business itself – Liberty Bell Printing and Design will continue serving customers, just not from a retail storefront.

Liberty Bell Printing is The Junction’s fourth-oldest business (after Husky Deli, Menashe and Sons Jewelers, and Terjung’s House of Gifts), says Hoffman, who has owned it for 10 years (out of the 38 total that have passed since it was founded). He says the decision to close is simply financial – “economic changes, technology changes; we don’t need to have a storefront any more.”

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What’s for sale: Morgan Junction ‘strip mall’ just listed

We don’t randomly check the commercial-real-estate listings as often as we used to – many multimillion-dollar listings have been up a long time, no surprise given the market – but we just found a new one of note: The “strip mall” at 6540 California SW in Morgan Junction is listed for sale. That’s the one with New Teriyaki and Wok, Domino’s Pizza, a freestanding BECU ATM, and the Shell station/minimart. Everything on the site but its billboard is one-story, but it’s zoned for up to 30 feet. Asking price: $2.5 million. See the listing here. (The most expensive public commercial listing for West Seattle right now: $8.1 million for the six-acre 4500 West Marginal Way SW site that includes Gray Line’s bus yard – which just signed a new 5-year lease, according to the listing.)

Mourning Tony Genzale of Tony’s Market

(WSB photo of Tony, from January 2010, as he prepared to reopen the market post-holidays)
We have just received word that Tony Genzale, longtime operator of Tony’s Market in Westwood, has died. He had fought a long battle against cancer. From his niece Renee Vacca:

As a former West Seattle resident myself, I know how many people loved to shop from him and have known of his battle with cancer this past couple of years.  We are so sorry to inform them that he passed last night at his home of many years in Burien.  I’m sure they would want to know that he passed peacefully with his wife in his arms and both of his children at his side.  He was doing so well until the last couple of months and then his cancer took a dramatic turn and his condition worsened rapidly.  Needless to say, we are still a bit in shock but please know that he was ready to go and his family had come to terms with this before he passed.
 
Arrangements are currently being made and the family will post service announcements on the website we set up for him with caringbridge.org.  At their website, enter “anthonygenzale” in the “visiting” section of the homepage and read the updates.  For anyone that would like to help, please post a comment for the family and share your feelings for uncle Tony as I know how loved he was.  Don’t forget that his son Joey is running the tree lot and would love to hear your kind words about his dad.  He has been there every day and even worked there all day today. 
 
I know that he got up every day and put his work boots on to go see the customers that he loved so much!  You all gave him a purpose and he told me many times, “Renee’, West Seattle is the best!! and he meant it with all his heart.  I always said, “told ya so!”  Please tell all your friends that this would be a great place to buy a tree in uncle Tony’s honor and display it proudly!  He loved those selling Christmas trees every year!

Tony Genzale was 61. Here’s a direct link to the webpage that Reneé mentioned.

Holiday open houses at shops ‘old’ and new: Husky Deli, Eco Beauty

(WSB photos by Ellen Cedergreen)
Kicking off a West Seattle weekend full of open houses, bazaars, and other holiday events – one celebration at a business rich in history, one celebration for a business that’s brand new. First one: Husky Deli, the West Seattle Junction icon. As WSB contributing photographer Ellen Cedergreen describes it, “Husky was packed in waves. Very high spirits, lots of West Seattle pride.”

Above, Husky proprietor Jack Miller; next, one of the vendors who were part of tonight’s open house, West Seattle beekeeper Krista Conner, who says she can barely keep her “West Seattle Honey” in stock at Husky:

Husky offered a discount on purchases made during the open house. And despite the chilly night, the ice-cream counter was as popular as ever:

Ice cream, of course, is what really put Husky on the map when the business was started 78 years ago. If you haven’t heard its full history, check out Lori Hinton‘s “West Seattle 101chapter about Husky Deli, republished here on WSB. Meantime, while Husky bustled with open-house visitors, about a mile south on California SW, a brand-new business celebrated its debut:

Eco Beauty is a new Aveda salon and spa at 6040 California SW. A holiday open house marked its grand opening tonight. With the theme “Nature nurturing you,” owner Christine Darragh (above left) is showing support for environmental concerns; and raised money tonight for Puget Soundkeeper Alliance, whose Betsy Moyer (above right) joined her at the open house.

Followup: West Seattle Fabric Company announces opening date

Monica Skov has made good on her promise to announce this week when her West Seattle Fabric Company store will open in the Admiral District (2210 California SW, formerly occupied by now-in-The-Junction Click! Design That Fits [WSB sponsor]) … just received this note:

We’re ready to announce our Grand Opening Date.

We’d like to welcome our West Seattle Community to come shop and explore our store Saturday, December 11th 11 am-5 pm and Sunday, December 12th 12 pm – 4 pm. We will have Hot Cider, Spiced Tea, Cookies and Candy Canes for the children. We look forward to opening our doors to our neighbors.

Read more about West Seattle Fabric Company in our previous stories here and here; they’re on Facebook here.

West Seattle holidays: Junction decor; Hometown Holidays; more

Several holiday notes tonight: The photo’s from The Junction, as workers put up holiday greenery in the middle of the gray afternoon. When Junction decorating is done, you will see garlands and wreaths as well as the roof-outline lights that are new this year (if you haven’t seen them yet, be sure to go after dark and take a look!). It’ll all be complete in time for this first big Hometown Holidays (co-sponsored by WSB) weekend ahead — Saturday night brings the tree lighting in Junction Plaza Park (5 pm), Sunday brings Santa photos at Donna Ryan Photography ($15 donation goes to WestSide Baby), mule-carriage rides, and the West Seattle Volunteer Recognition Awards (1 pm at Hometown Holidays HQ outside KeyBank – we’re revealing the winners here tomorrow, but come cheer them in a brief ceremony Sunday at 1). Junction Hometown Holidays events are just part of what you’ll find on the WSB West Seattle Holidays page, which is one of two special pages we have this year – we’ve also just added three more listings to the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping/Business Guide, a new advertising page for local businesses to let you know more about their special deals, hours, etc., this holiday. Take a look to find out about special late hours and more – for example, one of the new additions, Avalon Glassworks, is offering you a discount for every item you bring in for their food-bank drive (up to 10 items)!

Small Business Everyday: Meet West Seattle-owned b(earth)

In the spirit of Small Business Saturday (the new name for the day after Black Friday), we’re celebrating Small Business Everyday – as last Monday reminded us, our peninsula can be an island, so self-sufficiency via strong businesses (etc.) is vital! We learned recently about two West Seattleites co-owning an organic-baby-clothing company founded this year: Nathanial Duris of Arbor Heights is a co-owner of b(earth) – that’s his son Dash, modeling some of their creations. He explains, “We are a collection of eco-conscious friends who hope to reduce our impact on the planet – starting at birth – by making eco-thoughtful clothing and accessories for our children and the children of our friends.” According to Nathanial, they’re using “only 100% organic, sweatshop-free cotton, (and) water-based inks on our printed products,” plus they “also strive to work with local designers … and printing and embroidery shops whenever possible to help strengthen our local communities. We have also developed a philanthropic project called the Re-b(earth) project where when customers outgrow their clothing, we collect the garments, donate them to WestSide Baby, & give the customers a discount for future orders.” They’re doing most of their selling online right now, but they do have a few retail partners, including smallclothes in West Seattle.

Happening now: Jellyfish-glassblowing at Avalon Glassworks

November 27, 2010 12:45 pm
|    Comments Off on Happening now: Jellyfish-glassblowing at Avalon Glassworks
 |   Luna Park | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

On this “Small Business Saturday,” remember the smaller business districts of West Seattle too – like Luna Park, along Avalon Way just south of the West Seattle Bridge, where you will find Avalon Glassworks. Luckie shared photos from today’s glassblowing demonstration, featuring glass jellyfish created by guest artist Richard Lowrie.

You can go watch till 5 pm today – and Luckie also notes that Avalon Glassworks has a food drive under way; bring a donation and you’ll get $1 off a purchase.

Followup: West Seattle Fabric Company opening soon

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

On this first Small Business Saturday, one small business in West Seattle won’t be welcoming customers today.

But not because its proprietor doesn’t want to!

Monica Skov is beyond eager to get her West Seattle Fabric Company open for business at 2210 California SW, where would-be customers are sticking their heads in to ask the big question: When will it be open? Answer: First half of December – Monica’s expecting to announce her grand-opening date sometime next week.

In the meantime, she is stocking the store; many have asked us for a progress report since our original story appeared last month, so we stopped in for an update a few days before the wintry weather started dominating the news. The photo above shows the north wall that’s filled with notions; other shelves in the store were starting to fill with fabrics, from flannel to oilcloth and many types inbetween, including patterns specifically for creating kids’ items (one based on the popular board book “Very Hungry Caterpillar” caught our eye). She plans to carry a “small selection of simple patterns” too. And the step-up section with most of the fabric has a central shelf on which you’ll be able to leave your choices till you’re ready to check out and have them cut into the length you need.

“It’s like the walk-in closet of my dreams,” she smiled, showing us around.

Monica also showed off other spaces in the store – spaces you might not have seen even if you visited the space in its previous incarnations. She is hoping to host classes — and eventually group gatherings — in those back spaces, which even include kitchenette and bathroom access (left over from an earlier life as residential space), describing it as “a place for people to be creative.” Not just experts: “I want to inspire people of all ages that maybe don’t even know how to sew!”

But till opening day, the bolts of fabric are just part of the nuts and bolts of opening a business – inventory, database. Then sometime next month, it’ll be time to welcome those “creative” customers, who have been without a fabric store in West Seattle for two and a half years.

West Seattle gets regional spotlight for ‘Small Business Saturday’

Three West Seattle businesses got a quick spotlight in that KING 5 story aired during last night’s newscast – all because they’re getting the word out that today is Small Business Saturday nationwide, meant to be a counterpoint to the bigbox-store emphasis during Black Friday. Watch the story and you’ll see Alki Bike and Board, CAPERS, and Sweetie. (Alki Bike and Board also is part of the WSB West Seattle Holiday Shopping/Business Guide, which we’re offering as another advertising showcase for local businesses this holiday season. They’ve got special deals; so does Clementine, another participant, which also has a hat trunk show/artist reception today. Also among those in the midst of a sale: WSB sponsor Mountain to Sound Outfitters.) One thing to consider about small local businesses: As Monday’s snow and road/bus woes reminded us, our peninsula can sometimes be more like an island, and a thriving local business community means you can find what you need here, especially during those times when you can’t (or don’t want to) leave!

West Seattle holiday-shopping season: Support your local businesses

Toward that goal, we just launched Version 1.0 of the West Seattle Holiday Shopping/Business Guide – an extra advertising showcase for local businesses to invite you to stop in and explore gift possibilities this holiday season. It’ll be updated frequently, both with additions and with updates/new deals from participating businesses. Today, you’ll find some Black Friday deals (ones you didn’t have to wait in line pre-dawn to get!), among other things. Check it out here. Happy shopping! (Don’t forget to keep an eye on the Coupons page, too.)

West Seattle Black Friday: Westwood Village line, and other notes

Just received that photo from David Rosen of SlickPix Photography, who says he’s been in line at Westwood Village Target since 11 pm. David says the line’s still growing – despite the rain – and the first person in line has been there since 6 pm. According to the ads we’ve seen, Target’s opening at 4 am. (photo added – by the time Target opened, the line stretched all the way around the corner past Barnes and Noble and alongside Chico’s!)

As for other WV bigboxes – Bed, Bath & Beyond is also opening at 4 am, Staples opens at 6 am. And if you’re shopping at the Westwood Barnes and Noble today, there’s a Bookfair benefiting Roxhill Elementary School – use the coupon that’s linked here (which is good at the store through December 3rd) and tip the gift-wrappers (tips benefit Roxhill, today only).

IT’S NOT JUST ABOUT THE BIGBOXES: Many West Seattle independent stores are rolling the welcome mat out further than ever; we’re rolling out Version 1.0 of a special local holiday-shopping guide in the next few hours – stand by for details!

SEALTH BAND IN MACY’S PARADE: The big downtown parade later this morning is scheduled to feature the Chief Sealth International High School Marching Band again this year, according to the lineup in a news release from parade sponsor Macy’s (which also describes the parade route). The parade starts at 9 am; doesn’t appear anyone’s televising it.

Water break, cleanup at West Seattle Junction QFC

Seattle Fire Department crews are busy at the Junction QFC, helping with a water cleanup. The photo above is from Mary, who says a pipe broke and gushed water onto part of the store’s floor. Mary says the store is doing a great job dealing with it, and the water is mostly just over by the meat cases.

ADDED 6:14 PM: Christopher Boffoli checked out the situation too, with the photo above and this update:

The QFC was mobbed with people who were shopping up a storm despite the fact that more than half the store was ankle deep in water. One of the employees told me they had a water pipe break. A bunch of people were frantically trying to mop up the water. Meanwhile, the physical therapy office and tanning salon on the lower level of the building were in even deeper water. The grocery store had a few aisles with the deepest water that appeared to be closed temporarily. But otherwise the store is open for business. But if anyone has appointments tomorrow at businesses downstairs they might want to call ahead.

Looks like no grocery-workers strike: Tentative agreement reached

Just got the message from UFCW 21‘s Tom Geiger:

Tentative agreement reached between Allied Employers and UFCW 21, UFCW 81, and Teamsters 38. Details of the agreement will not be released until after the grocery store workers’ vote on the offer has been concluded.

Allied Employers is the representative of QFC, Safeway, Albertsons, and Fred Meyer, whose workers’ last contract expired in March. The workers voted to authorize a strike, but negotiations continued; the latest round was set for this past Thursday-Friday, but continued into Saturday, and Geiger’s note indicates the deal was reached very late Saturday night. 6:26 AM NOTE: No word so far on when the workers will vote.

West Seattle businesses: Suite Arrangements profitable, charitable

One of The Junction’s newest stores, Suite Arrangementsfirst previewed here in August – has good news after less than two months in business: It’s already profitable, according to information e-mailed by proprietor Geoffrey Abdian. He also shared a photo of the 100th person to consign furniture with his store, Mary Leatherman (right), a volunteer coordinator at across-the-street ArtsWest, quoting her as calling Suite Arrangements “the perfect location to consign items that no longer fit the décor of my home.” With Mary and 99+ others already signed on (there’s even an online catalog), Abdian says, he’s been able to start making good on his commitment (mentioned in our August story) to donate 5 percent of profits to the West Seattle Food Bank, whose executive director Fran Yeatts got the first check on Tuesday. “It’s not much yet,” Abdian said, “and the store hasn’t begun to repay the loans taken to open, but it’s a good start. And, we want to thank West Seattle for embracing the recycling of fine furnishings, and for helping to feed those most in need.” He quotes Yeatts as saying, “I hope other businesses, and individuals, in our community will likewise allocate a portion of their own good fortune to the benefit of those most in need.” (Donation info for the WS Food Bank is online at westseattlefoodbank.org; we’ll have a story later this morning about additional ways to get, and give, food help this weekend.)

Allstate in North Delridge: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor

November 19, 2010 3:42 pm
|    Comments Off on Allstate in North Delridge: Welcoming a new WSB sponsor
 |   Delridge | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Today, we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Allstate Insurance at 3862 Delridge Way SW. Allstate is owned by Christopher Price, longtime operator of the H&R Block offices in West Seattle. He is a CFP-certified Financial Planner, ChFC-chartered Financial Consultant, and has been doing financial services for more than 29 years. Christopher says he started the Delridge Allstate location to bring business to the North Delridge area, which he says is very much an up-and-coming part of West Seattle and one that needs business services. Allstate‘s Delridge location offers not only auto, home, and life, but also a full range of investment services. According to Christopher, while people are familiar with the standard lines of insurance Allstate provides, they might not know that the company also offers an wide array of investment services. Christopher adds, “I look forward to helping families like yours protect the things that are important – your family, home, car and more. I can also help you prepare a strategy to achieve your financial goals.” His Allstate office is open from 9 am to 5 pm, Mondays through Fridays. You can get a quote by calling 206-938-2886 or via e-mail at Christopher.Price@allstate.com.

We thank Christopher Price and Allstate in North Delridge for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here!

Skin Care by Casey: Welcoming a new West Seattle Blog sponsor

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Skin Care by Casey (grand-opening party this Saturday!). Here’s what proprietor Casey Ann would like to share about her business: She has re-designed a quaint oasis across from The Bohemian in the “mid-Junction” area. While this location may be a new venture, Casey’s 10 years of experience as an esthetician (two as a West Seattle business owner and resident), and her reputation for five-star service follows her there. She is committed to providing results-oriented skin care in a serene, relaxing and professional setting. Clients have come to count on Skin Care by Casey’s knowledge and experience to help guide them toward better understanding their skin and its functions. She specializes in top-of-the-line, advanced medical skin therapies such as micro-current, microdermabrasion, peels, mini, customized facials, full face and body waxing, make-up, body treatments, lash and brow tinting and sunless tanning. Her business is built upon developing trusting relationships and her visitors often feel they spent their time with a trusting, compassionate friend. Casey also cares deeply for the arts and giving back to her community, incorporating both into her practice. At her new location, local art adorns the walls and she features handmade jewelry and artisan soaps. She donates 5% of her client’s service to a charity of their choice upon request.

This Saturday (November 20th) from noon-4pm, she invites the community to support a worthy cause and drop by The Bohemian for her grand-opening party. Featuring live music by Trevor Ras, food, wine, and more than $2,000 in giveaways from a variety of local businesses, all net proceeds will benefit Friends and Families of Violent Crimes Victims. To buy tickets visit brownpapertickets.com/event/136075.

Appointments with Skin Care by Casey can be made via e-mail or by phone (206-788-5677), and gift certificates are available. She always encourages newcomers to come in for a free consultation. Visit www.skincarebycasey.com for her full-service menu and all the details.

We thank Skin Care by Casey for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; find our sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here!

Alki Bakery followup: More from owner, landlord, manager…

(Tuesday morning photo by Ellen Cedergreen for WSB)
Since our Monday night report on the Alki Bakery closure, a few developments – a couple of which were added to that report, a couple that were not. First – if you missed that story, to recap, the bakery closed without warning Monday night, with a note posted on the door by the company, saying in part, “Our lease has run its course and it’s not viable for us to renew at a rate that works for both Alki Bakery and our landlord.” Our interview request to the AB owner Kevin Piper has gone unanswered, though Nancy Leson at the Seattle Times has just published an update, writing that he said in e-mail:

Simply put, our lease on Alki Beach is about to expire and the economics of renewing the lease at a much higher rate does not work … We will do our best to find positions for our staff members in other locations.

The landlord, however, has commented publicly. As noted in an addition to our previous story, the property owner of record, Joanne Richey, died last summer; her daughter Barbara Wuerth posted last night on the newly created Save the Alki Bakery Facebook page, alluding to critical comments, saying:

I am the evil landlord. My family has owned this building since 1920. The closing was mutual, he has become much busier with his bakery in Kent. I toured it and was really impressed. I will miss his coffee but things change. His baked goods are still available in many groceries and restaurants.

We are seeking further comment from her, too. We have also had online exchanges with Sarah Holmes, longtime café manager, who has also commented here and elsewhere. In a comment last night, she says she’s planning to stop by at noon today to check out the notes on the door; she also told us last night that she received word of the impending shutdown “less than an hour” before her staff, and that she was offered a position at another AB outlet. She also has written on Save the Alki Bakery:

Thank You everyone…for your beautiful words and stories. It means the WORLD to the people who actually worked there. We will all miss the Bakery greatly…both as a job and as a home…♥ DO NOT be rude to the owners of the building, please, they have lost so very much in the recent past months. They did NOT ask for this or I’m sure want it….

No public hint so far of what’s next for the 61st/Alki building.

West Seattle a ‘pioneer’ in new Only In Seattle campaign

We’re at Stellar Pizza in Georgetown along with West Seattle Junction Association director Susan Melrose, Clementine proprietor Linda Walsh, and various Seattle independent businesspeople as well as city staffers, for the launch of a new five-neighborhoods-for-starters (including West Seattle), city-supported “buy local” campaign called Only In Seattle (explained here). (Photo added – Walsh at left and Melrose at right, with City Councilmember Sally Clark:)

Check out the website for starters. The West Seattle businesses highlighted as “hidden gems” are Husky Deli, Easy Street Records, Spring Hill, and knows perfume – as you can see here. Walsh said that other businesses like hers, even if not specifically highlighted, will benefit:

(The other featured neighborhoods – with more to be added in later phases, we’re told – are Ballard, Columbia City, Georgetown, and Rainier Valley.)

Only In Seattle from Only In Seattle on Vimeo.

(Promotional video for new Only In Seattle campaign)