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.

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!

(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.

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.)

(Promotional video for new Only In Seattle campaign)

If you are concerned about reports that tens of thousands of grocery workers around the region have voted to authorize a strike – you’ll be interested to hear that another round of contract talks has just been set by the workers’ unions and the companies with which they’re negotiating: Safeway, Albertsons, QFC, and Fred Meyer (represented together by Allied Employers). One of the unions, UFCW 21, says the two sides have agreed to sit down and talk again next week, on Thursday and Friday. They’ve been negotiating now for eight months and they say the sticking points include pay, health-benefit, and pension-cut proposals.

Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, West Seattle Autoworks, owned and operated by Todd Ainsworth and Chris Christensen, both longtime West Seattle residents.

(Todd and Chris with team member Nathan Huie)
West Seattle Autoworks has been open for a little over a month, but the staff brings more than 60 years of combined experience. Todd and Chris say they are working to earn each customer’s trust by giving straight, honest assessments of what work needs to be done. The shop is ASA-certified and the staff all have obtained ASE Master certifications. The work on all domestic makes, German, Japanese, and some select European makes. They also specialize in working on hybrid vehicles.

West Seattle Autoworks is the first garage in the neighborhood to offer oil changes using re-refined oil from Universal Lubes. Todd says that by using a re-refined product, we can cut down our use of imported oil by two barrels per oil change, and the re-refined oil only adds $10 to the cost of the average oil change. West Seattle Autoworks is open Monday through Friday from 8 to 5:30. You can make an appointment by phoning 206-257-5344 or you can book an appointment online by going to this page on their website. West Seattle Autoworks is at 7501 35th SW (here’s a map), and you can find them on Facebook too.

We thank West Seattle Autoworks 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!

We’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor today, Sound Advice in The Junction, where you’ll find Gary Larkin (shown above with a huge historic photo of “Downtown West Seattle”). As is WSB custom, new sponsors get to tell you about themselves; here’s what Sound Advice has to say: We at Sound Advice have been following the West Seattle Blog for quite a while when we noticed a number of our customers were posting some very flattering comments about us (which we were very appreciative of). Sound Advice has been in The Junction for ten years and has local West Seattle ownership, so we are vested in the local community. Actually, we were the very first Verizon agent in the area back in the mid-1980s (then known as US West New Vector), so we have loads of experience in the wireless business. Sound Advice has always handled Verizon along with a couple of other carriers, but a couple of years ago we decided to go back to our roots and become an exclusive Verizon agent, since being exclusive allowed us to match the Verizon direct pricing and programs.

Our expertise is in Smartphones, setting up e-mail, and computer-related issues with wireless equipment. We will have 4G launch shortly — that will allow us to have wireless data speeds of 10 to 12 mps, which is faster than most cable modems. We also carry a wide variety of Droids, BlackBerries, other PDA’s, and just regular everyday phones. We have the ability to copy contacts from one phone to another and we can do 98% of what can be done at the bigger mall wireless stores, but with much less waiting on most days. Stop by and check us out! Sound Advice is at 4702 California SW (map), online at soundadvicecellular.com, or call 206-932-4247.

We thank Sound Advice 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.

Thanks to TouchTech Systems‘ Brian Presser for sharing the photo of the sign going up today. We’re awaiting owner Aimee Pellegrini‘s announcement of the opening date, but it’s clearly very close for her Tuscan Tea Room and Romanza Floral in The Junction, next to the newly opened Wing Dome. We first reported on the new business back in June; Aimee’s been running Romanza Floral for quite some time, but decided to venture into the tea-room business.

In addition to the business comings-and-goings noted the past few days, we have a virtual stack of notes to share. First:

GUITAR TEACHER ON THE MOVE: That’s Richie Jenkin, longtime WSB sponsor, who teaches guitar. He’s switched locations and asked us to share:

I have relocated my guitar lesson studio from my office on California Ave SW to my home studio in the Alki Beach neighborhood. My new location is a half block from the beach and right across the way from Alki Playfield. I can be reached via my website: www.richiejenkin.com or by phone at (206) 799-7432.

SPEAKING OF ALKI, NEW ATM: One year after the BECU ATM was removed from the wall near the Alki Starbucks, Robert pointed out via Facebook that a Chase ATM has now taken its place. Via the WSB Forums, Jo tells us it was installed just yesterday.

ANGELINA’S CELEBRATES FIRST ANNIVERSARY: In a Facebook invite, Angelina’s West Seattle notes that it’s celebrating 1 year in business, and offering specials Friday to commemorate the occasion, plus a DJ starting at 9 pm.

JUNEAU STREET MARKET: We’ve received many notes this past week-plus about this market appearing to have closed again, less than 6 months after it reopened following an eight-month shutdown caused by a fire in the apartment over the market. We have been trying to reach its owners, both in person and via e-mail. Finally spotted people working in the space yesterday and asked them what was going on. Only got a one-word comment: “Remodeling.” We’ll keep watching …

NEW HEAVENLY WHOLESALE LOCATION: This retail business was in The Triangle for a while, then made a temporary seasonal move last fall to the Junction space that had previously been home to Funky Jane’s and is now home to Suite Arrangements. Now, Heavenly Wholesale has turned up in the 5446 California SW space that used to contain On The Way Maternity.

AUTOMOTIVE SOLUTIONS OF SEATTLE: 13 months after this car-sales business moved onto a lot on SW Alaska east of Jefferson Square, they’re gone – the space has clearly been cleared out.

BUILT BURGER MAKES A STAND: This isn’t in West Seattle, but it’s big news for a business that was founded by a West Seattle couple, David and Rebecca Makuen. For more than a year, they have sold flavor-infused BuiltBurger patties by mail, and now they’re opening a burger stand in Pioneer Square, 217 James Street, on November 8th.

After multiple notes in the past few hours saying a “For Lease” sign had been spotted at the West Seattle Pharmacy site – where a coffee stand had opened while the pharmacy license was awaited – we called proprietor Kenny Wolfe to ask what happened. He tells WSB it just didn’t work out because of a combination of circumstances mostly centering on federal (Drug Enforcement Administration) licensing taking too long – four months longer than expected. “The stars just weren’t aligned,” he tells WSB, which means he’s going back to working as a pharmacist “for someone else, instead of myself.” So now the storefront at California/Brandon (across from West Seattle Nursery) — where Westside Pharmacy closed more than a year ago, after its longtime proprietor moved his business into the then-new Junction QFC — needs a new tenant, and contact info should be posted at the storefront by tomorrow.

During weeks of voting, the KING 5 “Best of Western Washington“ contest was all the buzz … and this week they’re rolling out the winners. No list yet that we know of, since they’re parceling out some of the announcements on “Evening Magazine” this week – but they’ve featured a couple West Seattleites already – among them, about a minute and a half into the top video clip, you’ll find Morgan Junction’s own Feedback Lounge (WSB sponsor) celebrated for “Best Cocktails”! Next clip is all about West Seattle radio/Web personalitiies Marty Riemer and Jodi Brothers, who took 2nd place in “best radio” – even though they now broadcast from Marty’s basement, almost a year after getting the boot from their last full-time radio gig:

We have it on good authority there are at least a few more West Seattle/White Center winners yet to come – next edition of “Evening Magazine” is 7 pm tonight, Channel 5 (and the list should be on best.king5.com starting Friday).

Just 5 months after adding a retail storefront to their wholesale/catering operations, West Seattle’s Heavenly Pastry and Cake has decided to go back to wholesale/catering only. Co-owner Michael Stein e-mailed this morning to say this note is now up on the door of their location on California just south of Admiral:

Dear friend;

Heavenly Pastry and Cake is making a few changes. Our retail shop will be closed as of today.

We will continue baking here, however, for your special orders and our catering and wholesale customers.

Ordering our delicious Pretzels, Cakes, Scones, and other treats is easy, at (206) 420-2780; or online, at www.heavenlypastry.com

Thank you for your support, and we look forward to seeing you soon!
Team Heavenly

One new enterprise that’s under way – Stein points out they’re making pretzels for Dante’s Inferno Dogs, the popular hot-dog purveyor that’s best known in more-northern Seattle neighborhoods.

The Avalon Way 7-11 is now under the same ownership as 2 other West Seattle 7-11s (Admiral Way and Harbor Avenue). What makes that particularly notable is that the owner is throwing a “grand opening” party in a couple weeks (though he took over last spring); here’s the announcement sent to WSB to share:

Grand Opening: Meet Chintu the owner

November 6th, Saturday – 12:00 pm to 2:00 pm

Free Hot Dogs – Fresh Bakery Chips, Balloons & much more! Bouncy House for kids

7-Eleven 22561, 3280 Avalon Way SW

Bring your kids and have fun

We asked Monti, who e-mailed the announcement, for a little more information:

Chintu took over the store on May 19, 2010. He does not live in West Seattle, but he has been running two other 7-11s in West Seattle for the last 14 years. Chintu wants to have a grand opening for this store because he wants to connect with new friends and families in the West Seattle community … he knows if he connects with the community, he can improve his store to serve the customer better. We believe with this grand opening we can bring the West Seattle community together. AND HAVE FUN TOGETHER!!

The store’s at 35th and Avalon; here’s a map.