We asked QFC media liaison Kristin Maas if she’d share photos from inside the new Junction QFC, which opens with a 7 am ribbon-cutting tomorrow (public invited if you’re up that early and interested); she offered a few from the past week-plus of setup:

And here are the “gourmet cheese” and sushi areas:

What else is in the store (in Capco Plaza at 42nd/Alaska; map? Here’s the fact sheet listing it all – pizza, bakery, flowers – and noting that it’s about the same size as Westwood Village QFC. She also says there will be valet parking on the store’s “exclusive customer-parking deck” over the store (entrance is midblock on 42nd SW) 10 am-8 pm tomorrow through Sunday. We’ll be up bright and early tomorrow for a tour of the store before the ribboncutting so watch WSB, Twitter and Facebook for updates after 6 am.

ADDED 7:07 PM: A little more information about parking, from QFC’s Kristin Maas:

There are several areas to park for the complex (residential and retail), so there are signs around the building. Here’s the layout:

* QFC Customers Only Parking on the deck above the store – with easy access mid-block on 42nd. This will be the easiest access for our QFC customers, both for parking and for access to the store.

** And tomorrow, our Valet Parking will be available beginning at 7am for the ribbon cutting and then the rest of the week through Sunday it will be from 10am to 8pm.

* Two levels of underground parking located mid-block on 41st is for the loading dock, other retail customer parking, QFC customer overflow parking and residential parking.

Two days before the grand opening of the Junction QFC supermarket in Capco Plaza at 42nd/Alaska (map), the sign on its west side has just gone up – thanks to Brian from TouchTech Systems in The Junction for the photo. As noted here last week, the ribboncutting is set for 7 am Wednesday. We also have a footnote on our story about Westside Pharmacy closing as its owner and staff move to the new QFC store’s pharmacy – Westside (California/Brandon; map) has posted a sign saying its doors will close for good at 6:30 pm Tuesday, as they work to transition the prescriptions in time for the new pharmacy to open the next morning.

Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, AmazonFresh, the new grocery home-delivery service from Amazon.com. We offer new sponsors the chance to tell you about their business, and here’s what AmazonFresh would like you to know: Since November 2007, 2,000 of your West Seattle neighbors have experienced the convenience of having all their perishable and non-perishable groceries delivered to their doorstep by AmazonFresh. Unlike other grocery delivery services, AmazonFresh was designed from scratch to take your busy life into account. Same day and next day delivery is standard. They can deliver before you wake up and you don’t need to be home to get delivery. If you want to be home (or your order contains alcohol), you can choose from dozens of 1-hour time slots. Delivery is available 7 days a week including Sundays. For doorstep deliveries, AmazonFresh leaves your groceries in secured, temperature-controlled totes. In addition to these convenience benefits, AmazonFresh has a great selection of local products including produce and dairy. You can even get many of your favorite Amazon.com books, video, baby, toy, and kitchen products delivered with your groceries. Need popcorn, movie, and popcorn maker for a Friday night? No problem. Last but not least, AmazonFresh has multiple ways to save including daily deals, bulk purchases, and automatic delivery discounts. Best of all, these discounts can be “nested” so that customers can take advantage of not 1 but 3 different discounts on the same item! By combining discounts, customers can save up to 70% on certain products. Give AmazonFresh a try today.

Thanks to AmazonFresh for sponsoring 24/7 independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news here on WSB – the full sponsor team is here, with info on how to become part of it! (Photo credit: JetCityOrange)

Till 6 pm, you’re invited to help PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) celebrate the 20th anniversary of their West Seattle store (California/Stevens; map). Outside, the Kid Picks van at left with fun stuff for the little ones, and free burgers getting grilled in the tent under the sign; inside, birthday cake and lemonade:

Free samples and cooking demos are happening inside the store too. Event schedule here (chocolate samples at 3 pm!).

In case you check in tonight but not in the morning: 1st, tomorrow’s the PCC Natural Markets (WSB sponsor) West Seattle 20th anniversary party, 11 am-6 pm at the store (2749 California SW), food and fun, full lineup here (including specific times for cooking demonstrations and samples). 2nd, tomorrow’s the day announced for the annual “World Naked Bike Ride” through West Seattle – nothing new has been posted via Twitter or the WNBR site since the announcement that led to our report here, but we’ll see if anyone shows up at the Morgan Junction meetup point at noon, and will report whatever happens.

A few days ago, WSB contributor Christopher Boffoli, who’s been chronicling the saga of The Swinery setting up shop in West Seattle, reported that its projected opening date has slid a bit (to September 21). The establishment itself (moving into 3207 California SW; map) continues to chronicle its progress at theswinery.blogspot.com, but one thing you won’t find there is the menu it’s planning to offer when it opens – for its meats and sandwiches. Here it is – note that it’s a draft, provided to us as a roughed-out Excel form which we’ve converted into a PDF. But it’ll give you a better idea of what they’re planning.

Story and photo by Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

The free-standing Westside Pharmacy, which has been at the corner of California SW and Brandon Street for 20 years, is closing, but its longtime owner isn’t leaving the business – he is partnering with QFC to provide pharmacy services in their about-to-open Junction store.

Michael Ng, pharmacist and 32-year owner of Westside Pharmacy, tells WSB he is very excited about this partnership with QFC for a number of reasons, including the expanded hours and parking availability for his clients.

Read More

A week and a half after first mention of the new West Seattle clothing store Cherry Consignment, it welcomed shoppers to a grand-opening party tonight. West Seattle writer Mary Sheely covered it in her first assignment for WSB.

Story and photos by Mary Sheely
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Nyla Bittermann (photo left) and Tracy Dart envisioned their new store, Cherry Consignment, as a place that would welcome the community. And that community includes all shapes, sizes, and price ranges. Tonight, the night of the store’s grand-opening party, prices ranged from $4-$75 and sizes from 0 to 28 (plus men’s and maternity clothing) could be spotted on the racks. And the customers came in for both.

“Nyla’s vision is to serve the fringes—those of us who can’t find stuff in a lot of consignment stores,” says shopper Jaime Untz, whom Bittermann calls “our PR person.”

“We should be able to go into a store and try stuff on and make a day of it and feel pampered,” Untz says.

Even more important to Dart and Bittermann than Cherry Consignment’s selection and prices is the new store’s atmosphere — and they’re not talking about the cherry art that decorates the walls.

Read More

This afternoon, we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor: Fitzpatrick’s Interiors and Upholstery, which has been in business in West Seattle for 37 years. Here’s what owner Margaret Fitzpatrick wants you to know about her business: She is an expert in upholstery and fabric selection. Margaret’s private selection of fabric is wonderful and she shops the Seattle Design Center for clients as well. Margaret offers personal design service for fabric selection in your home as a part of the upholstery process. The quality of the work is excellent and the work is guaranteed. Client satisfaction drives the business. Fitzpatrick’s Interiors and Upholstery has had two storefronts in West Seattle, and Margaret taught upholstery for the Community Colleges for 10 years. Now, Margaret works out of her home by appointment. Call for a free in-home estimate in West Seattle. Pickup and delivery is part of the upholstery service. Besides chairs and couches, Fitzpatrick’s services include cushions, decorator pillows, window seats, foam replacement and slipcovers. Margaret says, “I am hugged frequently when delivering projects because of client delight. I love my job, and it is ‘green business’!” You can call Fitzpatrick’s Interiors and Upholstery at 206-937-9643.

Thanks to Fitzpatrick’s for supporting independent neighborhood-based news/information/discussion by joining the WSB sponsor team, all listed here with info on how to join.

This afternoon, we’re welcoming the “Reinvent Yourself Workshop” as a WSB sponsor. Seven area entrepreneurs are presenting the workshop this Sunday in West Seattle – read on for their official announcement:

Seven dynamic entrepreneurial women join forces on Sunday (August 30) to lead a half-day workshop aimed at self-improvement. This interactive session, titled “Reinvent Yourself Workshop: 7 Ways to Transform Your Life,” will provide local women with the tools they need to bring out the best version of themselves.

Each of the seven presenters will share inspiring tips and assist participants in setting realistic goals that result in pivotal life changes. Workshop attendees will have an opportunity to win a Total Transformation Package valued at more than $2,000. The package includes services related to nutrition, fitness, personal and professional growth, home organization, skin care, hair care and personal style.

This is a unique opportunity for West Seattle women to interact with local experts who have built successful businesses around their abilities to increase self-awareness and facilitate positive transformation. The roster of presenters includes Chieko Watanabe, business and life coach; Michelle Babb, MS, RD (WSB sponsor), nutrition and lifestyle educator; Karen Pfeiffer Bush, professional organizer and owner of Housewarming; Bonnie Katz, personal trainer and owner of Fitness Together (WSB sponsor); Trudy Muller, skin care specialist and owner of Envy on Alki; Melissa Wooley, hair stylist and owner of Pure Hair; and Mary Beth Logsdon, style consultant.

The workshop takes place this Sunday (August 30) at Merrill Gardens in West Seattle from 8:45 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Space is limited and seats are filling fast. For additional information or to register, please visit www.reinventyourselfworkshop.com.

Thanks to the “Reinvent Yourself Workshop” for sponsoring WSB! All sponsors – with links to their websites, and info on how to join them here – can be found on our Advertise! page.

(July photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Just announced by Gabriel Claycamp:

After the longest summer in the history of Man, The Swinery is about to open…(with the shortest press release ever)

3207 California Ave SW
shop 206.932.4211
www.swinerymeats.com
sales@swinerymeats.com

artisan butcher, charcuterie, aged cheeses, delicatessen, snacks, sandwiches, wine, etc … Opening September 15th.

You heard about the location here first, you may recall, thanks to the reporting of WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli (June 21 story here, and here’s Christopher’s in-depth look at the space, and what’s planned, from July 26).

As mentioned earlier, it’s “Big Bonanza” end-of-summer sale day in The Junction. Kathy Mulady is covering it for WSB with updates and photos, and sends this vignette:

Balloons brighten the West Seattle Junction Saturday morning as the Big Bonanza event gets underway. Rob Wastman with the Skate Church (in the red shirt), and a member of the merchants’ association, delivered balloons to businesses and had an extra one in his bunch for Sam “Samster-the-Hamster” Seidl, 4, who was out and about with her dad, Mark Seidl. More than 30 businesses in The Junction have sales and special events planned today. We will be standing by for the Junction Showdown at high noon.

More later!