West Seattle, Washington
22 Saturday
Joey Genzale is excited about all the improvements at his Westwood produce megastand, Tony’s Market, which just reopened at 35th/Barton a few hours ago after its traditional post-Christmas break. It’s a later reopening than usual, and here’s why:
That’s just part of the new 24-foot refrigerated produce case lining the north wall – which means the produce stays fresher longer – “Perfect lettuce! Perfect mushrooms!” enthuses Joey – and that’s good for customers as well as for the store’s bottom line. There’s also a brand-new cooler up front by the checkout stand, for non-produce merchandise. And even on the south side, the non-refrigerated items – such as tree fruit – is arranged up against the wall, improving traffic flow inside the store.
Something else new:
Joey says he’s been working on improving his hand-lettering sills for the signs that have long been a trademark of the produce market, run by his dad Tony Genzale till his untimely passing in December 2010. He had some ready to go last night – and then the rain swept in and undid his work. “My dad’s getting even with me,” he laughed.
When we were there in the 1 o’clock hour, they were still finishing setup, but almost done, and definitely open – and Joey is asking everyone what they think of the improvements (which include some fresh interior paint): “After 16 years, it was time.”
VENTANA CONSTRUCTION: RapidRide stop construction continues just outside longtime WSB sponsor Ventana Construction‘s California/Findlay HQ – and now, Ventana proprietor Anne Higuera says, a banner explaining the work is finally up – but the path is still clear from the east to get there for tomorrow’s FREE remodeling/custom homebuilding workshop. Still some room left – it’s at 1:30 pm Saturday: “The basics about remodeling and custom homebuilding: Where to start, how to hire, what to expect. An informative hour and a half with a general contractor and an architect.” RSVP ASAP to 206-932-3009.
Also this weekend:
MOUNTAIN TO SOUND OUTFITTERS EXTENDS SALE: Mountain to Sound Outfitters (also a WSB sponsor) is in clearance mode, says proprietor Greg Whittaker, who says they’re extending their clearance sale through Sunday “for all the procrastinators. We still have a good selection of the best ski and snowboard gear in the region, so stop by if you need the right gear to enjoy the late season snow in the Cascades.” M2SO is in The Triangle, at 3602 SW Alaska.
Also in The Triangle:
ANOTHER WEST SEATTLE TRADER JOE’S SIGN: In case you missed our photo yesterday:
A second sign went up today (top left).
NEW BUSINESS: Carol from Pediatric Speech & Language Therapy says her business, which already had offices in Wallingford and Bellevue, recently opened a West Seattle location in The Junction, 4520 44th SW. She explains that her business “provides a full spectrum of speech therapy services for children ages 0-18, including evaluation and ongoing treatment. Free screenings, and speaking engagements regarding communication development or related topics can also be arranged. In the near future we hope to offer social groups, language enrichment groups, and parent education services.”
The store’s actual 4th anniversary was four years and one month ago today – we covered the opening of Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys Shop-O-Rama on February 8th, 2008. But who’s counting? Kent Sadow (pictured) and Parris Sadow finally get a chance to celebrate their retro-toys-and-candy store’s milestone this Saturday (March 10), and they’re inviting you:
Atomic Boys is celebrating its 4th Birthday.
Join us for drawings for cool stuff, food, and all-day fun!
Stop in anytime, 10:00 am to 6:00 pm, to help us celebrate another great year.
Thanks to all of you, of course!!!
Atomic Boys (named after the Sadows’ sons) is at 4311 SW Admiral Way.
(Click to see larger image)
That’s the “3-D” look at the area of north/central Delridge known as the “Brandon Node” – which was centerstage at last Wednesday night’s “visioning” open house sponsored by the North Delridge Neighborhood Council and Delridge Neighborhoods District Council at Martin’s Way. We dropped by in the first hour; now NDNC co-chair Parie Hines has put together and published a thorough look at the entire event, its results, and next steps. You can see her report here, on the NDNC website. One key summary point: The desire voiced for new food-related businesses in the area was four times the desire voiced for other types of businesses. However, as another chart in Parie’s report shows, that doesn’t mean everyone’s clamoring for restaurants – the #1 type of food-related business that open-house-goers wanted to see was “farmers’ market/produce,” followed by “bakery.” The most-desired non-food business: “Children’s or clothing consignment store.” Outside the business realm, street trees and bike racks were atop wish lists.
North Delridge leaders plan to pursue ways to make this all happen, including city support; attendees last Wednesday included City Council President Sally Clark and Councilmembers Tom Rasmussen and Richard Conlin – Clark mentioned the Brandon Node event during what amounts to council “open mike” time at their weekly briefing session yesterday.
Today was the final day for the Knows Perfume storefront in The Junction, according to spokesperson Ali Brownrigg. She says Knows owner Christen Cottam “has decided to transform her brick-and-mortar business into a more mobile incarnation, complete with private consultations and concierge services, both at a soon-to-be determined office space and at the perfume counters of major department stores .. Christen will continue to offer her popular series of classes, host Black Phoenix Alchemy Lab Full Moon Parties, and has plans to launch an e-commerce site so shoppers can still purchase the indie and boutique fragrances they’ve come to love.” The store at 4536 California SW opened in May 2010.
Many of West Seattle’s business districts are thoroughly developed. Not Delridge’s “Brandon Node,” the commercial (etc.) district centered around Delridge/Brandon (check out this photo tour). Wednesday night, community leaders issued an open invitation to come to one of that area’s newest businesses, Martin’s Way, and join an open house “visioning” the district’s future. It was a casual gathering, with four stations set up, each a place to offer answers to a key question.
While there for the first hour, here’s what we saw:
Question: How can the Brandon Node be better improved to support existing and future local businesses?
Answers included: sidewalk café, color-coordinating business buildings to show they are businesses, planter boxes, mailboxes, better lighting, starting a business organization.
Question: What do you love about living or working in Delridge? How could the Brandon Node become a destination for all West Seattle?
Answers included: Diversity, access to Longfellow Creek and Camp Long.
Question: What types of food options would you like to see in Delridge? Would you personally shop at a grocery or food co-op in the Brandon Node?
Answers included: Grocery, bakery, deli, healthy fast food.
Question: What types of products and services would you like to buy in the Brandon Node? What types of businesses would you support in the Brandon Node?
Answers included: Bakery, laundromat, produce stand, farmers’ market, grocery, & child care.
Parie Hines from the North Delridge Neighborhood Council – which co-sponsored the visioning session, along with the Delridge Neighborhoods District Council – told us she would gather up the evening’s suggestions and ideas and take them back to the existing businesses, while working further on helping the existing business owners get to know each other better. They’ll also be used in conversations with the city and others who are interested in helping the area grow.
ADDED FRIDAY MORNING: As noted, we were only able to stay for the first hour, but the event continued for another hour and a half beyond that, and you can see photos taken by Holli Margell here (including some of the butcher-paper notes with even more community suggestions).
(Easy Street owner Matt Vaughan onstage with Damien Jurado after the February 18th in-store show)
Worried about too much change in “Downtown West Seattle”? Here’s something that’s not going to change for a long time: Via Twitter, Easy Street Records proprietor Matt Vaughan announced he’s signed a deal to keep his iconic music store/café at The Junction’s iconic corner for another 16 years. Thanks to Steve for telling us about the tweet; we e-mailed Matt to ask for more details, and he replied with what he called a “quick press release,” though it’s more a tale of looking back and looking ahead:
WM Management and the Yen Family have struck a longterm agreement with Easy Street Records/Cafe. Easy Street moved to the corner of California Ave and Alaska St in 1989. We had been at 4537 California (where Leisure Books is) for a couple years prior to the move.
During those late 80’s, The Junction was going through a lot of changes. It was regentrifying. The WS Bridge had only been up for a few years. The real estate boom was beginning to hit WS, but still the Junction had a lot of vacancies and had a few challenges ahead. I can recall ordering sandwiches from Jack Miller, yelling my order down the street. There was less activity, less people walking the street.
During the late 80’s and 90’s, the Seattle music scene was burgeoning and a lot of that was happening here in little West Seattle.
Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Exactly two years after the Fauntleroy Community Service Agency completed the deal to buy it from Seattle Public Schools, the old schoolhouse at 9131 California SW is full of new life, and new opportunities – for example, want to host your next meeting in a conference room with a bonafide old-school (literally) blackboard?
Even before the multi-year effort that secured the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse’s longterm future as a community-owned facility, it was already home to an eclectic, if small, assortment of established businesses/organizations – Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes Catering, Fauntleroy Children’s Center, Seattle Civic Dance Theatre/Dance! West Seattle among them. Now they’ve been joined by others, with room still for more.
Education is obviously a natural fit; last year, looking for a new home, Lincoln Park Cooperative Preschool – which is an educational program for parents as well as preschoolers – landed at the schoolhouse.
But you might be surprised by what, and who, else you find if you tour the Fauntleroy Schoolhouse, as we did one day recently. Such as – an international game business!
The team at Jan’s Beauty Supply in The Junction wanted to get the word out about this:
“Jan’s Beauty Supply will be closing at 1:30pm Saturday Feb 25th and remain closed Monday, February 27th, due to remodeling. We will resume regular business hours Tuesday, February 28th. Thanks for your patience and come check out our new look!”
Just last Saturday, we were up in the Easy Street Records loft, rolling video on local-musician-made-good Damien Jurado‘s packed in-store show. Tonight, from the same spot, we caught that view of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce After-Hours mixer. As members mingled in the café, a Junction power quartet paused to pose:
From left, West 5‘s Dave Montoure, who chairs the Chamber’s board; Elliott Bay Brewing‘s Todd Carden; Husky Deli proprietor Jack Miller; and the evening’s host, Matt Vaughan of Easy Street. Next up for the Chamber is the debut of its Young Professionals’ Network (explained here earlier this week), at West 5 next Tuesday – and looking all the way ahead to April 18th, you’re invited to come cheer the newly announced Westside Award winners (ticket info on the Chamber website).
Just in from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce – this year’s Westside Award winners, who will be celebrated at an April 18th breakfast:
The results are in! Thank you to all who submitted nominations for The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce Annual Awards Program.
From a pool of over 40 submissions, the committee has selected AmericanWest Bank (formerly Viking Bank) as the WestSide Business of the Year for 2011. Many nominators mentioned “friendly, personal, and professional” but it was AmericanWest Bank’s community involvement and support of local non-profits that earned them the title. All the nominees represented the quality West Seattle businesses which make us proud, including: Mashiko, Ola Salon, Click! Design That Fits, Clementine Shoes, Max and Quinn’s Atomic Boys, Link Apartments, Tony’s Market, Nurturing Expressions, and Ventana Construction.
To honor new ventures, an award in its second year is WestSide Emerging Business. Congratulations to The Grove West Seattle Inn for being the 2011 recipient and a strong addition to our business community.
As West Seattle’s only full-service inn, The Grove brings safe, convenient, clean and friendly lodging to our peninsula. Some other new businesses are already making a great impression. Nominees for WestSide Emerging Business of the Year, for those in business less than three years, included: Highline Medical Center Urgent Care, West Seattle Produce Co., The Cove School, Eldercare Consulting, and Les Schwab.
Also in its second year is the Not-For-Profit category, for which The West Seattle Garden Tour has been chosen WestSide Not-for-Profit Business of the Year. A major fund raiser for many non-profits, the West Seattle Garden Tour attracts scores of tour-goers to enjoy our neighborhoods each July. West Seattle is home to some other hard-working Not-for-Profit organizations. Nominees for this award included Transitional Resources, West Seattle Helpline, Sustainable West Seattle, WestSide Baby, Sports in Schools, Westside School, and West Seattle Food Bank.
Finally, the third-annual WestSider of the Year award which honors an individual who has made a lasting impact on our community, goes to Pete Spalding, tireless advocate and civic leader for West Seattle. Pete has been an active member of the West Seattle Food Bank Board, serves on the Southwest Precinct Advisory Council, the Pigeon Point Neighborhood Council, and many other community groups.
Please join us in honoring these recipients at the WestSide Annual Awards Breakfast sponsored by Nucor Corporation at Salty’s on Alki on April 18, 2012, 7:30-9am. The Awards Presentation is the premier event of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, a community gathering to recognize and celebrate excellence in business and the vibrant sprit of West Seattle. This year’s special guest speaker is Matthew Gardner of Gardner Economics. Tickets are $50 each available at http://www.wschamber.com or call the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, 206-932-5685.
Besides regular monthly lunch meetings and big annual events like the Westside Awards (April 18th this year), the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce offers its members other opportunities to get together – like a brand-new type of event on the calendar for next week: The first Young Professionals Network mixer. David Kim from AmericanWest Bank in The Junction is organizing it, as chair of the Chamber’s Ambassador Committee. Don’t get stuck on the “y” word, he advises, because “the YPN is designed as a unique, casual network programming for those that are young-at-heart. Some other YPNs have an age limit, but … we determined that we wanted to engage members that wanted to have something fun & exciting to mix it up.” The first YPN event is a scotch tasting at West 5 at 5 pm Tuesday, February 28th – “a tasting of several brands of single-malt scotches, with a brand expert on hand to educate about scotch,” West 5 proprietor and Chamber board chair Dave Montoure explains. No fee, and open to all Chamber members; if you haven’t received an e-mail invitation, you can RSVP through the Chamber website. (Not a member? Here’s how to join.)
On this day full of sweetness, we welcome Peekaboo Cupcakery as a new West Seattle Blog sponsor. Here’s what Peekaboo Cupcakery would like you to know about their business:
Peekaboo Cupcakery is a delivery cupcakery in West Seattle. Baker and owner Julia Lee noticed back in 2009 that there weren’t any bakeries in Seattle that offered cupcakes with truly exotic or different flavors. “Most cupcakes I’ve seen and tried are either just chocolate or vanilla with the flavoring being only in frostings.” Julia knew that not only did she have to have the flavors in her cakes, but it had to be in the frostings as well. Her cupcakes’ flavors are influenced by her Chinese and Latina background. To make it extra special, Julia specializes in filled cupcakes with fruit preserves and creamy spreads. Hence, the name Peekaboo Cupcakery.
Julia launched her website in September 2011 and is excited to embark on this new journey in her life. “I love the feeling when someone is experimenting with new flavors,” she says, adding: “I hope my cupcakes will make people happy and open their minds to something new.” Please visit Peekaboo Cupcakery at www.peekaboocupcakery.com, or call 206-388-3690. Mention this article and receive $3.00 off your dozen cupcakes!
We thank Peekaboo Cupcakery 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.
“We have a standing joke at Fleurt that we would be wealthy if we collected a penny for every ‘ooh and aahh’ we hear when customers walk through the store. The saying ‘stop and smell the roses’ is alive and flourishing at Fleurt,” says Sam (left), proprietor of the Junction store we’re welcoming as a new WSB sponsor on this Valentine’s Day eve.
Sam explains, “Fleurt is a full-service flower shop. We specialize in weddings, events, funerals and deliveries. We do business a little different to most other flower shops out there. I have built strong relationships with local flower growers. Most of our flowers come from washington farms, direct to Fleurt. We don’t belong to any network which means we create flowers that are not so generic and cookie-cutter. We also have the flexibility to buy from who and what we want to best serve our customers. In turn, our customers value and appreciate our style, ethics and philosophy. Every customer that walks through the door or calls to place an order inspires me to grow and be persistent in spite of a very difficult and competitive marketplace where flower shops struggle everyday.
But, she says, Fleurt is more than a full-service flower shop. “Customers love the Fleurt chalkboard out the front where we announce new product arrivals and special events and Fleurt happenings. Customers are always surprised to find that Fleurt not only sells gorgeous flowers, but I carry many unusual gifts and home decor items that are not found elsewhere. Seattle Magazine named Fleurt one of the ‘best new shopping finds’ in Seattle 2011. People are always amazed by our visual presentation and merchandising within the store. We are a great source for creative decorating and gift ideas and I strive to change up the store every few weeks with new product arrivals. We are always adding and switching things around to keep things exciting and fresh. Many of our products are created by local designers and artisans, as well as vintage finds that have been re-purposed.”
Fleurt is at 4461 California SW. Fleurt will be open special extended hours for Valentine’s Day, 8:30 am-6:30 pm Tuesday, and is still accepting Valentine orders – which you can place online 24 hours a day.
We thank Fleurt 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. (Photo by Donna Ryan Photography)
EDITOR’S NOTE: We work with student reporters from the UW News Lab from time to time, as do many publications around Western Washington. One student journalist suggested a closer look at West Seattle’s only vintage-video-games (and more) store, and here’s the result.
Story and video by John Jinneman
University of Washington News Lab
Special to West Seattle Blog
The store’s actual opening in mid-January came in wintry weather. But on the bright and sunny first weekend of February, Pink Gorilla Games held its West Seattle grand opening event, full of excitement.
On both days visitors were treated to snacks while they made purchases or hung out and played games. Customers could also get raffle tickets by joining Pink Gorilla’s Facebook page or buying merchandise.
After closing on Sunday, Feb. 5, they contacted winners – with the grand prize, a $100 gift card.
“The community really appreciates us, and that’s what really helps,” said Paublo Smith, co-owner and operator of Pink Gorilla Games West Seattle branch.
(WSB photo from 2011 ‘Have a Heart Day’)
The annual “Have a Heart Day” benefit at Illusions Hair Design (WSB sponsor) has a few new twists this time around. It’s not just haircuts this year – you can book any hair service that day, and half the proceeds will go to Pencil Me In For Kids, providing school supplies to kids in need. They also are taking “Have a Heart Day’ appointments for a full day, noon-8 pm; we talked with Heather from Illusions at the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce lunch on Wednesday, and she said there are still some appointments available – call 206-938-3675 to snag yours.
We now know more about the man who died after falling from the drillship Kulluk at Vigor Shipyards on Harbor Island last Friday. The Kitsap Sun published a followup last night, identifying him as 39-year-old William “Bull” Ben Shelby of Bremerton. There’s a memorial service for him in Silverdale tomorrow. Though there was no name in our story published Friday, his sister in Iowa added comments on Saturday thanking other commenters for their well-wishes, and adding, “I want to thank the firemen, paramedics and everyone else who worked so hard to try to save my brother’s life. Thank you for trying.”
Just four months after opening, the Corner Store and Deli in The Triangle is closed. The white and red posted flyers on the left side of the door are eviction notices and court documents that just turned up.
As some WSB’ers had pointed out in notes asking about the store’s status, it hadn’t been open much, if at all, lately; we don’t recall seeing its doors open for at least a week and a half. The space at 4415 Fauntleroy Way SW had previously long been known as Tervo’s Mini-Mart.
3:32 PM: A worker at Vigor Shipyards on Harbor Island died after a 100-foot fall this afternoon, according to this KING5.com report. The Seattle Fire 911 log shows a medic “7-per response,” generally an indication of a major injury or medical situation, to Vigor’s address on 16th SW at 12:19 pm. We’re seeking more information.
ADDED 3:53 PM: Our partners at the Seattle Times say workplace-safety investigators are on the scene.
ADDED 4:26 PM: Steve Hirsh, Vigor spokesperson, tells WSB: “A Vigor Shipyards employee was fatally injured shortly after noon today while at work on the drill rig ‘Kulluk.’ Vigor immediately instituted a safety stand-down at all of our facilities while we and safety officials thoroughly investigate the tragic accident.” The Kulluk has been at Vigor for work since midsummer.
New Admiral District business Mind Unwind – “a playground for the creative imagination” – is hosting its first class tomorrow, and there’s room left, proprietor Krystal Kelley tells us tonight. The class is “The Art of Soup”; the teacher, one of West Seattle’s best-known soup purveyors, Amber Bennett of Freshy’s Coffee. Five spots are left for the 4-7 pm class; registration info is here.
Story and photos by Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
If all goes well, a corner store will open next month at Delridge and Findlay.
Look closely at the upper right corner of the mural on its north side, and you will see its name: Martin’s Way.
As in, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. And that is your first hint that this is not just intended to be a store.
From the outside, it doesn’t look like one, and that’s exactly what proprietor Vik Puri intends.
We sat down with him this week to talk about Martin’s Way, its beginnings, and eventual hopes.
This is a labor of love for Vik and his partner Nikhi. As he tells it, that’s about all they have to put into it right now. It’s been in the works a long time, with a shortage of capital. But on the other hand, there are partnerships at its foundation – including the nonprofit that operates a day care immediately behind the building, a source of neighborhood mystery and intrigue as it was built a few years back.
Been wondering if your favorite grocery store will sell liquor when privatization takes full effect? Since the initiative passed last November, we’ve been watching the liquor-license applications online to see when private retailers will start seeking licenses. This week, the first two in West Seattle have turned up: QFC is applying for “spirits retailer” licenses for the Junction and Westwood stores, part of a raft of permit applications for many QFC stores around the county (we only monitor King County applications, so we don’t know about the rest of the region). Fred Meyer stores, owned by Kroger like QFC, also are seeking “spirits retailer” licenses, including the closest one to West Seattle (1st Avenue South in Burien). Private retail sales of liquor will be legal in our state starting June 1st.
Inbetween regular meetings, West Seattle Chamber of Commerce members gather for “After-Hours” events at local businesses – and tonight, board member Kirk Mead (left, with president Dave Montoure) played host at the new Umpqua Bank branch of which he is general manager, next to Admiral Safeway. Here’s the smiling staff:
On the immediate horizon for the Chamber – next Tuesday is the deadline to get nominations in for this year’s Westside Awards. The nomination form and more info can be found on this page of the Chamber’s website.
| 9 COMMENTS