West Seattle, Washington
15 Monday
Two biznotes about sales happening today:
END-OF-SEASON WATERCRAFT/GEAR SALE: Today is the first day of a three-day sale by Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest:
We have a variety of used kayaks, paddle boards, and accessories available at amazing prices. The event will also include on-water demos and a chance for the community to buy and sell their own watercraft.
Alki Kayak Tours’ End-of-Season Boat Swap & Gear Sale! Join us Friday, Sat, Sun (Sept. 12th,13th & 14th) for amazing deals on gently used & consigned kayaks, paddle boards, paddles, life jackets, and more! (wet suits, dry suits & paddle clothes, etc. as well as 25% off select new gear and merchandise). Don’t miss out on this opportunity to save big and gear up to explore the breathtaking Pacific Northwest waterways!
When: Fri 9/12 12:00-6:00
Sat 9/13 10:00-6:00
Sun 9/14 11:00-6:00Where: Alki Kayak Tours
1660 Harbor Ave SW
‘NAME YOUR PRICE’ JUNK SALE: Razzie’s Junk Removal, at the former Tony’s Market (35th/Barton), is selling off some of what it’s collected, to celebrate its 1-year anniversary. Stop by before 4 pm today.
Proprietor Raz Vorng explains, “Most of the items come from customers’ homes. A lot of these things are stil in good condition and I can’t see myself tossing it out, owners simply wanted them gone. Normally I donate everything to nonprofits, but recently they asked me to pause since they’ve been overwhelmed with donations. Because of that, I’ve started setting aside the good items we collect.” And today, they’re available for purchase, you name the price.
On Sundays we often mention notable stories expected in the week ahead. This time around – West Seattle will see its second drugstore closure in two weeks. The Walgreens store at 9456 16th SW announced last month that it’s closing as of Wednesday, September 10. No reason was given, but we had noted a month earlier that the building’s owner had listed it for sale (and it doesn’t appear to have sold yet). If you’ve been a customer at this Walgreens and haven’t taken other action, the company says it’ll transfer your prescription to the High Point Walgreens, which will remain open. The other local drugstore that closed was the Westwood Village Rite Aid, two weeks ago, less than a mile away, the only one of four Rite Aid-owned West Seattle drugstores that was shut down instead of converting to CVS.
6:31 PM: Just went over to check the closure signage. It says the store and pharmacy both will close at noon Wednesday.
Three biznotes today:
SAUNA ON THE SHORE: Alki already has one, and now another West Seattle beach park will be getting regular visits from a mobile sauna. Good Day Sauna is owned by Julia Winter and based in West Seattle. She explains: is a
Beginning September 20, 2025, our sauna will be stationed at Lincoln Park for scheduled events, located along the beach path to offer guests a seamless heat-up and cool-down experience with direct access to Puget Sound.
As demand grows, we plan to increase our presence and establish a regular schedule at the park. Good Day Sauna operates as a community sauna, with individual seats available for booking to encourage shared wellness and connection.
Julia has online booking for Good Day Sauna at gooddaysauna.com.
IN PIZZA WE CRUST UPDATE: This pizza joint long in the works for the former Swinery at 3207 California SW is getting closer to opening, proprietor Stephanie Tran told us when we inquired for the first time in four months: “We are finally making some headway. The city of Seattle finally approved our change of use permit last week and we are now pending our final inspection with the health department. I don’t have an official date yet as I’m waiting for the health department but we’ll likely open a couple weeks after the inspection.”
PANDA EXPRESS CEREMONY: One day after the Westwood Village Panda Express started serving customers with a “soft open,” they had a grand-opening ceremony this morning. We met manager Sophia – who has worked her way up through the ranks at other Puget Sound locations – and regional director Simon – they’re holding the commemorative T-shirt given to the first 88 guests:
Simon thanked the 20 or so people in line and introduced the Inochi Taiko duo:
West Seattle Chamber of Commerce executive director Rachel Porter coordinated the official ribboncutting:
Other businesses with future openings at WWV include J.Crew Factory, a UPS Store, an H&R Block branch, and F45 Training.
Two name-change followups:
ADMIRAL CVS: West Seattle is now officially without a Bartell Drugs store. The third local drugstore to become a CVS, the ex-Bartell in Admiral, reopened today under the new name. WSB’s Hayden Yu Andersen reports that it’s open but still in transition, as all the parking-lot activity suggests:
The Jefferson Square ex-Bartell made the same changeover last week.
MECHANICS BANK: As previously reported, this Northern California-based bank has taken over HomeStreet Bank, and now that it’s official, they’re commenting on how it will affect West Seattle customers. Bottom line: It mostly won’t. A Mechanics Bank spokesperson confirmed to us that the West Seattle Junction branch (and all other former HomeStreet branches) will remain open, that the staff will be the same, and the hours/days will be the same. Any products/services changing? That reply: “Generally speaking, there are no changes. Customer accounts and services will remain unchanged. As we prepare to integrate systems (sometime in early 2026), we will provide advance information about any future changes to products and services.”
As mentioned here last week, HomeStreet Bank becomes part of Bay Area-based Mechanics Bank as of tomorrow, and while in The Junction this afternoon, we noted the signage is up at 4022 SW Alaska. Both companies have century-plus histories, but their branches have been in different areas, so there’s no overlap here or elsewhere, we’re told. Before the name change, what was then HomeStreet had one last event:
(Bank-provided photo)
The branch had been showcasing local independent businesses every month, closing out the month with a drawing – this month’s showcase featured M & M Balloon Co.
Quick updates:
WENDY’S WHITE CENTER: We just went over to 10050 16th SW to see if they indeed made their “target date” of today. A worker outside told us no, they’re not open yet, but aiming for “tomorrow after lunch.” We’re awaiting an official reply from the franchisee. (Signage wasn’t up yet either.)
PANDA EXPRESS COUNTDOWN, SORT OF: When last we heard from Panda Express about the Westwood Village location, they were hoping for “the week of September 8.” Then a sign went up three days ago (as noted by a commenter) declaring “coming soon – 4 days.” The sign then switched to “3 days.” But we just checked on our way back from White Center, and it’s been stuck on “3 days” for two days now.
ELSEWHERE IN WESTWOOD VILLAGE: The fourth year of Spirit Halloween temporarily taking over the ex-Bed Bath and Beyond has begun – they’re now open.
LAST DAY BEFORE MOVE: And a reminder, also in the south end: Today is the last day for The Missing Piece Café and Game Lounge at its original 35th/Roxbury location. As first noted here in May, they’re moving to the ex-Pharmaca space in The Junction, 4707 California SW, next to Emerald Water Anglers and KeyBank. The Missing Piece hopes to be open there “the second week of September” if all goes well. (No word yet about a 35th/Roxbury successor.)
This Thursday, Hotwire Coffee (4410 California SW) celebrates its 23rd anniversary, and as is often the case with business anniversaries, customers get the gift(s). Hotwire will offer 23 percent off everything on its menu that day, and plans to serve a limited-edition “23 Latte” to celebrate (with touches of brown sugar, Madagascar vanilla, and cinnamon). Proprietor Jeffrey Silva says the shop will be open 6:30 am to 5 pm that day (September 4).
By the tie we visited Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) this afternoon, founder/proprietor Frank Gross already had been dunked about 20 times as part of a soggy sideline during their one-day holiday-weekend sale and West Seattle Food Bank benefit. Appropriately enough, the guy who dunked Frank in our video was Rob from Gretsch Guitars, which donated this Gretsch ’57 Duo Jet guitar for another highlight of sale day, a raffle:
Frank is looking forward to more dunking – he insists it’s “refreshing” every time – with the dunkers so far even including his own kids, who he reports were extra-enthusiastic about dunking Dad. One way to get your turn is to bring nonperishable food for this West Seattle Food Bank bin in the shop:
Even better, buy a guitar, pedal, or amplifier – not only do you get three shots at dunking Frank, you’ll also be helping WSFB, because he’s donating 10 percent of sale-day proceeds. The tank is behind the store, and Frank notes that the dunking idea came from a staff member, adding that it wasn’t as hard to find a dunk tank as you might think – they found a rental business that deals in “unusual things” and they just happened to have one. This is all set to continue until 6 pm.
Multiple readers have asked about that big drill rig that’s appeared between ActivSpace and West Coast Self-Storage toward the south end of Harbor Avenue SW. A map check showed it’s parked on property belonging to West Coast Self-Storage (3252 Harbor Ave SW), so we checked in with WCSS’s manager Crystal this afternoon. She said the equipment is there as part of the work of completing their facility, which has been built in phases. She said the final phase includes one more building. The construction permit filed with the city shows the building at a new address, 3300 Harbor Ave SW, and having 3 stories with a mix of parking and storage, but does not have a count on the number of self-storage units. The storage facility on the site to the north has 852 units. Crystal told WSB there shouldn’t be any traffic impacts during construction aside from trucks entering and leaving the property. West Coast Self Storage has been open at the Harbor Avenue location since August of 2020.
Three West Seattle business notes:
BANK CHANGES: Today is the last day that the Junction bank at 4022 SW Alaska will be HomeStreet Bank. HomeStreet’s merger “with and into” Mechanics Bank takes effect at the start of business Tuesday (September 2). Each bank has a century-plus history; Mechanics Bank is headquartered in the Bay Area city of Walnut Creek, while HomeStreet is headquartered in Seattle. HomeStreet (a longtime WSB sponsor) is declining comment on operational specifics until after the takeover is official on Tuesday. HomeStreet has been in West Seattle since buying what previously was an AmericanWest Bank branch in 2013. (Side note: The HomeStreet-to-Mechanics change follows another recent West Seattle bank-name change – what was the Umpqua Bank branch near Admiral Safeway is now Columbia Bank. We’re told this was a side effect of Columbia, which owns Umpqua, acquiring Pacific Premier.)
THE MISSING PIECE UPDATE: We’ve been reporting since May on The Missing Piece‘s plan to move the café/gaming store/lounge from 35th/Roxbury to California/Alaska (the empty-for-three-years ex-Pharmaca space, next to KeyBank and Emerald Water Anglers). We checked in with proprietor Eric to see if the move was still on schedule. He tells WSB, “Our last day at the current location is this Monday, September 1st. We are running a 10% off moving sale all weekend on games and accessories.” As for The Missing Piece’s opening date in The Junction, depending on how inspections go, he’s hoping for the second week in September.
ART GARDEN OPENING WEEKEND: Artist/teacher Shelley Irish is opening The Art Garden in Gatewood’s artist hub The Building with an open house this weekend. Her announcement:
West Seattle will soon have a new creative oasis. The Art Garden, home to Sprouts Studio (for children and teens) and the Imagination Haven (for adults to take a freaking break) will open its doors for a special Open Studio Weekend on Saturday, August 30, and Sunday, August 31, from 11 AM to 2 PM each day.
This free, family-friendly event invites the community to explore the space, meet artist and teacher Shelley Irish, and experience the power of art as both play and personal growth. Hands-on creative activities will be available for all ages, with supplies provided.
What: Art Garden Open House Weekend
When: Sat & Sun, August 30–31, 2025 | 11 AM–2 PM each day
Where: West Seattle – 4316 SW Othello St. (2nd floor)
Who: All ages welcome — free admission, materials provided
Activities: Mini art projects, studio tours, refreshments, community connectionMore Info & RSVP: shelleyirish.com
(WSB photos)
By Anne Higuera
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
There is a flurry of activity in the Jefferson Square parking lot today, with containers being unloaded ahead of the reopening of the former Bartell Drugs as a CVS Pharmacy store tomorrow.
The store is closed today, as dozens of workers tote up inventory, bring in display cases, and change over the computer systems. Assistant Manager Ryan tells WSB all of the staff is continuing to work in the store, including the pharmacists. As we previously reported, prescriptions that have been handled by Bartells will be moved to CVS automatically. The store will also start to accept the CVS reward card, though Ryan said depending on how the system switchover goes, that may not happen on day one.
What may take a little longer is all the training that staff will need, and Ryan asked customers for patience. “We’ll be relearning a lot of stuff,” he says, and having the help of CVS managers for the first few weeks. At the end of that time, he also expects more inventory to start arriving. “When we get more product, we’ll be busier,” which means more options for customers. “Working with more products is nice for everyone.”
He’s expecting more variety and more seasonal items, but it’s unclear how much the Bartell and CVS inventories will overlaps. Ryan did say that after they reopen tomorrow, selected items will be on sale, as much as 75 percent off.
CVS at Jefferson Square will be open tomorrow starting at 9 am and follow the same open hours as Bartells did.
The Admiral Bartell Drugs store is scheduled for a similar transition next week, as we first reported two months ago. Staff there tells WSB today that the store will close at noon Tuesday (September 2) and will reopen Wednesday (September 3) as CVS. Part of one aisle has selected Rite Aid-branded items at a 90 percent discount right now.
We’re told the Admiral staff is staying on, too. This will be the third and final West Seattle drugstore taken over by CVS as a result of the Rite Aid bankruptcy; the Westwood Village Rite Aid was not acquired, and closed permanently earlier this week.
The facade signage is gone and that hand-lettered sign on the door confirms that the only Rite Aid-owned West Seattle drugstore NOT converting to a CVS is officially closed. We first reported two months ago that the Westwood Village Rite Aid store would be closed as of today; the center’s owners have listed the space as available for lease, but no hint of a new tenant so far.
Of the other three Rite Aid-owned West Seattle drugstores, the former RA on California SW has already converted to a CVS; the two Bartell Drugs stores are set to do so within the next two weeks. Meantime, the South Delridge Walgreens – kitty-corner from the closed-and-sold ex-White Center Bartell store – is set to close September 10, as we first reported earlier this month.
Thunder Road Guitars (6400 California SW; WSB sponsor) has an upcoming end-of-summer sale with a twist – actually two: It’s donating part of the proceeds on Saturday, August 30, to the West Seattle Food Bank, while putting TRG proprietor Frank Gross in a dunk tank! Here’s the announcement, in video and text:
Announcing the Thunder Road Summer “Dunk Frank in the Tank” Event. Join us Saturday, August 30th, for amazing one-day-only deals and your chance to win a FREE Gretsch ’57 Duo Jet courtesy of our friends at Gretsch Guitars.
We decided to partner with the West Seattle Food Bank for this event and will be donating 10% of our sales on the 30th to the food bank. We are also going to have Frank in a dunk tank all day…. Just how do you dunk Frank in the tank, you ask? Bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the West Seattle Food Bank or purchase a guitar, amplifier, or pedal. Either one of those gets you 3 throws at our fearless leader and a limited TRG shirt for the event (while supplies last). So join us August 30th, 12-6 pm, for a day of insane deals and help us raise some money for the WS Food Bank.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Uncertainty.
That’s the word that arose again and again during a West Seattle small-business roundtable discussion this afternoon, led by Seattle Port Commission president Toshiko Hasegawa with state Commerce Department director Joe Nguyen. They talked at Gary’s Place on Alki with the arcade’s owners Elyssa and Matt Cichy, Greg Whittaker of Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) and Alki Kayak Tours, Dave McCoy of Emerald Water Anglers, Julie Mierzwiak of Realfine Coffee, Dan McKisson of the International Longshore & Warehouse Union, Rachel Porter of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, Chris Mackay of the West Seattle Junction Association, and Jordan Crawley, who operates Alki Beach Academy and is on the WSCC board.
The purpose of the by-invitation gathering was to find out how tariffs are affecting small local businesses. This is how it began, starting with an explanation by Lindsay Wolpa of the Northwest Seaport Alliance, the cargo-shipping joint port authority of Seattle and Tacoma – and continuing with remarks by Hasegawa – whose port presidency also means she’s co-chair of the alliance’s managing members – and Nguyen:
The uncertainty really hits hard as businesses try to plan in advance, not knowing what will be happening, how things will be changing, how prices will be changing. You can get some of the sense of that listening to this excerpt of the conversation, starting with Whittaker, whose shop focuses on seasonal merchandise – mountain and water gear:
McCoy said he deals with about 140 vendors, and around 120 of them have raised prices from three to 11 percent “since the tariff war began.” Some have tried to absorb it, but have warned that they eventually will have to pass it on. And less revenue for businesses, because of higher costs, means less money to employ people. McCoy, whose shop is focused on fishing and other outdoor gear and apparel, said “volume” is all that’s been keeping him afloat.
The tariff situation isn’t just a matter of one country here and one country there – McCoy and Whittaker talked about merchandise made with materials from a multitude of countries: “It’s so complex, I don’t feel like I have any control.”
For the Cichys, buying what they need to run arcades is a challenge too. “We’re blowing our budget to get what we need,” said Elyssa. Matt added, “We don’t know what kind of price increase we’re going to face. … It’s stressful.” So far, they are trying to avoid passing price increases through to their customers. “We’re trying to make an accessible place for everyone.”
It’s not only about prices/costs, observed some of the participants. “Uncertainty decreases innovation,” Whittaker said.
Hasegawa and Nguyen asked the business owners what kind of resources they use to find out about tariffs, about loan/grant opportunities, and other information vital to keeping their doors open. The two business organizations represented at the gathering – the Chamber of Commerce and the Junction Association – talked about how they try to help their members with that.
But ultimately, it would be ideal if this weren’t happening at all, said Nguyen: “What’s frustrating is that this is all so unnecessary.”
Further up the supply chain, McKisson talked about how longshore workers are affected. Port cargo traffic has been “volatile,” it was noted earlier, and that volatility translates into work uncertainty for those whose jobs depend on shipping.
He wasn’t the only one who talked about how the situation has affected employees – their wages don’t go so far because of the rising prices in the greater economy, and they have to focus on essentials, maybe even get a second job. Hasegawa expressed admiration for their efforts to keep their businesses going and keep their staffs employed. “So much resilience,” she observed, then asking: What kind of community support are you getting/giving?
Business owners talked about encouraging customers to support other local businesses too, trying to find ways to help people understand the importance. Business organization leaders spoke about the events they’ve organized to bring people into local businesses, such as The Junction’s festivals and Wine Walks.
When a chance for media Q&A arose at the end, we asked Hasegawa what she planned to do with/about all the stories she’d heard during the roundtable. She said the port and NWSA are continuing to directly communicate with the federal government about the effects that tariffs and other policies are having, and that’ll also happen during a trip next month to D.C.
But ultimately, local advocacy and support will make the biggest difference, Nguyen suggested: “We can’t control what happens in the White House, but we can control what happens in our neighborhoods.”
Il Nido, the restaurant that operates in the landmark Alki Homestead/Fir Lodge building at 2717 61st SW, has just announced a temporary closure for emergency repairs. Here’s the announcement they sent us to share with you:
Dear Il Nido guests: We are closing Tuesday, August 26th to Monday, September 1st for emergency repairs to our kitchen floor. Please pardon this inconvenience, it is always our pleasure to welcome guests, but this is an unavoidable occurrence. We are hoping to reopen on Tuesday, September 2nd.
If you would like to help us reopen Il Nido by purchasing a Gift Card online, we would love your support! Your purchase will cover costs for labor, food, and beverages as we finish repairs. Once we reopen, redeem your Gift Card for dinner with us. Despite being busy, our margins are slim and this closure is financially challenging. We aim to complete repairs quickly without borrowing money. Many Seattle restaurants have closed recently, highlighting industry challenges. The Il Nido team values being part of the West Seattle community and wants to keep welcoming you to the historic Fir Lodge cabin.
Cameron Williams & Chef Katie Gallego
Il Nido Restaurant at the Alki Homestead
Owners-Partners
(The hard-hat crows are a reference to the restaurant’s logo, which includes a crow; “Il Nido” is Italian for “the nest.”)
Need material for an outdoor project before the colder, darker season rolls in? West Seattle Landscape & Stone Supply (WSB sponsor) wants to share the news that they’ve upgraded their online ordering for you:
West Seattle Landscape & Stone Supply keeps growing!
Paul here with West Seattle Landscape & Stone Supply to tell you that our website keeps growing. Your best option for bulk material delivery, keeps getting easier!
-Up-front pricing on every product by the cubic yard or ton
-Filter & sort our entire catalog by type, price, color, and size
-Estimate quantities with confidence; every product page shows coverages per yard or yields per ton
-Request your materials with a few clicks, no commitment necessary, totally free!
-See for yourself at www.westseattlestone.comPaul & Jeff still do old-school customer service by following up with you to confirm everything and answer any questions you have before we set up payment and your delivery appointment.
There’s still plenty of beautiful summer weather left, so grab your shovel and get in touch – we’re ready to rock & roll!
With gratitude,
Paul & Jeff206-763-7625 | wslandscapesupply@gmail.com
A reader texted us over the weekend to say, “Looks like Nucor is getting a dark green paint job. Looks great!” No photo, so we went over to have a look late today. Our photo shows the south side of the steel-recycling mill, along SW Andover, visible from West Seattle Health Club. We asked a spokesperson for Nucor (which is a WSB sponsor) about the repainting – here’s what we heard back:
We are in the midst of painting the buildings at our local mill this summer and anticipate doing an additional round of painting next year, including building roofs. This investment is part of our overall work to maintain our mill responsibly for our teammates and our neighbors. We chose green to help reflect the character of our neighborhood. The last time the mill was painted was about a decade ago and it was time for a fresh coat. We look forward to making additional investments at the mill, like the removal of the old, decommissioned smokestacks and the current painting project.
We reported on the smokestack removal back in May.
P.S. The repainting’s not done yet, so you can still see the previous beige-ish color on part of the building.
(WSB photo, earlier today)
Behind those doors, the Menashe and Sons Jewelers owners and staff were working today to get ready to reopen tomorrow for the first time since Thursday’s high-noon smash-and-grab robbery, shown on security video the family-owned shop has released:
They were working today on inventory, continuing to catalog what had been stolen so police would have photos to circulate. The shop stressed in a statement on Friday that no jewelry or watches left by customers for service had been taken. They plan to be open 10:30 am to 5 pm tomorrow.
Meantime, we asked SPD if they had any updates on the investigation – short answer, no; longer answer, they say they’ll “release information when/if arrests are made.” If you have tip(s), the hotline is 206-233-5000 and the incident # is 25-233180.
From Jade Nguyen, proprietor of recently reopened Bonjour Vietnam and adjacent speakeasy The Alley in The Junction, where Be’s Restaurant – operated by her mom – used to be:
To our West Seattle Neighbors, Family & Friends
(WSB photo, 2020)
For those who remember Be’s, it was a cherished diner in the neighborhood since 1986. Built by Be herself, and for decades it was more than just a diner – it was a home. She created a space where strangers became regulars, and regulars became family. Since her retirement, her daughter had introduced a new vision, bringing Vietnamese cuisine to the space while honoring that same spirit of connection.
In recent years, Be’s health declined, and it is with heavy hearts that we share her passing.
As we honor her memory, we’ll be rebranding and looking ahead to continue serving the community she loved so dearly. We appreciate your kindness and patience as we take time to grieve this loss.
With love and gratitude,
Bonjour Vietnam, formerly Be’s
We will be hosting a casual Celebration of Life September 14 , 6 pm, 4509 California Ave SWIn honor of my mom’s favorite pastime, we will be hosting karaoke at 8 pm
Regarding the rebranding, Jade adds, “I am planning to rename the business back to Be’s, in honor of her memory.”
Those are the winners in this summer’s first West Seattle scavenger hunt, Summer Scramble, coordinated again this year by Alice Kuder as a way to have fun and support independent local businesses. Today Alice sent us the wrapup report!
More than 175 West Seattleites participated in the 3rd Annual Summer Scramble Treasure Hunt from July 31st to August 3rd. Young and old, families and individuals, long-time residents and newbies, all reported experiencing fun and laughter while making lasting memories. In all, 58 teams submitted 232 selfies to compete for four treasure chests.
Contents of the chests were donated by these generous (and playful) business owners (listed in alphabetical order):
Angora Rugs & Decor – 4517 California Ave SW
Charcuterie by Annalise – 6032-B California Ave SW
Fine Baking Company – 6969 California Ave SW
Good Sister – 6059 California Ave SW
Great American Diner & Bar – 4752 California Ave SW
Hagosa’s House – 4800 Delridge Way SW
Inner Space Design – 6031-B California Ave SW
Just in Case, Disaster Preparedness – justincaseplans.com
Neighborhood Restaurant and Bar – 6503 Calif Ave SW
Nepenthe Massage – 9447 35th Ave SW
Panterelli’s Patisserie – 4210 SW Alaska St
Seattle Style Salon – 7350 35th Ave SW
Snapdragon Bakery – 4500 California Ave WA
Space Bar Wellness – 2705 California Ave SW
West Seattle Runner – 2743 California Ave SW
Willow West Seattle – 4536 California Ave SWThe above-named businesses joined the more than 100 local businesses that have supported the eight Scavenger Hunts I have sponsored in the past five years. One more reason to declare that West Seattle is the Best Seattle!
Please show these fabulous merchants your appreciation for their presence in our neighborhoods by patronizing their shops. Shopping locally really does strengthen our community.
This year, the non-business clue sites were all designated Emergency Communication Hubs. If you aren’t aware of the hubs, I encourage you to check them out so you know where to go for information when a natural disaster happens.
*Pictured above* are the four teams who won the treasure chests through a combination of solving the clues, sending in selfies, and being chosen in a random drawing of others who did the same. From left to right, the team names are: Mad Hunters; Thompson Team; Super Squid Muffins; and Lucy & Annie’s Big Adventure.
If you weren’t able to participate in Summer Scramble as it was happening, you can still download the clue sheet and map and Scramble on your own. The free downloads are available at wondersinaliceland.com.
The 4th Annual Summer Scramble will happen July 30-Aug. 2, 2026. And don’t miss the 6th Annual Winter Wander Scavenger Hunt, coming Dec. 5-14.
(Filigree & Shadow’s James Elliott, in 2023 WSB photo)
Filigree & Shadow (WSB sponsor) is a unique West Seattle business – proprietor James Elliott creates fragrances, in a studio south of The Junction. He’s announced his studio will close at the end of September because the building’s been sold, so you are running out of time to make an appointment to visit. Here’s the announcement he sent us:
It has been a joy to welcome so many of you into the space over the years, whether you came in to discover a new fragrance, attend a workshop, or simply share your love of perfume. West Seattle has been a wonderful home for Filigree & Shadow, and I’m deeply grateful for the support, encouragement, and friendship this community has shown me. I’ve always loved being able to share my fragrances — and the fragrance collections of my friends and colleagues around the world — and to help demystify the art of perfume, making it more accessible. Thank you, everyone, for coming along with me on this journey of smelling what often seemed impossible possible.
If you would like to visit before closing, I encourage you to schedule an appointment in September, as availability will be limited. Orders placed through the website will continue to be fulfilled until the closing date of September 30, 2025.
Thank you for being part of this chapter of my journey. The experiences I’ve had here have given me the confidence to look forward to what comes next, and I hope the fragrances created in this studio continue to bring you joy for years to come.
James opened this studio 2 1/2 years ago, after seven years in business online.
(WSB photo, Thursday)
One day after the noontime smash-and-grab robbery that police say netted $2 million in merchandise in 90 seconds, Menashe and Sons Jewelers in The Junction asked us to publish this new statement with a revised reopening date:
To our valued customers and community,
We want to assure you that all customer jewelry and watches are safe and were not among the items taken during the recent robbery at our store.
Your trust means everything to us, and we are grateful to share this important news with you.
As we work to assess, regroup, and repair the damage done, Menashe & Sons will be closed on Friday, Saturday, and Monday.
We will reopen on Tuesday, August 19th, ready to serve you with the same care and dedication you’ve come to expect.
We are deeply thankful for the outpouring of support from the West Seattle community and from all those who have reached out with kind words and encouragement.
Your support means the world to us during this difficult time.
Thank you for being so understanding and continued trust.
We look forward to welcoming you back soon — stronger than ever.
Warm regards,
The Menashe & Sons Family
The robbery carried out by four masked robbers armed with hammers followed two crash-and-grab attacks on two other Junction businesses in the previous week (August 7 and August 8). The Menashes’ store was hit in the same way on Christmas Eve 2022. So far, no updates from police on the investigation of Thursday’s robbery; 206-233-5000 is the SPD tipline, and 25-233180 is the incident number.
The Mariners‘ celebration of Ichiro‘s induction into the Baseball Hall of Fame brought other M’s legends back to Seattle, including another Hall of Famer, Randy Johnson, whose visit included a trip to Easy Street Records, according to the photo and anecdote sent to us by ESR proprietor Matt Vaughan:
Randy “Big Unit” Johnson made a visit to his favorite record shop . He was in town to celebrate Ichiro. He went on to tell us, “Did you know that for every home game I was wearing a rock tee under my jersey, usually always Soundgarden.” We let him pick out the playlist for an hour…Pearl Jam, Alice In Chains, Soundgarden, Queensryche, Rush, Led Zeppelin, Black Sabbath.
Randy was the most dominant and intimidating baseball pitcher of his era. 2 No-Hitters, World Series MVP, Perfect Game at age 40, Baseball Hall of Fame, multiple All-Star appearances, 22 seasons !
Go Mariners!
The “Big Unit” also posted a photo from his Easy Street visit here. (Matt says the men with him in the photo above are “local boys Josh and Noah Lange.”
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