By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Two months after the owner of the West Seattle (Athletic) Club fitness center filed for personal bankruptcy, he and his landlord were in court today because an order to pay part of the club rent hadn’t been complied with.

As the club is a major West Seattle business with thousands of customers, community interest in its status remains high, so we’ve been following the bankruptcy-court-case filings – almost 100 of them – since Sam Adams and wife Erika Adams filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in late June (reported here on June 30th).

Today’s hearing was not the first held for various motions since then, but it’s the first one we have attended. Sam Adams and John Pietromonaco, owner of the club’s North Delridge site and building, were both in the downtown federal courtroom as their lawyers argued a key point relating to the three-week-old order for rent to be paid.

First, a bit of background:

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Four West Seattle biznotes tonight:

AUSTRALIAN WINEMAKER VISITING: This Friday night at The Cask (WSB sponsor), 7-9 pm, acclaimed Australian winemaker Daniel Binet from Ballabourneen Winery is visiting for a “Meet the Winemaker” event. Ballabourneen describes Binet as, in addition to winemaker, “entertainer, bon vivant and inspiration behind the wines, creativity and culture of the company.” (See his bio here.) Stop by the Cask at 2350 California SW Friday night to say hi and try his wine.

FORMER SHOOFLY PIE SPACE: The state’s liquor-license application announcements give a hint of what’s on the way for the space vacated when Shoofly closed earlier this month – a license application is in for that address, 4444 California SW, in the name Coastline, and the applicant is Aaron Shepherd, proprietor of Copper Coin in Admiral. We have a message out seeking more information.

CHERRY CONSIGNMENT CHANGE: Just up the street from there, Cherry Consignment proprietor Nyla says her store at 4142 California SW will be exclusively focused on women’s wear and accessories as of next month, and that she plans “to expand our current selection of gently used garments to include more plus, petite, and maternity sizes.” This means they’ll no longer accept men’s clothing for consignment as of August 31st.

ALKI SEAGULL MERCH AT NEW LOCATIONS: Misa e-mailed to say Mountain to Sound Outfitters in The Triangle and Alki Kayak Tours at Seacrest are “now carrying the Alki bird (seagull logo) merchandise including the classic bumper stickers, T’s, sweatshirts, and hats.” People ask often where they can find these items, so that’s word of two more options.

Another West Seattle retailer has just added a location downtown, but wants you to know it’s NOT leaving WS. >Fleurt (WSB sponsor) proprietor Sam Crowley explains:

Many have reached out to me after hearing Fleurt is closing in West Seattle and moving to Pioneer Square – as Clementine is doing. This is NOT true for Fleurt – Fleurt West Seattle is open and there are no plans to close this shop. Fleurt West Seattle is our “home” and flagship store. We are constantly growing our business in the areas of retail gifts, flower deliveries, full service flower shop, weddings and events. We are truly grateful to all our customers for their loyalty, love, and support for the past 4 years, and we look forward to many more years.

This Thursday (August 21st) is Fleurt Pioneer Square’s grand-opening party (112 S. Washington), from 5 pm to 7 pm.

Lately, we’ve reported on a few local businesses closing without warning. Tonight, we have advance notice from a local business that is planning a temporary closure for “freshening” and promises it WILL reopen. From Linda Sabee, proprietor of Carmilia’s in The Junction:

This November will be our twelve-year anniversary and over these many years, I’ve seen much change in our beloved West Seattle Junction. I’m a long-time West Seattle resident and opened Carmilia’s because I love this neighborhood and saw a need for a contemporary fashion resource in our shopping district.

When we opened, Carmilia’s was the only modern fashion offering in our ‘hood’. Shortly thereafter came Sweetie, followed by Edie’s and finally Clementine. It’s been a sad display of a contracting shopping district to watch these other shops close one by one and either quit the business entirely, or move on to more thriving shopping destinations in the Seattle area. As the pioneer for fashion in West Seattle, I am determined to stay in the business of dressing the women of West Seattle and anyone else who visits our wonderful neighborhood.

Carmilia’s will be closing and papering up our windows starting Sunday, August 17, to do some painting and general freshening up. Historically, the latter part of August is quite slow, so we’re clearing out as much of our summer and spring inventory this weekend to prepare for our projects. We will reopen the end of August, full of fall inventory and with a fresh look. I hope for the continued and hopefully re-energized support of this community of shoppers.

Linda is planning a September 4th party but expects the shop to reopen before then and promises to update us when there’s an idea of a date.

P.S. Of the shops she mentions, as covered here earlier: Sweetie shut down in 2013; Edie’s closed its WS shoe shop last winter but remains open on Capitol Hill; Clementine announced last month it’s moving to Pioneer Square by next month. (Photo: King County Assessor website)

Today, we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor: West Seattle Window and Door, owned by Joseph Miller (right), a West Seattle resident. Joseph grew up in Seattle belonging to a family with a passion for remodeling, music and the arts. Joe’s father, Jerry Miller, lead guitar player for the legendary San Francisco rock band Moby Grape, shared his love for music and film with little Joe. This led to Joseph’s love for music; he later started his own band, Open Blue.

While finishing his degree at the University of Washington, Joseph wanted to carry on the tradition of making the neighborhoods in Seattle energy efficient and beautiful. With this passion he decided to start West Seattle Window & Door. He is delighted to have his mom, Michan Rhodes, on board showcasing almost 30 years’ experience in replacement window/remodel consulting & design. She has been on the Northwest window & door scene for the past 28 years and has built a stunning design oriented portfolio to show for it.

Michan Rhodes began rolling little Joe and his younger brother and sisters around the neighborhood in a red Radio Flyer wagon looking at gardens and houses, visiting with neighbors, and sharing her ideas on how to beautify and restore their homes while embracing the original charm. Giving them the facelift needed for their homes, while adding energy efficiency and value, is and has always been her mission.

West Seattle Window & Door is committed to providing Homeowners, Contractors, Builders, Architects, and Designers with a high level of expertise and technical knowledge on an array of custom quality product lines at competitive prices. We will listen to your needs, discuss and interpret your distinctive style and space, and help you come up with a personally tailored design plan.

West Seattle Window & Door is a full-service company that meets with each customer one-on-one while taking direct responsibility for each project. This process has led to a steady stream of referrals. We believe you can maximize your investment without sacrificing quality or craftsmanship. Embrace what you already have without compromising your vision.

(Above: Before & after)
We offer Leaded Glass, Wood, Vinyl, Aluminum, Fiberglass, Wood Clad, Sound Reduction, Enlarged Openings, Bay Windows, Entry Doors, French Doors, and New Construction Window Packages at competitive prices. Free design consultations! All job estimates are free! We have a showroom located on Beach Drive (by appointment only). We are looking forward to moving our showroom up to one of the Junctions just as soon as the right spot presents itself. We are that West Seattle Business that supports the neighborhood & community.

West Seattle Window and Door is licensed, bonded and insured in compliance with all Washington state laws. Find WSWD online at westseattlewindows.com.

We thank West Seattle Window and Door for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

Apparently the Port of Seattle‘s now-empty stretch Terminal 5 north of the west end of the high bridge is really starting to draw notice; though we reported on the reason almost two weeks ago, we’ve received a flurry of inquiries about it this weekend. So in case you missed the story too: Terminal 5 is empty because it’s closed. Its last ship arrived on July 23rd – here’s the story we published that day. Port commissioners have approved some funding to plan a modernization project, but completing it will require nine-figure spending and they haven’t started to discuss where that might come from. Meantime, the line that used T-5 is now sailing to and from Tacoma, while other cargo operations that were using it have been consolidated where the port had room.

(WSB photo, July 13th)
Ever since the closure of Admiralty House Antiques one year ago, the fate and future of 2141 California SW has been a subject of much interest. Two weeks ago, the 1920s-built brick building came out from under wraps after months of remodeling/renovation. And that’s brought in more questions about what’s going in. Today – new information, courtesy of this for-lease listing. The listing declares that an “experienced restaurant operator” is being sought for the larger of the two spaces into which it was divided. Peeking into the listing, the accompanying flyer shows Prospect Mortgage moving into the smaller space.

Daystar Retirement Village has joined WSB as one of our newest sponsors – and here’s what they would like you to know!

Welcome to Daystar Retirement Village! We are a locally-owned-and-operated retirement community with independent and assisted living apartments located in the south end of West Seattle.

Independent living at Daystar does not mean you have to “go it alone”! Our independent residents have amenities you might find in a fine hotel included in the monthly rent at Daystar. Things like scheduled transportation, zero maintenance apartments, full appliances in independent units (including washer and dryer), and well-being checks throughout the day, are some of the services our independent residents benefit from.

For those residents who need a little extra assistance to maintain their independence, we can provide Personal Assistance Services that include numerous medical and non-medical tasks for an additional monthly fee. For all residents, we have 24-hour staffing, flexible meal plans, housekeeping, free parking, emergency call system, locked front doors with surveillance cameras, and we’re pet-friendly!

Daystar offers a variety of diverse activities. It is your choice whether you want to participate but we truly have something for everyone. Art and history classes, trips to tourist sites and local shopping, Tai Chi, ice cream socials, movies, barbeques, and wellness classes are just a small sample of what you’ll find here.

Our location is another great advantage. We are just across the street from Westwood Village, which offers multiple restaurants, a gym, a US Post Office, Starbucks, Rite Aid, Target, and numerous other amenities. We have been a member in this community since 1988; we hope you will come visit us. We have someone here to give you a personal look around Daystar every day of the week. After your visit you will understand why the folks who live here often say: It’s so good to be home! Call 206-937-6122 and/or send a note here to schedule a visit.

We thank Daystar Retirement Village for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

(WSB photo by Patrick Sand)

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

Linda Walsh has a clearance sale going right now at her West Seattle Junction shop, Clementine.

This isn’t just any old clearance sale. It’s also a moving sale: She’s leaving West Seattle and moving her shop to Pioneer Square.

It’s been eight years now since, in the early months of WSB, we noticed the “coming soon” sign on papered-over windows of what had been a tanning salon at 4447 California SW.

The shoes, handbags, and other accessories Walsh has sold in the ensuing years have received acclaim and attention citywide. Yet making a go of it as a bricks-and-mortar business in an increasingly digital world hasn’t been easy, as Walsh and the proprietor of nearby Carmilia’s, Linda Sabee, told us in this WSB story a year ago. Yet Walsh says she’s not ready to give up on in-person shopping … after eight years, she says, she feels like she finally has a handle on how things should work.

But she’s going to deploy the knowledge elsewhere soon. Walsh says her new Pioneer Square space at 310 Occidental (a former lighting store) just seems to be a better place for what she does and offers. Office workers will be there during the day. Tourists will be there during the summer.

Besides the location, her new storefront will bring a few changes – it’s bigger than her cozy Junction space, including some basement. And Walsh will change the name a bit – it will now be Clementine’s. (Her web address has always been clementines.com, anyway.)

In the meantime, the aforementioned clearance sale continues. She told us today, “I hope not to have to move a single shoe.”

She also hopes for a seamless move to the new space without much, if any, downtime, intending to open there by early September.

SIDE NOTE: Hers is the second business to announce it’s about to leave the block of California SW north of Oregon – as reported here two weeks ago, Shoofly Pie Company is closing in mid-August; no new location in this case – they say they’re just getting out of the retail business.

(WSB photo taken this morning)
Just drove through Morgan Junction near the California SW paving zone. While the east-west part of the main intersection is open, unimpeded, right now, it’s one lane each way in the actual paving zone between Fauntleroy and Holly, and that means no street parking next to the businesses on the west side of the street. On behalf of their business and others in the area, Second Gear Sports asked if we’d remind you (a) they ARE open as usual despite the road work, which is scheduled to continue until Wednesday evening, and (b) there’s still other parking you can use while you’re visiting the businesses – alongside/behind the Subway/Pet Elements/WS Vision/Starbucks building, or across California in the Thriftway or BECU ATM (etc.) lots.

The state has officially announced its first 24 licenses for recreational-marijuana sales starting tomorrow, but there’s no West Seattle shop in the first group. But the one and only Seattle shop that’s on the list isn’t far – Cannabis City, 4th and Lander in SODO. So what happened to the North Delridge location that drew top Seattle spot in the state’s license lottery, Trichome & Calyx, in the 3500 block of Delridge Way (where there’s a medical-marijuana dispensary now)? Our partners at The Seattle Times report they’re still waiting for final word from the state if that location is ruled out because of the Alki Beach Academy preschool nearby (which opened at 2414 SW Andover after the license application had been filed); KPLU‘s Gabriel Spitzer had first word last week via Twitter that the location might not work out. Other applicants for addresses in that block were the next-highest West Seattle spots in the lottery; if it’s completely ruled out, the current dispensary site at 35th/Roxbury would be next up – we’ll be checking with the state.

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

On the day he was due to answer the most-recent “unlawful detainer” complaint from the owner of the North Delridge property that holds West Seattle Athletic Club, its owner Sam Adams advised King County Superior Court that he filed for bankruptcy over the weekend.

We have confirmed the Chapter 11 case via documents filed with the U.S. Bankruptcy Court‘s Western District of Washington.

The “unlawful detainer” complaint was first reported here two weeks ago, with court filings including a document in which club landlord John Pietromonaco alleged that he was owed more than $594,000 including back rent and late fees.

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This afternoon, we welcome a new WSB sponsor – locally owned NW Communication Connections! Here’s their message to you:

We are speech-language pathologists and glad to be here in West Seattle! Our office is located in The Junction, in the Jefferson Square building, where we have a fun space for working with people individually or in groups. Our mission is to not only help individuals improve their communication skills, but also to facilitate supportive connections with the local community whenever possible.

Katy and Ann have each spent many years working in the public schools, and are very familiar with the special education process. They are both “professional development junkies”, whose idea of a vacation is often to travel someplace fun to attend a conference.

Katy lives in West Seattle and has worked in public schools, universities, hospitals, clinics, and private practice for over 40 years. Most recently she worked at Arbor Heights Elementary, and is known to the community for her quiet professionalism, wide knowledge base, and caring nature. She is experienced working with clients from ages 3 years on up to young adulthood. Her areas of expertise include motor speech and phonological speech disorders, executive-function challenges, and social language/cognition skills for individuals on the upper end of the Autism Spectrum. Her objective is to design treatment/therapy plans to accommodate the individual needs of her clients. You can reach her at 206-947-7886.

Ann is known as an innovative professional, always looking for creative ways to infuse fun with solid interventions. She has spent many years focused on helping support people with social communication challenges and is excited to offer a range of social groups for the West Seattle community, including a social yoga group run in collaboration with Nicole Koleshis, an OT and sensory integration specialist, of Next Generation Yoga! She is also a member of the International Association of Orofacial Myology, a collaborative field of professionals that includes dentists, ENTs, sleep specialists, dental hygienists, and speech-language pathologists. You can reach her at 206-387-0947.

Please visit our website for more information, or call us for a free phone screening, so we can help you figure out what’s best for you. We look forward to connecting with you.

We thank NW Communication Connections for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.

The newest mixed-use building to open in West Seattle has its first retail tenant: Emerald Water Anglers is expecting to open by the end of this week at the southeast corner of 42nd/Oregon, ground floor of Oregon 42. EWA, founded in 1999, describes itself as Seattle’s only full-service fly-fishing outfitter, with guide services as well as retail gear sales (including Patagonia). Here’s another reason to visit their store:

Artist Chris Haberman is painting a mural inside the store today. He says it’s meant to tell the story of the fly-fishing waterways of the Northwest. Haberman is based in Portland; this is his 35th mural, first one in Seattle. Meantime, we’ll update when we hear which day Emerald Water Anglers plans to open the Junction store.

A few notes about commercial real estate in West Seattle:

HARBOR AVENUE SITE FOR SALE: New listing for a one-acre business/industrial site just east of the Harbor Avenue 7-11. 2501-2645 Harbor, three buildings used currently for marine-related business, is offered without a listing price – “negotiable,” according to the online flyer, which also notes, “Currently zoned C1-40. Excellent potential for apartment, office or mixed-use redevelopment.”

FAUNTLEROY WAY FOLLOWUPS: Late last year, we reported listings for three parcels on Fauntleroy Way in The Triangle. All three found buyers, according to our followup check of county records: 4441 Fauntleroy, home to an auto-repair business, sold this month for $2.1 million to a Burlington company; 4480 Fauntleroy, home to computer, coffee, and car businesses, sold in April for $708,000 to a SODO investor; and the 4151 Fauntleroy strip mall sold in December for $2.6 million to a Bellevue real-estate firm. None of the sites has a current development proposal.