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.

That’s a rendering of what proprietor Phil Gustavson says the sign will look like when he opens the West Seattle School of Rock on the outer east side of Jefferson Square in The Junction. Gustavson says he’s signed the lease for the space next door to Dream Dinners (WSB sponsor) at 4701 41st SW, Suite 120. School of Rock is an international chain of music schools that teach guitar, bass, vocals, keyboards, and drums, with lessons leading to performances. In this metro area, it has branches in Greenwood and Bellevue. Gustavson isn’t estimating an opening date yet, saying it depends mostly on how long it takes to get permits.

(Click image to see full-size citywide map of zones identified by the city)
Earlier this year, almost every community council in West Seattle (among others citywide) got a visit from Aly Pennucci, a Department of Planning and Development staffer working on potential zoning changes for “Pedestrian Retail Areas“ – which don’t necessarily align with what you might think of as neighborhood business districts. She brought along “preliminary recommendations” for each of the areas the city had pre-defined. At the same time, DPD put up an online survey that anyone could answer, and has just published the 902 replies it received, co-mingled instead of broken out by respondents’ neighborhoods, but if you scroll ahead to the second half, you’ll find the often-detailed replies to open questions such as “should other uses be allowed in pedestrian retail zones?”

This is all supposed to result in zoning changes to be proposed to the City Council by late summer. Something to add? aly.pennucci@seattle.gov

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

For the second time this year, an “unlawful detainer” action is pending against the ownership of West Seattle Athletic Club in North Delridge. That’s the formal term for a legal action that could result in eviction. As reported here in February, the first case was called off on the eve of a court hearing, and the lawyer for the club’s landlord, H-P Properties, told WSB at the time, that was because club ownership “came up with a payment sufficient to reinstate the lease.”

Documents available online showed that case was formally closed in early April. But court records show that a new “unlawful detainer” action was filed one month later, on May 2nd.

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Two West Seattle business updates.

REDLINE WS OWNER AILING: Just half a year after Redline WS opened at 35th/Avalon, it hasn’t expanded operations as much as envisioned, and Kris Quigley, a friend of owner Mike Bauer, e-mailed to explain that Mike’s been ill and to share a crowdfunding link in addition to a request for support in general:

First of all, Mike would like to thank everyone who has supported RedlineWS and his dream of a neighborhood sports bar that everyone can enjoy.

I would really like to let everyone know of Mike’s condition and the reasons why his true vision of an amazing sports bar didn’t quite come together as he had envisioned. His ongoing illness has really impacted his ability to manage and operate the restaurant and has left Mike with an underfunded new business and mounting bills associated with medical bills etc. With continued support we would love to see Mike get the medical attention he needs to get his health back and see the sports bar grow into a West Seattle staple restaurant that everyone can enjoy for years to come.

As explained on the GoFundMe page, “Mike is suffering from a debilitating illness that has attacked his nervous system, making tasks as simple as walking impossible.” The diagnosis remains a mystery. However, Redline IS open, Kris says – “Lack of funding didn’t allow for keeping the coffee shop open in the early morning at 5 am as we intended. So for now the restaurant opens at 11 am and is open till 9 pm for under 21 and open till 2 am for over 21. We have a strong trivia night Wednesdays, a newly put-together family-friendly karaoke on Tuesdays till 9pm, and Thursdays Free Poker is starting” and even just going there would be welcome support, Kris says: “Give the bar a chance knowing the obstacles Mike faced to open it and understand that it is still truly a work in progress.”

YOUNG AT ART CLOSED: Just shy of two years ago, the art classes/studio business Young At Art had to leave its Junction location, as did all the businesses at 42nd/Alaska/California, because of the then-impending Equity Residential development (although demolition ultimately did not start for months). YAA found a new home at Fauntleroy/Raymond. But now, it’s closed, according to both a sign outside and a note on Facebook from owner Theresa:

The time over the last 3 years has been nothing short of magical to me and my children. I am in great hopes that the idea of freestyle art and getting downright messy, covered in paint up to your chin in recycle projects, has made its way into your children’s lives, your homes and hearts, as much as the time I have spent with your children has made an impression on my life that I can never forget. The studio is now in the process of closing up…maybe not forever.. but for now it’s time to say thank you and have a great summer. Enjoy your children and all the amazing creative wild adventures you have with them.

The message outside the studio also wishes everyone a great summer. (Thanks to all the readers who e-mailed to ask/tip us about this closure.)

Two quick notes looking ahead to this weekend:

BURGER BOSS ‘SOFT OPEN’ SATURDAY: When we first reported on Burger Boss (20th/Barton in South Delridge) back in April, they mentioned a plan to soft-open in early June. They’re achieving it, co-proprietor Brian Azzano tells WSB, tomorrow, starting at 4 pm, “for dinner and beyond.”

TAT’S TRUCK LAUNCHES SUNDAY: Last week we mentioned that West Seattleites are launching a truck spinning off from the popular Tat’s Deli in Pioneer Square, and that they expected to launch it in WS. Thanks to James for keeping an eye on the Tat’s Truck website and pointing out that they’ve announced they’ll debut at Hans VW (35th/Graham) 11 am-2 pm this Sunday. (Also thanks to SeattleFoodTruck.com for calling our attention to that too.)

SPEAKING OF TRUCKS … one of this area’s regulars is off the street until next week, and it’s for happy news: the proprietors of Thai-U-Up, a dinnertime fixture at the 30th/Roxbury gas station, announced via Facebook that they’re closed through June 10th (reopening next Wednesday) because they’re getting married. Congratulations!

Two days after Mayor Murray signed the City Council-passed minimum-wage increase into law, a business group is trying to get an alternative onto the ballot via city charter amendment. The group calling itself Forward Seattle says it’s a coalition of independent businesses, with a counterproposal laying out 40-cent incremental increases resulting in a $12.50 minimum wage by 2020. It briefed citywide media this morning but hasn’t yet released the text of its proposal, nor does it have a public list of members/supporters. In addition to that, Publicola reports that Tim Eyman is now pursuing an initiative that would make it illegal for any entity but the state to mandate wage levels.

Efficient, agile, smart, Seattle’s steel mill keeps the fires burning. (@MikeSiegel7) Pics: http://t.co/6L93UK4MfG pic.twitter.com/gCV7b1zNVC

— Seattle Times Photo (@SeaTimesPhoto) May 27, 2014

Thanks to Amy for the tip about a rare photographic look inside West Seattle’s Nucor Steel plant – we say “rare” because they’ve had a “no photo” policy in the past, but either they’ve made an exception or it’s changed, because the photo gallery published on SeattleTimes.com this week is definitely a closeup look inside. The photo in the tweet above is just one of the images; go here to see the others. They were published with a feature story about the steel mill that appeared in the Times’ Sunday magazine Pacific Northwest (here’s the online version).

Summertime is ice-cream-truck time. West Seattle residents Chelsea and Chris are hoping to hit the road this summer with what they say will be Seattle’s first 100 percent vegan ice-cream truck, specializing in vegan ice-cream sandwiches – if their crowdfunding campaign works out.

They’re calling their mobile enterprise the Cookie Counter, and it’s actually not a truck – it’s this blue 1974 VW Van:

The Sunrise Heights-area residents have taken to Kickstarter to look for funding, where they explain: “All of our ice creams are coconut based and we offer a variety of gluten-free options, meaning we automatically cater to dairy & egg allergies, along with wheat & gluten.” Flavor combinations in the works include Earl Grey with Lemon Zest, Orange Cardamom with Coconut Chocolate Chunk, Gluten Free White Chocolate with Mint, Green Tea with Raspberry, Gluten Free Coconut Lime with Mango. “Unlike other trucks offering vegan ice cream, we will have more than one or two options,” says Chelsea, adding that her background includes work as a personal vegan chef and as a waitperson/barista at Easy Street Café – plus volunteer work with kids: “I am passionate about kids and hope to get the truck involved in community events once we’re up and running!” Chris is a UW student, veteran (Marines), and dad (his 12-year-old son Mally is in the Kickstarter video). Their campaign has two and a half weeks to go.

There’s a lot more to the free-parking lots in The Junction than just striped asphalt without pay stations – Junction businesses pay special assessments to maintain them. This Friday, some proposed changes in the rules for those assessments, four years in the making, have the West Seattle Junction Association going before a City Council committee. After spotting the item on the agenda for the Finance amd Culture Committee, with WSJA director Susan Melrose listed as scheduled to speak to councilmembers, we talked to her Wednesday to find out more:

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(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)

Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor: HomeStreet Bank, now open in The Junction. New sponsors get the chance to tell you about themselves, so here’s what HomeStreet would like you to know:

HomeStreet Bank is local! We are based in downtown Seattle and are one of the largest community banks headquartered in Washington. HomeStreet began in the University District in 1921 as Continental Mortgage and Loan Company, later becoming Continental Savings Bank in 1986 when we became a full-service bank. We changed our name to HomeStreet Bank in 2000. (However, many people will still recall getting their mortgage at Continental Savings Bank!) We have expanded our services further over the years, adding business banking and lending, investment services, and more. HomeStreet offers a wide variety of financial products and services, including:

• Personal Banking
• Business Banking
• Mortgage Lending (including renovation loans and reverse mortgages)
• Commercial Lending (including a new small business loan program as well as SBA financing)
• Investment and Insurance Services for consumers and businesses
• Cash Management Services for businesses of all sizes
• Private Banking
• Residential Construction Financing
• Commercial Real Estate financing (apartments, retail space, office & industrial)

HomeStreet Bank has 82 deposit branches and lending centers in the Pacific Northwest, California, and Hawaii.

Community involvement has always been a high priority for HomeStreet. Many of our employees support the needs of local community organizations by creating active partnerships, hands-on service and providing leadership. As a relationship-focused bank, we always try to go the extra mile for our customers while providing personal service that is oftentimes not expected. We pride ourselves in our employees’ ability to make decisions on their own.

HomeStreet Bank is proud to be a member of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. We are also proud supporters of the West Seattle Helpline, West Seattle Food Bank, WestSide Baby, and Nature Consortium. Being new to the West Seattle community, we are very excited at the opportunity to get involved in the neighborhood. This year we sponsored the Taste of West Seattle and will be sponsoring Summer Fest and West Seattle Outdoor Movies. We are also thrilled to be hosting this year’s Stuff the Bus Diaper Drive for WestSide Baby!

HomeStreet Bank’s West Seattle branch is located at 4022 SW Alaska Street and we would love for you to stop in! Check us out online at: www.homestreet.com or “like” our Facebook page.

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

Making it to 10 years in business is SO worth a party. So (from left) Drew Foster and Stefan Hansmire of NCompass Construction/NCompass Cottage Company (WSB sponsor) had a big one at Dakota Place on Friday night. So big, even West Seattle favorites Not Dead Yet performed:

The party also featured a food truck and a “construction and building trivia game” with multiple choice questions (we’re pretty sure the answer to “Section 505.1 of the 2009 Residential Washington State Energy code states …” was NOT #D, “Turn off the lights when you leave the room!”). Their business has evolved to address community needs, including, a year ago, certification as “aging in place” specialists.

(Photo courtesy Laura Schneider)
Three months after we brought you first word of Meeples Games, a gaming café/store opening upstairs at Charlestown Center (3727 California SW), proprietor Laura Schneider is just a week and a half away from officially opening its doors. Here’s the official announcement with details, received tonight:

Meeples Games, a new tabletop game store and cafe, is hosting a family-friendly Grand Opening celebration on Saturday, May 17, 2014. Newly released board games and family favorites will be demonstrated by Meeples Games staff. Visitors can play or watch a Magic: the Gathering tournament which will be going throughout the day.

Meeples Games employees are all game players and enjoy sharing their favorites with customers. Special selections marked with “A Meeples’ People Favorite” showcase staff and customer selected games. “Game tables and a lending library are permanent features of Meeples Games,” says owner Laura Schneider. “We want to be a community store where people feel comfortable to come in, play games and hang out.”

Meeples Games stocks a variety of game types; tile-laying, role-playing, board games, card games, dice games, and miniatures. Space is available for drop-in, meet-up, and tournament play. The café offers espresso, sandwiches, pretzels, healthy snacks, and beer on tap.

The Grand Opening schedule runs from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. on May 17th with raffles, game demonstrations, and tournament play throughout the day. The detailed event schedule is available on the Meeples Games’ website.

With grand opening just a week and a half away, Schneider has big milestones ahead, including sign installation tomorrow and continued stocking of the café and menu planning; their espresso will be from True North Coffee Roasters.

Looks like West Seattle’s most-likely place for a recreational-marijuana store will be North Delridge – the 3800 block, to be specific. Here’s why:

The state has just gone public with its list of positions drawn in its lottery among prospective marijuana retailers – necessary because far more applications were received than licenses will be allotted. The entire city of Seattle will have 21 licensed stores, for example. At the top of the Seattle lottery list, #1 was drawn by a West Seattle applicant, Trichome & Calyx Corp., with the address 3809 Delridge Way SW, Suite B (map; currently the site of a medical-marijuana dispensary); the corporation’s owner is listed in state records as Magnolia entrepreneur Mehran Rafizadeh. The next-highest West Seattle location drawn, #37, was for the same applicant, same street address, Suite A. Next, #40, went to The Edge, applying for 3805 Delridge Way SW. Another 3809 Delridge Way applicant, Paradigm, drew #42. Following that, at #52, is an existing medical-marijuana provider, the Northwest Patient Resource Center on the east side of 35th/Roxbury. Seven of the other West Seattle locations with higher numbers in the lottery also applied using the 3809 Delridge Way SW address; there were also applicants from Harbor Avenue, West Marginal Way, and the west side of 35th/Roxbury.

You can download the full statewide list, which has a tab for each city including Seattle, from this page on the state Liquor Control Board website. Licenses are expected to be issued by early July, according to this state FAQ.

(8/14 note: To check whether a business is still a current WSB sponsor, please go here)

Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Speedpro Imaging. New local sponsors are invited to share information about their businesses, and here’s what Speedpro would like you to know:

Speedpro Imaging is a superior-quality large-format imaging studio that produces trade-show displays, vehicle wraps, retail branding, and promotional graphics. We collaborate with businesses, organizations, and events to create eye-catching, larger-than-life graphics that grab the attention of their customers.

Our capabilities include:
• Banners
• Wall murals
• A-frames
• Vehicle wraps
• Trade show displays
• Window graphics
• Retractable banner stands
• Posters
• Stickers
• Custom Signs

One of the things our clients tell us they love about working with us is how quickly we respond to their needs and get jobs completed. We do everything we can to make sure our clients are completely satisfied- due dates, budget, and project needs are all met. We give Speedpro Imaging clients the special attention they deserve and treat everyone like a long-term business partner.

Clients say they trust us and have confidence in our signs and displays because of our extensive knowledge and high-quality materials. We are locally owned, but we are also a part of a nationwide network of Speedpro studios. For example, if you have a trade show in Chicago, we can plan for the Chicago Speedpro to print, install, and deliver your display right to your event – saving you shipping costs and the stress of carrying your display on the plane! They say this makes us different from other printers in the area and gives them assurance they are receiving the highest-quality service and signage.

To receive exclusive content, special offers, and sign news, click here – The Color Hue: Sign Tips & Advice from Speedpro.

We are excited to be a part of the West Seattle Blog and the awesome West Seattle community. If you have any questions about signage or need a quote for an upcoming project, call or email us anytime! 206.257.4717 **** infoseattle@speedpro.com

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

P.S. Get Speedpro’s coupon on the WSB West Seattle Coupons page!