“Wow!”… “Awesome!”… “I never knew this place existed!” Paublo Smith from Pink Gorilla Games, one of the newest WSB sponsors, says those are “the first three things we hear from people.” They expanded to add a West Seattle location earlier this year, and here’s what they’d like you to know:

When you are looking for classic/retro games in Seattle, Pink Gorilla Games “simply is the first place to look,” explains Paublo. “We are a small local company that has a great loyal community willing to share their knowledge and passion for gaming. The people of Pink Gorilla are not ‘Fan Boys’ of any one gaming console, genre, or series. At Pink Gorilla, you know the item has been cleaned, tested, and guaranteed.” Pink Gorilla Games sells, buys, and trades all video games and also sells board games and tabletop games, trading-card games such as Magic the Gathering, Pokemon, Yu-Gi-Oh! etc., and has plenty of imported and domestic video game memorabilia.

“People seek us out as there is nothing quite like us. People still love their vintage game consoles. And they want a clean, organized, trusted place to buy, sell, and trade classic stuff, from Atari and Intellivision, to oddball things like Atari Lynx and Virtual Boy, to the newest of the new, like Nintendo 3DS and PlayStation Vita, to the upcoming Nintendo Wii U.” Paublo adds that Pink Gorilla Games customers “return simply because we care about what we sell. Which is why we clean and bag/protect and organize all the old games the way that we do.”

Pink Gorilla Games may be new to WS (their other two stores are in the International District and U-District), but they’ve jumped right into the community, participating in West Seattle Summer Fest and co-sponsoring the recent festival in Morgan Junction. That’s where their West Seattle store is located, at 6053 California SW. You’ll find them online at pinkgorillagames.com, on Facebook at facebook.com/PinkGorillaGames, and by phone at 206-462-0801. (And check out their WSB discount coupon to save $!)

We thank Pink Gorilla Games 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.

It’s a cross between a flea market and a sidewalk sale, as Admiral District Business Association president Parris Sadow (with son Quinn outside the family’s shop Atomic Boys) will be the first to tell you. Merchants were invited to bring out stuff that’s been in the back closet a while. Parris’s items include party supplies. Over at Alki Bike and Board, we found proprietor Stu Hennessey wheeling out “recycled bicycles”:

Deals so good, we almost sprung for one, but then somebody texted us about a car crash and we had to move on. Not before, however, we said hi to Flower Lab proprietor Wendy Damoth:

Her items include everything from that metal heron to Christmas bric-a-brac (really, there’s no better word). And you can even get snacks at today’s sale – Chris was outside Zatz A Better Bagel (WSB sponsor):

He’s selling treats including bags of bagel chips, plus cookies and mandelbrodt. Other stores we noticed participating include West Seattle Fabric Company and even tables on the Heartland Café/Shipwreck Tavern block. This is all on till about 2 pm today.

By Keri DeTore
Reporting for West Seattle Blog

Rick Cook, aka the “Psychic Barber” (per the iconic neon in the window of his shop, featured here in 2009), is moving operations – another West Seattle business displaced by development.

Rick says he recently received 30 days notice to vacate the 19-year home of his Rick’s Barber Shop at 5251 California, to make way for a future project.

His landlord Hasan Ocak, who also owns the adjacent restaurant Ephesus, told WSB he isn’t yet ready to discuss his plans for the new development (a preliminary city filing mentions a 3-story mixed-use building, which is the height limit for the zoning on that site).

But Rick already knows where he’s going – someplace that’s both new and old:

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The Admiral District Business Association invites you to come on over and wander their shops this Saturday (August 11th), 10 am-2 pm, for flea-market-style shopping. First time the recently organized Admiral merchants’ group is trying a sidewalk sale like this, so as you browse and buy, let them know what you think!

(West Seattle Fabric Company’s Monica Skov and daughter, outside WSFC’s future sewing-studio site)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

After less than two years in business, West Seattle Fabric Company proprietor Monica Skov has learned what might be the most important lesson an entrepreneur can learn.

Listen to your customers. And respond.

Hers have been asking for things that just wouldn’t fit into her cozy retail space at 2210 California SW in the Admiral District – an area for open sewing (your machine or theirs), for parties, for quilting.

Now, she’s found a place where that can all happen, a second site that will become the West Seattle Fabric Company “Creative Sewing Studio” (working title, so that might change). The space is at 5910 California SW, in the former Emerald Spiral space in the California/Juneau business node (directly across from Pan Africa Grill).

We talked with Monica there this morning, just as remodeling work was about to begin:

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West Seattle and White Center have grocery stores where you can buy fresh food – but, as is often reported, it’s challenging to find fresh food if you don’t live near one of those big stores. To help people “Buy Fresh” wherever they are in this area, the White Center Community Development Association has just launched a new website with information about 13 markets in Delridge, High Point, and White Center. Check out the site here – and read the official announcement, ahead:Read More

Just announced to their mailing list: Twilight Artist Collective in The Junction is for sale, four and a half years after moving into the SW Alaska space just west of Easy Street Records. Their announcement:

The time has come for Mary Enslow, Cheryl Robinson, and Erin Staffeld to pass the TwAC torch! Life has opened some new doors for us all and we’re personally headed in some wonderful new directions – babies, different art ventures, and the great unknown!

We are EXCITED (and a little sad too), to announce that Twilight Artist Collective is ready for some fresh blood.

Twilight Artist Collective is on the market for $30,000, and this will include the following:

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Yesterday was the day set as the deadline for remaining businesses to clear out of the buildings that will be demolished, likely within weeks, for the Equity Residential project at 42nd/Alaska/California in The Junction. Thanks to Brian Presser from TouchTech Systems for the photo at right, showing the note put up by one of the last to leave. Here’s who’s gone where, in the last wave of departures (these three were in the building across from Jefferson Square on 42nd):
–Young At Art plans to open next week in a new location at Fauntleroy and Raymond (longtime past home of PB&J Textiles (WSB sponsor).
–Ron’s Cobbler Shoppe is “closed forever,” as the note at right reads, no new location.
–Well Medical Arts will reopen next week at 9025 35th SW.

Other moves/closures already reported here recently include (east to west) AAA will reopen in the former AT&T Wireless space in Jefferson Square; Rocksport Bar and Grill has closed permanently (and had an auction last week); Super Supplements moved to Morgan Junction, Sound Advice moved to the lower level of the Senior Center of West Seattle building; Classic Barber Shop moved to 5040 California SW; Suite Arrangements moved to the Fauntleroy Way storefront next to West Seattle Produce; Rubato Records planned to take an interim space in the Antique Mall of West Seattle; and Mind Body Spirit moved to 3258 California SW. Several businesses moved months ago, including The Beer Junction; it’s been more than a year since the first closure, the city Neighborhood Service Center that used to be next to Rocksport. Equity told WSB last month that demolition could start as soon as August 10th.

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August 11th will mark a year since the opening of the new Admiral Safeway at 2622 California SW. But the anniversary will be marked under new ownership for the property.

County records confirm a sale first reported by the Daily Journal of Commerce: Safeway sold it last week for $30,710,000, to an LLC called SVF Admiral Safeway Seattle, an entity of Southern California-based American Realty Advisors. That firm, we noticed during research, is also the new owner of the Link (4550 38th SW, sold in March for $62 million) and Mural (4727 42nd SW, sold in March for $42 million) mixed-use buildings in West Seattle, both developed by Harbor Properties and sold after its merger (we reported the sale plans but not final word on the buyer).

As best we can tell from the online paperwork regarding the Admiral Safeway deal, it includes the store and the retail building on the northwest side of its parking lot; the deed mentions the tenancy rights of Safeway, Menchie’s, and Umpqua Bank (WSB sponsor), the three businesses currently in place (with additional space still vacant in that smaller building). We have inquiries out to both Safeway and American Realty Advisors for more information, and will add anything more that we learn.

Longtime West Seattle photographer Joanne Murray mentioned this on the WSB Facebook page, and we asked if it would be OK to share here too:

Murray’s Studio, since 1965 … How many of you were photographed by Jay Murray & Joanne Murray for senior portraits, weddings, and church directory or school pictures? The negatives are for sale, including the previews or slides if there are any in the files; contact us soon if you want them before they are history. 206-932-6064

Many parents’, grandparents’, and siblings’ portraits are archived with the wedding files.

Murray’s Studio started on SW Oregon St., then moved to California Ave. SW from 1981 until 2010. Pass the word to friends & relatives before it’s too late.

She says they just can’t keep all these files any more: “It would be a real shame to destroy all of these historical photos, but we just have to. I hope we can pass them on to the families.”

Today we welcome one of our newest WSB sponsors, Jerry Howard from John L. Scott West Seattle at 5242 California. Here’s what he’d like you to know about what he does:

If you’ve been thinking about a career change, Jerry is currently offering classes on becoming a real-estate agent. He’s an award-winning trainer and coach. Jerry has been mentoring, coaching, and training real-estate agents for more than 15 years. He has conducted hundreds of classes on various Real Estate subjects and personally coached and trained many new and experienced agents that have built and maintained a successful real-estate business; in fact, he has trained three agents that went on to become John L. Scott Rookie of the Year, and two more that were runners-up. If you have ever thought about a career in real estate, John L. Scott West Seattle would be the place to start. If you’re interested in finding out whether selling real estate is something you’d like to do, you can fill out Jerry’s online survey, here.

And if you are buying or selling a home, Jerry adds that the sales team at John L. Scott has been in business here in West Seattle since 1968. He joined the John L. Scott family in 1992. Jerry adds, “With the best marketing programs available in the industry, John L. Scott is widely recognized as one of the nation’s largest and most productive real-estate companies and is a consistent leader and innovator in real-estate technology. We are committed to providing the highest level of service to buyers and sellers in the Puget Sound area. We pride ourselves on our professional, ethical, and effective approach to real estate.”

Contact Jerry by going here – and get on the road to your successful real-estate career here.

We thank Jerry Howard of John L. Scott 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.

Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, Umpqua Bank, located next to Safeway in the Admiral District.

(Umpqua team members: Manager Kirk Mead, Anne Marie Lambalot, Gaby Leveron, Mel Bradley)
Manager Kirk Mead says the first thing you’ll notice when you come into the branch is the world-class service. He says Umpqua’s goal is to be attentive and to create relationships with clients so that you’ll have a bank that works toward the customer’s financial objectives. He says Umpqua wants to help you with your finances and give relevant advice.

Umpqua Bank in Admiral also offers unique amenities that are available to everyone. There’s always hot coffee, an Internet café with a printer, and fresh cookies on Fridays. The lobby is also open for small meetings. Call ahead if you’d like to book the space for your group or organization, 206-694-5461.

Umpqua Bank is also involved in the local community as members of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce, sponsors of the Summer Concerts at Admiral series (which begins July 26th!), and hosts special events such as recent pet-adoption opportunities. You’ll find Umpqua at 2620 California SW.

We thank Umpqua Bank 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.

We’re continuing to keep you updated on new homes for the businesses that have to leave the future Equity Residential development site at California/Alaska/42nd – and today, we have another move confirmed, plus a “domino effect” of that move:

The furniture-consignment store Suite Arrangements is moving to 4722 Fauntleroy Way SW, just south of Alaska, the former rental-outlet site where West Seattle Produce moved late last year (2011 WSB photo at right) – and in turn, WS Produce is moving into another part of the same building, just to the north. (The Beloved Mexico food truck is staying in the parking lot.)

West Seattle Produce is making its move this weekend, and plans to be open in its new space on Monday. Suite Arrangements says it’s having a sale right now to get ready for closing its Junction location on July 29th and reopening in the new Fauntleroy Way storefront on August 1st. (added) SA owner Geoff Abadian says in his formal announcement, “With all the development planned here in the next several years, the only way West Seattle can retain a good part of its distinctive charm going forward will be for existing small businesses to be more creative and more diligent about providing their distinct offerings, and for local residents to continue patronizing them, as many are committed to doing.”

Our most recent story with updates on all the other affected businesses is here, including reminders that Rocksport Bar and Grill and Rubato Records both shutting down after this Sunday (July 15th). Rocksport does not plan to reopen (and is having an auction July 24th); Rubato is still looking for a new location. Meantime, Super Supplements, which closed in The Junction last weekend, will reopen in its new Morgan Junction location tomorrow.

Way back when so many West Seattle homes were built (WSB HQ dates to 1941), one bathroom was fairly standard. Somehow, the hectic life of today just isn’t too compatible, as longtime WSB sponsor Ncompass Construction‘s first-ever promo video illustrates. As Ncompass gets ready to participate in this weekend’s West Seattle Summer Fest, they’re also using that video – and two more on the way – to tell the world what they can do. Ncompass co-proprietor Stefan Hansmire says, “One of the things we are especially proud of is that several of the talent and many of the production staff are West Seattle residents including Westsider Meli Alexander, who will be moving back to LA this fall to pursue her professional acting career. Other WS talent includes Brian Gaynor, Reed Stannard, Kate Stannard and Erin Neal.” Right now, the vignette is showcased on this page of the Ncompass website, which also notes that their backyard-cottage workshop at Summer Fest is set for 1 pm Friday (July 13), in the GreenLife zone at the south end of the festival area.

Today we welcome new WSB sponsors PB&J Textiles, who start their seventh year of doing business in West Seattle with a major expansion.

PB&J Textiles owners Paul and Dave (above, with Doug the rescued greyhound) added to their embroidery business with a full line of promotional goods. PB&J now has logo merchandise, full-color banners, and screen printing. PB&J Textiles also offers sublimation, the ability to put art or photos on goods such as coffee mugs or mouse pads. Paul said this year PB&J is moving to “one call does it all,” which is why they have also expanded to a staff of five, including a full-time graphics artist. He added that their customers have been looking for a full-service promotional company, so he and Dave expanded to meet that demand. This summer, you can meet Paul and Dave while they’re working the popcorn machine at West Seattle Outdoor Movies (which are a little more than 2 weeks away!). You’ll also find them in their new HQ at 3805 Delridge Way SW, online at pbjtextiles.com, or call them at 206-243-3053.

We thank PB&J Textiles 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.

A gift-card/tech company is opening its first-ever headquarters in West Seattle – home to its founder. Tango Card tells WSB it’s just signed a one-year lease for office space in the Huling-owned building on 40th SW north of SW Edmunds, on the east edge of The Junction. Tango Card is “a startup that’s innovating in the gift card space. Our primary goal is to redefine how enterprise customers incorporate digital goods into gift card and loyalty programs. The Tango Card itself is the ‘get exactly what you want’ card where you choose the amount and then the recipient chooses their gift card, donates to charity, or splits the amount between options,” explains marketing director Kelly Scott, adding, “Several of the company’s 20 employees live in West Seattle, including our CEO and Founder David Leeds, and the team is excited to have local office space.” Till now, she says, Tango Card has done some work out of ActivSpace in Luna Park, “but mostly a lot of working from home and whatnot.” She says they’ll be moving in before the month’s out.

If you’ve driven Fauntleroy Way SW through Fairmount Springs in the past day-plus, you might have noticed that green bus labeled Free Range Mercantile. Kaela did, and sent a note wondering if we knew the story behind it. We had only just noticed the bus ourselves hours earlier, but after a little sleuthing overnight, we tracked down the info: You’ve heard of food trucks? Meet a retail truck! West Seattle entrepreneur Mary Summers, who you might know from CAPERS, is launching a mobile store. Reached via e-mail, Mary told us, “I’ll be selling sustainable goods, domestically sourced and fairly traded. Still filling in a few categories, but all useful items: brushes, brooms, tools, laundry soap, dish towels — home and hardware. This was my first weekend off after having worked at Capers for 16 years. A whole new adventure.” Mary hasn’t set an opening date yet for Free Range Mercantile – she just got the bus painted and found that “parking space” – but she expects to announce the date soon.

Four updates on businesses losing their Junction locations because of the impending start of Equity Residential construction (Alaska/California/42nd):

MIND BODY SPIRIT’S NEW LOCATION: Walking in The Junction the other day, we noticed Mind Body Spirit appeared to have cleared out of its storefront on the southwest edge of the future Equity Residential development site – but there was no sign. Now, there is (thanks to Brian Presser of TouchTech Systems for the photo!) – it says MBS has moved north to 3258 California SW, “above the West Seattle Natural Medicine clinic.”

SUPER SUPPLEMENTS’ LAST JUNCTION DAY: It’s been six months since first word that Super Supplements is moving to the old Blockbuster location at 6451 Fauntleroy Way SW (just east of California SW), Today is their last day in The Junction; they will be closed till their scheduled reopening on Friday (July 13th), with a “grand opening” event planned for July 21st.

ROCKSPORT AUCTION: As first reported here in May, Rocksport Bar and Grill is closing after the final day of West Seattle Summer Fest, Sunday, July 15th – no new location, they’re just going out of business. The Rocksport website now has information on the auction they’d mentioned would be held – it’s set for 10 am July 24th (after an 8 am preview) with James G. Murphy Co., the same famous auctioneers who handled the auctions for other local longtime venues including the Charlestown Café last year and the Corner Inn in 2008.

RUBATO RECORDS: No new location yet, according to their Facebook page, which says they’re also closing after July 15th.

OTHER BUSINESSES: We published this recap/update eight days ago, after AAA confirmed its Jefferson Square move. As for when construction of the two-building Equity Residential project will begin – our inquiries still haven’t been answered. Online city records do show they’ve applied for a demolition permit.