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April 6, 2013 at 3:17 pm #607066
KatieHParticipantI’ve been really surprised by how few interesting stores there are along Alki Beach. The strip is such a magnet for visitors. Anyone know why there are so few galleries and quirky shops?
April 6, 2013 at 3:54 pm #787797
The Velvet BulldogParticipantI do know that business really drops off outside the summer season. The quirkier stores that depend on foot traffic may not be able to sustain themselves through the off season. Just a guess though, I’m not a biz owner.
April 6, 2013 at 4:05 pm #787798
anonymeParticipantInteresting observation. It would be exciting if Alki were more like Port Townsend, Coupeville, or other waterfront towns. VB probably has a point, and I’m guessing this isn’t the best economic climate for opening a gallery – which is a risk at the best of times. Once things pick up, is there a business association that could get things going in that direction, so that Alki has more of a draw than just car-cruising and beach walking?
April 6, 2013 at 4:12 pm #787799
WSBKeymasterNo, there is no business association. But there IS a gallery – Alki Arts (2820 Alki SW, between Cactus and the little market). Proprietors Diane and Tom have worked amazingly hard to make it a community space as well as a gallery. Check it out on Art Walk night this coming Thursday (April 11th) if not sooner – there are often weekend nights with music, too.
(added) There is also Coastal, a boutique that decided a couple years back to close for a few months during the cold season precisely because of slim customer pickings. A quirky boutique Pepper was located nearby for a while; it closed. New Alki businesses include a medical-marijuana dispensary and Alki Beach Dog.
I’ve looked at Alki commercial rental listings because even though we don’t have a regular bricks-and-mortar office, it would be awesome to be HQ’d at the beach for a few months in summertime instead of having to drive from here for everything from festivals to breaking news. But the rents are high. And of course the landlords have to pay property taxes on high valuations.
April 6, 2013 at 4:20 pm #787800
WorldCitizenParticipantAfter living on Alki for a couple years, I noticed that most West Seattleites don’t make it down there most of the year. I would imagine sustaining business is a very hard to accomplish feat in that area.
April 6, 2013 at 8:43 pm #787801
KatieHParticipantIt *is* hard! (I had a brick-and-mortar store for 11 years).
But that strip isn’t living up to its potential. People coming to Alki Beach are there on mini-vacation. Many are likely in a spending mood, ready to open their wallets for good eats and wares.
Seasonal kiosks are a possibility. But no schlock; a group of stores in that sort of location need to seem special or singular.
April 6, 2013 at 10:07 pm #787802
DFWParticipantI think another issue is, when you’re visiting, there is no easy way to get there. It would be nice if the Water Taxi actually got you to the business district, but it doesn’t. Nice as the view is, that is kind of a hike for someone who wants to explore the shops or food.
April 6, 2013 at 11:30 pm #787803
anonymeParticipantAnother good point, DFW. Alki is not that easy to get to, even for West Seattleites. While taking a bus anywhere from Arbor Heights is difficult these days, I can actually go downtown more easily than to Alki.
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