Home › Forums › Open Discussion › Do you remember "The Topper Shop"?
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May 27, 2010 at 2:13 pm #594956
WSSC-SNSMemberI found a small hat box saying “The Topper Shop” — which I think was in the Alaska Junction. Does anyone remember the location? And what years it was in business? Plus any interesting facts or memories about it? Thanks
May 27, 2010 at 6:49 pm #695289
luckymom30ParticipantWhere is a business in North Seattle called Topper flowers, could that be it and it moved?
May 27, 2010 at 6:49 pm #695290
miwsParticipantAs a lifetime West Seattleite of pushing 52 years, it doesn’t ring a bell.
I did a quick Google, and the only result pertaining to WS is this thread.
Hope somebody can answer this for you. I’m a huge WS history buff.
If you find out, outside of this Forum, please post the info here! :-)
Mike
May 29, 2010 at 12:57 am #695291
oddrealityParticipantI have a hat box with hat from there. The hat looks pretty 60’s to me and I *think* it is original to the hat box.
May 29, 2010 at 2:13 am #695292
metrognomeParticipantfrom an earlier post (https://westseattleblog.com/2007/11/another-fauntleroy-way-chunk-on-the-market):
Well, we could REALLY go back to the early 60’s, when there was a Wigwam store in the middle of the Husky’s block…Puerta Vallarta-ish, perhaps? Before LaGrace expanded to the cupcake corner and had an entrance only on Alaska….Children’s Corner/”Leigh Dunn” had a side entrance on Alaska, next to the Elite Beauty Salon (where the little ethnic markets are, next to Wells Fargo). And when our little Junction could support any number of women’s dress shops (Louise North, Margaret’s Apparel, La Grace, Johnson’s), not to mention a Penney’s and the long-lost “Topper Shop”! And Vann’s (Maharaja) had the cool curved booths that I would kill to have right now, as well as the best french dips and potato salad.
That said…I remember the smell of popcorn at Kress’s and the little dishes of candy on the counter at Russell’s Jeweler’s. And every time I walk into Lee’s, I glance warmly at the little alcove just inside the door, to the left. I spent a LOT of time there on a bench seat at a little slanted desk, reading Little Golden books while my mom shopped for fabric.
I love West Seattle….
Comment by IsleWrite — November 18, 07 5:19 pm
May 29, 2010 at 4:10 am #695293
celeste17ParticipantWig Wam was were Sleepers is now.
May 29, 2010 at 5:49 am #695294
bebecatMemberAwe and remember when in the 1950’s there was Gil’s Hamburgers at 35th and Avalon where Taco Time is today. You could get a Gil’s 49er, a hamburger, fries and a milkshake for 49 cents.
May 30, 2010 at 1:54 am #695295
GinaParticipantMike-get the book soon!
Memories of Southwest Seattle Businesses, available at the Log House Museum:
Page 26, has photo of the Topper Shop storefront. The following are quotes from the same page
“The Topper Shop was owned and operated by Katherine Powell House and Bette Larkin Collins from 1956 to 1969. It was located at 4428 California Ave, then moved to Alaska Street at the Junction.”
“The Topper Shop occupied space at the far east end of the building that also housed the La Grace Dress Shop for many years.(4210 SW Alaska St.) The distinctive square hatboxes were black with a pink top which stated “The Topper Shop–Junction Shopping Center–West Saattle.” The customer received her hat in a box that was sized to just accommodate the size of the new hat. The box held the edge of the hat safely in place. A black ribbon reached from the bottom of the hatbox and tied neatly across the pink box lid. Today, two of these hatboxes reside on my closet shelf, holding hats that are older than my grown children. I still wear the hats.
Barbara K.Callow”
May 30, 2010 at 3:07 am #695296
miwsParticipantThanks for the info Gina!
The original location, according to the addess, would put it where the WS Eagles is at.
Parcel Viewer doesn’t show a 4428, but has 4426 for the F.O.E. and 4430 for the barber shop that was Hairways for years.
I still can’t mentally place the store in either location. But would have walked right by the original location going to and from the Junction as a kid.
I wonder how long it was at the Alaska St location.
Mike
May 30, 2010 at 3:29 am #695297
GinaParticipantThe only stores that registered on my radar at the Junction in 1969 were the dime stores and Huskies. Candy, comics, toys and ice cream were my preference for window shopping. And the drinking fountain at J.C. Penney’s. All the rest is one big blur of clothing, shoes, jewelry and don’t touch things because they will break stores.
May 30, 2010 at 4:40 pm #695298
WSSC-SNSMemberThanks to all of you for the great responses — especially those who did research on the Topper Shop’s location, history, etc. Neighbors helping neighbors!
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