Feelin’ Good about Snow Forcing to Shop Locally

[Creighton]

Just got back from a walk up to the Junction and really felt good to see everyone walking, not just in the Junction, but to the Junction. Personally, I got a haircut, bought stamps, had lunch, and shopped a bit. Felt small town, felt very Christmas like to be a part of the village and shop locally. I love West Seattle!

(I’d love it more if there was a first run movie theater here – can you hear me Blue Star development?)

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[Synergy3k]

I’ll drink to that :) I’m happy, I managed to buy all of my Christmas presents locally this year. It’s a nice feeling!

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[Magpie]

I walked to the junction from Charlestown and it was great, a couple of places a little slippery, went to Husky, Bakery Nouveau, WS art and frame and all was good. Also hit Hotwire on the way.

Got home, dumped off my loot and back to PCC which was busier than I have ever seen it. Their credit/debit card machine wasn’t working, but all in good cheer (and I still had my seldom used check book in my purse). The trek back was nice as I was very bundled up. Great day to be out walking. I saw a beautiful Newfoundland in the junction and he/she was very happy with the snow, my cat, very cranky, wants to go out, goes out and is very happy to return after about 5 minutes. Great day to be out walking!

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[WSB]

Thank you all for shopping locally. Hope you saw something you’ll want to go back for, even once out-of-the-area options are feasible again. If you have specific ideas, it’s also great to suggest them to two active business associations that communicate with the developers too:

West Seattle Junction Association

http://www.wsjunction.com

West Seattle Chamber of Commerce

http://www.wschamber.com

Admiral merchants are somewhat unofficially affiliated, same with other areas. But they’re not in for quite as much change as Junction/Triangle. And Harbor Ave – we wrote recently about what’s up with some of the developments down there – more commercial/retail coming to the end closer to the Bridge.

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[Aim]

I was just at Westwood Village.

Pier 1 was a zoo, and the emplyees were absolutely sweet and cheerful. People were joking in line about “the rush before the storm” and everyone was fairly cheerful (except the one genius who was trying to speed through the parking lot and slipping all over the place — you know who you are, big SUV with Alki sticker — SLOW DOWN)

Starbucks has a line out the door. Please don’t forget that it is also a local Seattle company who employs well over 5,000 people in the Seattle area.

Now we’re back home, waiting for the storm. Stay warm, everyone!

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[MrJT]

Magpie, we must have followed each other… We skipped Bakery Nouveau for homemade cinnamon rolls at home. It was great fun to be in the Junction and see all of the activity !

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[Erik]

We went shopping at the Junction yesterday.

I’m almost afraid to admit that it was the first time I’d step foot inside most of those shops, including Easy Street (which I instantly fell in love with).

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[JanS]

damn, Erik…you need to get out more :)

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[Erik]

Jan – I’ve been out, remember dancing in the street this past July?

8-)

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[JanS]

oh, if we could only do that now…and I’m moving better now than I was then…:) next year, for sure :)

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[Bonnie]

It’s great. I went to Westwood Village and it was a madhouse but I’m glad to see everybody shopping locally. It’s nice.

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[TammiWS]

Walked from Morgan Junction to Westwood Village today – it was great to shop local, eat local, walk not drive in neighborhoods I’ve never been in (only around in a car), take the bus home with all sorts of friendly folks and get a good exercise in to boot!

I am really enjoying how the snow makes everyone more friendly and helpful as well as force us to slow down and keep it simple…

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[cjboffoli]

I went into JF Henry for the first time since moving to West Seattle two years ago! I had no idea they had a whole kitchen department upstairs. They need to do a better job of advertising it. The staff were super nice too, answering all of my questions about their antique phone booth.

I doubt any of the business associations will be tracking it but I’d bet that these rare weather events provided a much-needed boost for some Junction businesses. And I think it very nicely proves the benefits of building residential and retail in close proximity such that cars are not essential to get everywhere.

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[MrJT]

CJB – There is a ton of history in JF Henry, the staircase that you went up, and I belive the chandlier, were salvavged from Frederick & Nelson the premier department store in Seattle, when the building was remodeled by Nordstrom.

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[cjboffoli]

Mr JT: You’re exactly right. That’s what they told me. I think I heard mention of the building being some kind of turn of the century union hall. Carpenter’s union maybe? They opened up a hole in the ceiling to install that stairway.

I was happy to be able to get that one last Christmas gift I needed. Their prices were a bit higher than the same item I had seen online. But I didn’t mind spending an extra $10 to support a Junction business owner.

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[Bonnie]

I always thought that the JF Henry building was built about 10 years ago after they moved out of the spot that Friends & co. are in now.

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[WSB]

http://www.jfhenry.com/index.html

They advertised with us briefly during a sale earlier in the year. Lots of history for sure. The website mentions “vintage building.” It did get a facelift sometime back. I may be able to find it on the city’s neighborhood inventory.

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[WSB]

built 1908

http://www5.kingcounty.gov/kcgisreports/property_report.aspx?PIN=7904700111

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[Aim]

THANK YOU for this, CJB and WSB. I’d never heard of that store before and will definitely be checking it out.

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[GenHillOne]

Oh crap, I just didn’t do a good job recognizing people in their snow garb yesterday (I did it more than once!)…we were there at the same time Christopher…I kept trying to place you, but you in a hat did not equate to you in a dark parking lot delivering bacon, lol. That was my junior chef with me – why he thought the less-than-haute-cuisine purchase he was making was so funny.

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[yumpears]

I also finished all my Christmas shopping on foot today around the Junction, WS Nursery, C&P coffee, etc. There were looong lines but everyone seemed to be in a fine mood.

A great little find – lots of yuumy organic chocolates at Pharmaca (most 50% off too!). Great way too top off all the Christmas stockings in my house.

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[Garden_nymph]

J.F. Henry is a great store, fine china, Henkels cutlery, every kitchen gadget under the sun and the nicest people ever! The junction is full of amazing stores! What I love most about shopping locally is knowing that the stores are owned by our neighbors. West Seattle is a full of great little shops…this snow has just helped remind us just how many. Easy Street serves a fantastic breakfast, our favorite acutally! Unlike my dogs, I like living where I “do my business”. ;)

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[RMR]

We were in the Jct. earlier too and I was wondering if all the snow was giving local shops a little boost. That would be one nice side effect anyway! I love a lot of the shops down there anyway – especially the art and frame shop, I got a lot of stocking stuffers and presents there this year. I wish I had made it to the Pharmaca after hearing about the chocolate though, my husband loves his chocolate and it would have been a nice added stocking stuffer! :)

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