West Seattle, Washington
24 Sunday
As we’ve noted before, HomeStreet Bank in The Junction chooses a local business/organization to spotlight each month. This month, it’s West Seattle Runner (which, like HomeStreet, is a WSB sponsor), and proprietors Lori and Tim McConnell stopped by Wednesday for a prize drawing – branch visitors are invited to enter each month. (With Tim and Lori above is HomeStreet’s Joyce Leslie.) This month’s winner gets a pair of shoes of her choice from WSR (which is at 2743 California SW in Admiral; HomeStreet is at 4022 SW Alaska in The Junction).
11:21 AM: Several readers have contacted us in the past few days, wondering what’s up with The UPS Store in Jefferson Square. It’s been having technical troubles – with signs on the door warning “system down” – and their store is listed online as “permanently closed.” After the latest question, we went over this morning to see what we could find out. First, store staff told us (as they told a reader earlier this week), the corporate website is wrong – they are NOT closed, nor planning to close – and they’ve been reporting that to them, trying to get it corrected, but no luck so far – it’s out of their control. Second, they indeed have been having persistent technical problems with their point-of-sale/shipping system – it keeps crashing – and they’re trying to get that fixed, but in the meantime, the store IS OPEN for other services (but bring cash).
5:29 PM: We’ve since heard from The UPS Store, Inc., whose spokesperson Casey Sorrell said via email:
Please note that the business located at 4742 42ND AVE SW, Seattle, WA 98116-4553 is no longer affiliated with The UPS Store. We apologize for the inconvenience and recommend customers visit nearby The UPS Store locations at: 126 Sw 148Th St., Ste. C100, Burien, WA 98166 or 17837 1St Ave. S., Normandy Park, WA 98148. For questions regarding a pending package, customers can contact Customer Service at 1-800-789-4623 or visit TheUPSStore.com for other products and services.
We won’t be able to follow up with the Jefferson Square store until tomorrow regarding what that means regarding their business’s future plans.
The pop-up-shop space on the ground floor of the Senior Center of West Seattle (California/Oregon) is hosting an outpost of Pegasus Book Exchange this week. Emma Epps of Pegasus explains why: “This week we are celebrating Pegasus’s 40ish Anniversary! ’40ish’ because the store was actually founded in 1977, but it’s now been in my family for 40 years.” So for special events and extra selling space, they’ve added the pop-up through Sunday (October 29th). Here’s the schedule Emma sent:
The location of all these events is 4500 California Ave SW (the Senior Center Annex at the corner of California & Oregon), NOT the main store.
10/25, 10/26, 10/27, 10/28 – 11 am Kids’ Storytime (special guest on Saturday)
10/25, 10/26, 10/27, 10/28, 10/29 – 11 am-6 pm Pegasus Book Exchange Pop-Up Shop with shirts, stickers, totes, 40% used kids’ books, and free tote bags!
10/28 Open House with Fred Epps, owner of Pegasus Book Exchange
The main shop is open too, but the pop-up is where you’ll find all of the above. And remember that Sunday is Halloween in The Junction (along with the regular West Seattle Farmers’ Market), so you can stop by the Pegasus bonus space while visiting for one or both of those!
A safety drive at West Seattle’s Nucor steel mill is going to support the work WestSide Baby does keeping babies and kids safe – from car seats to diaper supply. Nucor reps stopped by WestSide Baby’s headquarters in White Center at noontime today to present a $11,040 donation stemming from the company’s fall Observation Blitz. Nucor’s safety director Shayne Dinkle explained that the company has a special campaign of “safety observations” twice a year – here’s how it was explained at the time of a similar donation last year:
During the Blitz, which ran for three weeks, Nucor challenges their teammates to complete as many safety observations as possible and donates $5, for every observation completed, to a local charitable organization.
You can support WestSide Baby too – find out how via their website.
Ten years ago, we reported on an application filed to turn a space on the south side of Westwood Village into a location for Panda Express, the fast-Chinese-food chain. That proposal eventually stalled, and the space became a physical-therapy clinic. Today, checking the Westwood Village map – which is where the center’s new-ish owners have first publicly disclosed future tenants – we discovered Panda Express is back in the picture.
That’s a screengrab showing a new addition to the map today – Panda Express is penciled in for the spot next to QFC that Pet Pros occupied before moving to Jefferson Square. It’s in the row that already holds many of WWV’s other food/beverage businesses – Sub Stop, Toshi’s Teriyaki, Happy Lemon, Starbucks. We have an inquiry out to Panda Express to see if they’ll comment. Their nearest restaurant is in Burien; the two existing Seattle locations are both in the north part of the city.
Thanks to Sharonn for the tip. Two days after its Chapter 11 bankruptcy filing, Rite Aid has disclosed the initial list of stores it plans to close or sell. In our area (West Seattle/White Center), the only store on the “initial closing stores” list is the Bartell Drugs store in WC (9600 15th SW) that already closed (three weeks ago). You can see the full nationwide list of 154 “initial closing stores” starting on page 23 of this document (for those interested in Burien, the list also includes a Rite Aid store at 110 SW 148th). In addition, Rite Aid is selling some other stores, but none in West Seattle and vicinity – that list is in this document (only one in the Seattle area is at 2707 Rainier Ave. S.) We’re still browsing the documents for any indication on when further closure/sale plans will be announced, but for now, the four West Seattle Rite Aid and Bartell Drugs stores are NOT on either “initial” list.
When you have a small business, you’re often everything from the CEO to the CTO to the COO to the HR director to the staff. How do you get it all done? Spending just one hour in a free class this Thursday at West Seattle Coworking (WSB sponsor) can pay off – here’s the invitation:
Hello, neighbors and fellow business owners. Following the success of last month’s workshops, we are happy to present another free event for our beloved Business community. There are so many hats to wear as a small-business owner and so little time in the day. Come and learn from this one-hour conversation on how to boost our efforts and regain lost momentum. This Thursday, October 19th, 5-6 pm at West Seattle Coworking HQ, 9030 35th Avenue SW. Find more details and signup link here.
Rite Aid announced tonight that – as long expected – it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy. Its announcement says it’s arranged for $3.4 billion in financing, but expects to close “additional underperforming stores.” Rite Aid has two stores in West Seattle – California SW south of The Junction, and Westwood Village – and the company owns Bartell Drugs, which has two West Seattle stores, in Admiral and The Junction. As first reported here, the Bartell store in White Center was closed just two weeks ago. The announcement does not list stores planned for closure, and this “fact sheet” says, “While we do not yet know which stores will be closed, we will keep you informed as decisions are made.” No timeline is listed for those decisions. Meantime, if you’re interested in legal documents, a sheaf of them related to today’s filing can be found here. They include “first-day motions” on which a hearing will be held tomorrow before a federal bankruptcy judge in New Jersey, where the case was filed.
(WSB photos)
The shopping started early at this year’s West Seattle Ski Swap, happening now at the VFW Hall in The Triangle (3601 SW Alaska). It’s presented by Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor), whose store is across the street, and proprietor Greg Whittaker decided to open the doors early so shoppers didn’t have to wait in line. It’s not just skis, though they are available in abundance – you’ll also find snowboards:
And boots:
Plus gloves and other apparel/gear to keep you comfortable during your winter adventures:
Most of the items are from hundreds of your neighbors who consigned them for the sale. Day 1 continues until 5 pm, and then there’s a second Ski Swap day tomorrow (Sunday, October 15th), 10 am-4 pm.
Thanks to Kathleen for the photo! That’s your host Meaghan at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), where Oktoberfest-ivities continue until 7 pm. Special food, beer, music, more (including a 5 pm stein-raising competition), as noted on the HPCS website. (As also spotlighted in our daily event list, North Delridge’s Ounces is celebrating Oktoberfest too!)
1:49 PM: One week after HeartBeet Organic Superfood Café closed in Morgan Junction (following its sibling businesses Youngstown Coffee and Launchpad Coworking), proprietors Autumn and Monica sent word that their “closing sale” is under way right now, continuing tomorrow (Sunday): “We have plenty of items left that would be helpful for folks looking to save some money. Pantry and frozen/fresh items, kitchen/office/electronic supplies, holiday decorations, masks, paper goods, kitchen equipment, Vitamixes, metro racks, and much more.” The sale continues at 6032 California SW until 4 pm today, and 9 am-4 pm tomorrow.
6 PM UPDATE: Tomorrow between 9 am and noon, it’ll be “make an offer” – they’re still planning to be there until 4 pm but the faster they clear it all out, the better.
(WSB photo, 2022 West Seattle Ski Swap)
With the summer encore this weekend, it might be difficult to convince yourself that winter weather isn’t far away, but this might help: A reminder that Mountain to Sound Outfitters (WSB sponsor) is presenting the annual West Seattle Ski Swap next weekend:
Do your snow dances and get your gear together – you have one week left to pre-register your gear for the annual West Seattle Ski and Snowboard Swap. This event is a great avenue to outfit yourself and your entire family with good useable ski and snowboard gear. The key to this event is to help spread the word! Who knows what’s in your neighbors’ garage that might be the perfect tool for the snow rider you met on the chairlift last year?
If you have something to sell, the dropoff time is 2-5:30 pm Friday (October 13th) – the link for registering to sell is on this page. The venue is West Seattle’s VFW Hall, right across the street from M2SO in The Triangle, 3601 SW Alaska. If you’re shopping, the hours next weekend will be 10 am-5 pm Saturday (October 14th) and 10 am-4 pm Sunday (October 15th).
Back in August, we reported that a permit filing for a commercial space at Maris (4722 Fauntleroy Way SW) showed that All the Best Pet Care plans to return to West Seattle, 14 years after it closed on Alki. The company didn’t answer our inquiry back in August but has finally sent us an update, saying things are finalized now that they have their permits. All the Best says this will be the local mini-chain’s 17th store, and that they’re hoping to open “in early 2024.” The reply adds a bit of background on the company: “Susan and Ira Moss opened the first store in 1985, and we remain locally owned and family-led.” This will be West Seattle’s eighth pet-focused retail shop, by our count (after Pet Elements, Addy’s, Next-to-Nature, Mud Bay, Pet Pros, Petco, Pet Supplies Plus).
That’s the team at Seattle Bridal Rack, a “brand new off the rack bridal boutique” at 4304 SW Walker in North Admiral. They’re planning a grand-opening party in a week and a half. Seattle Bridal Rack is an offshoot of Samila Bridal and Formal, which has been matching women with special-occasion apparel for a quarter-century – “we joined forces with our master pattern makers and trusted vendors to bring forth the same level of excellence and trendy designs at outlet prices.” Seattle Bridal Rack says it’s “the only bridal shop in Washington state to offer both sample sale and brand-new gowns at discounted outlet prices.” They offer free appointments and also say they’re “the only discount bridal boutique that has digitalized our entire dress collection online” so prospective customers can look at the selection before making an appointment. You can even take your dress home the same day. But even if you’re not currently engaged – or expecting to be – Seattle Bridal Rack invites you to the grand-opening celebration, 2-4 pm Sunday, October 15th, which will be not only a showcase (and ribbon-cutting) for the new shop, but also will feature partner vendors with everything from bling to blossoms.
Winter-sports season approaches … and Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) wants you to be ready. Today marks the start of M2SO’s winter-sports daily and season ski/snowboard rentals. Here’s how that works:
Mountain to Sound Outfitters offers Seasonal Ski Rentals and Snowboard Rentals for you to try before you buy. Some people know this as Season Ski Lease or Season Snowboard Lease and it’s all the same thing – pick it up now, and bring it back in April … or if you enjoy the gear you rent from us for the season, you can buy it outright in the spring.
Season rentals are typically available starting the first weekend in October and are due back by April 15th. Returns can be extended until May for an additional fee…. Daily rentals may be picked up the day before you head up to the mountain at no additional charge.
More info here, including the link for getting an appointment.
P.S. Also remember that Mountain to Sound Outfitters’ annual Ski Swap is approaching too – October 14-15 – whether you’re interested in buying or selling, you can find info here.
Back in August, we told you about Sarah Mettler‘s quest for a new home for Lady Di Pet Chaperone, which is about to be displaced by redevelopment for the second time in the dozen years since she took over the business. She asked WSB readers to suggest potential new locations, and says she got “great responses.” And now, she’s found a new location.
If all goes well, she’ll relocate the business to 9037 35th SW, in the Westwood/Upper Fauntleroy mini-business district around 35th/Barton, in late November/early December. That site too has had a redevelopment proposal but like so many other project sites right now, nothing’s imminent; Mettler says she has a two-year lease.
(WSB photo)
Thanks for the tips. Another big-box closure at Westwood Village – signs up today announce that the shopping center’s Staples store is closing November 17th. We have a message out to the company to ask why. A check of national news doesn’t show any large-scale wave of Staples closures, though the privately held office-supply chain is closing one in Massachusetts this week. Other major retailers that have closed at WWV include Bed Bath & Beyond (in the space currently temporarily occupied by Spirit Halloween) and Barnes & Noble (replaced by Ross Dress For Less), though the center’s new-ish ownership has filled other smaller spaces, and has a Daiso store on the way (as we first reported in July).
West Seattle Wellness has a new location and new owner as of today, founder Joe Bielling has announced. The practice, which has been located in Westwood Village (over NK Nails), is now in The Junction, at 4744 41st Ave SW (the City Watch building). And ownership has been transferred to West Seattle Wellness’s acupuncturist, Dr Xiangyu Xu. Everything else stays the same – business name, website, online calendar access, phone number, contact info for practitioners (they include acupuncture, pelvic health, counseling, and massage therapy). Bielling says he’s long been managing the business remotely while splitting his time between Seattle and Austin; now, he is focusing on a new personal career trajectory, post-psychedelic integration therapy.
(WSB photos/video)
Who needs a runway when you can strut your stuff through the West Seattle Farmers’ Market? If you were there just after 11 am, you might have seen the mini-parade walk up from Doll Parts Collective (4832 California SW) and take a lap through the market as the opening act to the shop’s Designer Showcase, happening now. If not – here’s video as participants left the shop, northbound:
Local drag queen Jolene Granby led the way. She was scheduled to perform at the shop afterward.
The main attraction at today’s showcase is a variety of fashion vendors, as previewed here earlier this week. You can check them out at Doll Parts any time before 6 pm tonight!
Until 10 pm tonight, and again 9 am-10 pm tomorrow, you’re invited to a birthday party. The Missing Piece, the café and game lounge on the northeast corner of 35th/Roxbury, is celebrating three years in business. You can drop in and congratulate proprietors Alex and Michael:
From their announcement of this weekend’s party:
During the event there will be a 10% off sale on all food, drinks and games, several raffles including games and cafe related items, new T-Shirts available for purchase, and autumn seasonal drink specials. The all-new pumpkin spice latte served by The Missing Piece is prepared with a delicious house-made pumpkin sauce.
Beginning during the Birthday Bash on October 1, and continuing each Sunday during October, The Missing Piece will be celebrating the spookiest month of the year with a potion brewing event for prizes. The first potion ingredients can be gathered at the Birthday Bash, so be sure to dust off your cauldron and get ready to brew some sweet prizes.
The Missing Piece also has longrunning regular weekly events, as featured in our calendar and daily lists; you can see their ongoing calendar here.
The security-camera images are from Tails to Astonish, West Seattle’s only comic-book shop, burglarized again this morning. Nicole, co-proprietor of the shop at 4850 California SW, says the two burglars “took all the wall books. Still doing inventory” to determine what else is missing.
This is the second burglary at Tails to Astonish in less than six weeks; they also were hit August 23rd. If you have any information, the SPD incident number is 23-283214.
ADDED: The store is closed today for cleanup/repairs, and is normally closed Sundays/Mondays; they’re not sure whether they’ll be able to reopen Tuesday as scheduled: “It’s really devastating to have this happen.”
Get your style on for fall with Doll Parts Collective‘s Sunday event – here’s the announcement, in case you haven’t already seen this in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar:
Join Doll Parts this Sunday, October 1st for our first annual Designer Showcase!
Starting at 11:00 AM, there will be a pop-up vendor market at our storefront (4832 California Ave SW). The event will kick off with a fashion walk – if you’d like to catch the runway looks, meet us at the shop at 11 (or.. you might want to make your way to the West Seattle Farmers Market around that time).
The fashion walk will culminate at the shop around 11:30 with a performance by local drag queen Jolene Granby, followed by live music spun by DJ NotSoGood, personal cakes from Lovely & Dapper Desserts, coffee from Till Dawn, and a FREE table sponsored by Freeya!
Featured local vendors include: Batch Life, Chub Rub Clothing, Playdate Vintage, So Fun, and Soft Stella! Festivities will continue until 6:00 pm, with clothing & accessories available from all of our designers, and of course the best selection of vintage in town!
Some readers have been wondering what’s going on with the vacant Fauntleroy space where The Original Bakery closed in February. As we reported at the time, the space at 9253 45th SW was taken over by the same company that owns Endolyne Joe’s next door. Owner Peter Levy told us in February that they planned to open a new establishment that would serve “morning pastries and espresso,” with other details to come. But with no outward sign of activity in the past seven months, readers asked if the plan was still on. Reached by email, Levy tells us they’ve been waiting all this time for a building permit: “We finally did get approval and the final permit required was issued yesterday.” So, he says, “We will be starting construction activity immediately, with an expected opening now estimated in mid-January.” Some details are still being worked out: “What we know at this point is that we will be opening at 7 am, providing an assortment of baked goods and coffee/espresso. We are still in the development stage as to what our service will include for the lunch and dinner hours. We are at this time intending on a limited breakfast menu with the aforementioned baked goods and continuing service throughout the day and evening. Up until about a week or two ago, we were still not clear if we would be able to secure the permits required to proceed, but with permit in hand it’s full speed ahead.”
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