I had just mentioned Last Waltz in this morning’s weekend update when I saw a tweet from CHS that says they’re closing. That’s really too bad. It was a really cute little store that has helped start a business revolution on its block on 18th across from TT Minor.
This Seattle Times blogger says that they will be having a sale starting this weekend, so do try to make some time to go by and meet the owner Cybele and check out what she has to offer.
And make sure to get out and support all of our other neighborhood businesses so we can hopefully prevent future losses.
Not that I was its target audience, but losing that storefront is a definite set back.
As excited as we get about new businesses opening in our area, we need to remember to follow up and actually patronize them. I am guilty like anybody else, having just gone to a local store for the first time in their 9 months of existence. Sadly, they probably won’t be at that location in 3 months time.
[/snark on]
Don’t worry – with the mall at the Goodwill site we won’t have a need for those pesky locally-owned small businesses.
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There are over 13 neighborhood commercial districts within 1.5 miles of the proposed Dearborn mall. All of these could use support and further development thereby providing us with walkable goods and services – and a healthy local economy. The Dearborn Street project threatens them by sucking up retail dollars and sending them off out of our community and will deprive economic development in our community as retailers will avoid trying to compete with the mall.
Don’t be swindled:
http://www.bigboxswindle.com/
Last Waltz has quality fashions, both clothing and accessories. I’ve bought several items there and was planning on buying more. It probably just is not well enough known.
i definitely would have bought more but I think if they expanded their market (demographic/style/etc.) it would have been more successful.
hi folks,
just to clear up the facts a little:
the economy has definitely played a role in our decision to close last waltz, but i can’t say that we were forced out of business. we have a loyal and wonderful customer base who has been wonderfully supportive since day one, and have continued to be so, to a large extent, even in these tough times. my husband and i have wanted to move away from seattle for a while now, however, and the beginning of a prolonged economic crisis seemed like a good opportunity to go ahead and make our break with the city.
mostly i’m posting this so that people don’t feel needlessly upset and freaked out about failing local businesses…this closure was very much a purposeful decision. nevertheless! get out there and support all our other wonderful local business people. it’s more important now than ever.
where are you going? may we ask?
good luck in your future endeavors. is anybody planning to move in? do you know?
hi elvis,
not entirely sure where we’re going yet! that’s to be figured out in the coming year. we have some great people who are very interested in the space…possibly an art gallery/space for sewing and music classes. of course a lot depends on our landlord, but we’ll do our best to have some good people take over the space.
“There are over 13 neighborhood commercial districts within 1.5 miles of the proposed Dearborn mall.”
Yes, and in the poorer neighborhoods they all consist of either junky fast food type places and nail salons, or the storefronts have been taken over by churches or offices. In the wealthier neighborhoods, they’re all cafes, art galleries or stores for rich white ladies who need to spend money to validate their existence.
Which is why we all end up driving to Renton, Factoria, West Seattle or U-Village to buy things for everyday life.
I can’t wait for the Dearborn site to be redeveloped.
That’s the point. Development needs to be encouraged here – not in a new mall that we have to DRIVE to.
If we are ever going to have investment and development RIGHT HERE IN THE ‘HOOD, the mall down the street will hurt that.
What things FOR EVERYDAY LIFE can’t you get here? And what doesn’t our DOWNTOWN COMMERCIAL CORE have what you want?
What EVERYDAY LIFE items could be here in the neighborhood if we didn’t have PAYDAY LOANS, ARMY RECRUITING or VACANT STORE FRONTS?
I want either PCC or Madison Market.
I was in there today, and she said she expects to be open about another week. There’s still a great selection.
I want a decent grocery store. How does Red Apple stay in business? What a crappy place.
Red Apple is a good local grocery store. The produce is better and better and they have an organic section, too. It’s not Whole Foods–but I wouldn’t want it to be, either. Recently, I asked the management if they would stock a few new items, and they were on the shelves within a few days. I’m pleased to have Red Apple in the neighborhood.
Dirty, bad prices, bad selection, usually something crazy going on in the parking lot, expired/spoiled food on the shelf, bizarre/crappy selection of wine. Beer prices are terrible. No real deli. No bakery, and bread selection is terrible. The place has a poor layout and a crappy vibe. Some of their people are really nice, but others are clueless.
It’s like the management/ownership does a calculation, what is the absolute least they can do to make $ off of current customers, without putting any extra effort in to attract/keep new ones.
The other terrible thing, aside from the lack of selection of good/healthy foods, is the surprisingly high prices for some of the junk food they sell. I guess they’re trying to cash out on some of their poorest customers.
I, too, very much like the Red Apple. Where else can one get fresh collard greens in the neighborhood? Jeez, S, the beer prices are FINE and the sanitation level’s quite to my satisfaction. Go to the f’ing Safeway off of Madison if you want to pay too much!
I like the Red Apple – prices are great, wine selection is mighty fine and the employees are nice. And it will just keep on getting better the more people support it.
By going in and doing the cleaning and pulling the old stock? The same owner owned the Red Apple at MLK and Union that is now the Grocery Outlet. When it was the Red Apple, it kind of went downhill over a period of years to the point that I only bought things that I could see were not outdated. I also liked the people who worked there very much. While the outlet has limited selection, the cleanliness level is 100% better.
If people can get it back on track, that would be great.
Oh yeah…if we could get another Leschi Market here in the CD, I’d be so spoiled! Everything you need, plus family-owned and a butcher space, too. Reminds me of Marketime in Fremont.