Business & Community Development Update – October 2014

Velouria's ribbon cuttingThe doors to Velouria opened last Friday in their beautiful space at Stadium Place. Cat and Chika, Velouria owners, borrowed our big scissors and ribbon to do a proper ribbon cutting. When you stop by to introduce yourself and check out their gorgeous clothes, you’ll also notice the interior door connecting them to Cone & Steiner. Such fun.

ribbon cuttingOther recent openings include Fleurt (Sam and the gang used our scissors, too), Drygoods Design, and Quality Athletics. Rumor has it that Clementines might be open in time for tonight’s Art Walk. We’re thrilled about the direction of retail in our neighborhood. And work continues behind those papered windows at Sprout (nice looking menu), Good Bar, and Elm Coffee, as well as the Nordo Culinarium.

Ward Van Allen, one of the partners at Altstadt, is teaming up with Paul and Tom Lyman and Chef Rodolfo Riveron to bring a new Mexican restaurant to Pioneer Square. Not only will Casco Antiguo be a welcome addition to Occidental Ave between Yesler and Washington, but their plan includes activation of the space in Pioneer Passage Alley, too. What?! Stay tuned!

We’re honored to welcome two new venues to today’s First Thursday art walk. Pilchuck Glass School will feature a preview of select items from their upcoming annual auction gala in their new office and exhibition space in the Pacific Commercial Building at 2nd Ave S & S Washington. One block south, The New Foundation will be welcoming all to visit their new Foundation HQ. While they await the construction of their permanent home in the JANDS Center, the space will house their growing periodical library and presentation space.

To many, it feels like the return of an old friend. Jeff Schoenfeld, owner of the Duncan Building on 2nd Ave S, searched for over a year to find a replacement for the statue that once graced the entrance of his building. Duncan & Sons Saddlery installed the original statue in the 1920s and left it in place even after the business moved to another location sometime in the late seventies. It disappeared during rehabilitation work after the 2001 Nisqually earthquake. The Duncan Building is now home to 88 Keys – and one handsome horse.

DuncanBuildingHorseBeen wondering about the plan for the spaces on Occidental Ave between Rain Shadow Meats and Taylor Shellfish? Seattle Sounders FC will convert the spaces into a fan friendly Clubhouse early next year. The Clubhouse will feature events, player appearances, live broadcasts, team interactive displays, historic artifacts, fan polling and viewing parties, all free to the public. Watch for more information on Soundersfc.com.

Don’t let the cooler days keep you inside. Get out for a walk. Visit old friends and businesses. Discover new ones, too. And perhaps this is the year you experience “Thrill the World“, the eighth annual worldwide simultaneous dance of Michael Jackson’s Thriller video, in Occidental Park on October 25 at 3:00 PM. (Check out a video of last year’s event here.)

Older, Smaller, Better Neighborhoods

Pioneer Passage Rendering

The Preservation Green Lab figured out why we love Pioneer Square: Older, smaller neighborhoods are better! The Lab studied neighborhoods around the country. Among other discoveries they found:

 1/ Older, smaller buildings provide space for a strong local economy

2/ Older business districts provide affordable, flexible space for entrepreneurs of all backgrounds

3/ The creative economy thrives in older mixed-use neighborhoods

4/ Young people love old buildings

 Join us for a discussion on the Older, Smaller, Better report and how Pioneer Square is a model of the movement to save and reinvigorate historic buildings and neighborhoods. A panel discussion will occur on Monday, September 15, 6:00-7:30pm at the Foster White Gallery, 220 3rd Ave S, Seattle. It’s part of the Design in Public festival and is free and open to the public. Hosted by Feet First. Refreshments served.

Our Panel:

  • Mark Hinshaw, FAIA, LMN Architects (Moderator)
  • Michel Powe, Ph.D, Senior Research Manager, National Trust for Historic Preservation
  • David Yeaworth, Deputy Director, Alliance for Pioneer Square
  • Lisa Quinn, Executive Director, Feet First

Hope to see you there!

 

David Yeaworth

Deputy Director

Alliance for Pioneer Square

Business & Community Development Update – September 2014

Kristen Honeycutt Photo Co.-039
Karen True, Director of Business Development

Kristen Honeycutt Photo Co.-038We’re still feeling the afterglow of last week’s announcement about Weyerhaeuser and 200 Occidental. What a bright spot in our future. Right now is a great time, too….

If the weekend move went as expected, the Seattle Mystery Bookshop, a beloved and sought-out Pioneer Square destination for 24 years, should be open for business today in their new location a few yards east of their former doorway. Can’t wait to see the new digs!

We’re thrilled about Seattle Magazine’s article about our growing retail scene. Of course, this is only a fraction of all-that’s-fabulous in our neighborhood. Want to see a complete list? Pick up the newest Pioneer Square Visitors Guide. You can find them all over the neighborhood, as well as in tourist brochure displays throughout the region. Pick one up and start checking out what you’ve missed. Better yet–pick up an extra, mark what you want to see, then invite a friend to the ‘hood for lunch or happy hour to explore with you!

August was busy with new openings:  Cone & Steiner, Drygoods Design, Fleurt, Pizzeria Gabbiano, and – any minute now – Quality Athletics. And E Smith Mercantile adds lunch to their menu, starting this week! Opening soon: Sprout, Clementines, and more. Stay tuned.

Amid all the fun news, there is sad news this week. Wessel & Lieberman is closing. We asked Mark for a few words and this is what he shared:

“OK, short & sweet. This is it. Seriously, we really are closing, and the end is in now in sight. Saturday September 6 will be our last open day to the public. Everything in the shop and on our website will be 70% off. We hope that you can visit – both in person and virtually – and help us dismantle this place; book by book, pamphlet by pamphlet, print by print. BYOB! We will maintain regular hours every day until the 6th. We’ll be here as early as we can, and we will stay as late as someone is still taking away books. For this last phase of the sale please use the Promotional Code: THISISIT when checking out to receive the discount on the website.”

Take a minute to stop by the shop this week to support and thank these folks for being such an important part of our neighborhood. Their entrance is in the Grand Central Building on Occidental Park.

We’re expecting lots of people in Pioneer Square this week. The NFL’s Kickoff festivities will culminate on Thursday with a free concert and the Seahawks opening game against the Green Bay Packers. (Just noticed the following on the Seahawks page: “Fans interested in near-stage seating for the concert may register online at 1iota. Access to this exclusive viewing area opportunity is first come, first served.”) On Friday, set up will begin in Occidental Mall for the 2014 Design Festival. Come on down. This is going to be a blast.

I’m keeping it short this week. The neighborhood is hopping and I want to be out there. By the way, I’m still waiting for some of those stories about our longtime Pioneer Square businesses. I really want to hear them. Remember, the coffee’s on me. Until then, I’ll watch for you in the Square!

Go Hawks!

 

Karen True

Director of Business Development

Alliance for Pioneer Square