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Izilla Toys is celebrating their move to their new, street level space this Saturday, July 17th. Festivities will include face painting, magic show, a raffle, cupcakes, ice cream, and 20% off all merchandise!
Check out their website here.
Check out the fun at 1419 12th Avenue (between Pike and Madison).
Through the 12th Avenue Initiative, we are working on a retail survey to gauge what types of businesses are missing from the 12th Avenue neighborhood. We’re specifically looking at 12th Avenue between Yesler and John Street. I know this overlaps a bit with Pike Pine so when you’re taking this survey, please focus on 12th Avenue by itself. We’re looking for ways to improve 12th as a commercial corridor and to help create an identity for the street.
Please take a few moments and fill out the survey so that we can understand what YOU want from 12th Avenue. All input will be extremely valuable and can help guide future development in the area. This information will also be compiled as part of a larger retail study that should be completed by mid-summer.
We appreciate your help!
Retrofit Home (a former 12th Avenue business) has moved to 11th and Pike into the old Aria space. While we loved them in the old location, we really love their new space, which is FABULOUS!
Come check it out at their (re)Opening Party this Saturday , June 5th from noon to 9pm. Explore the new space, say hello, buy some awesome stuff, and celebrate another great local business!
retrofit storefront
Something that makes the 12th Avenue Business District great is the distinct lack of national chains along the corridor. This isn’t just by chance. Today there was a nice piece in the CHS Blog on vacant retail space in Capitol Hill/Pike-Pine, where we noticed the listing for the Retrofit Home space. This space is owned by local developer Liz Dunn’s company, Dunn+Hobbes (full disclosure, Liz also happens to be a CHH Board Member). The CHS post describes the space as:
"AWESOME COMMERCIAL SPACE ON CAP. HILL! Retrofit Home is Moving Around the Corner!!! We are moving around the corner and our Space will become available some time May-ish. Restaurant/Cafe/Retail Storefront Super Hot, Super Hip Location. Restaurant / retail / café space in extremely desirable location on 12th Avenue in the heart of Pike-Pine. 30’ x 100’ clearspan storefront space in vintage wood and concrete building. 3,000 square feet @ $25/sf plus NNN. No national chains ." (emphasis mine)
Many developers in the neighborhood understand that it is the presence of small local businesses that makes a business district feel vibrant, exciting and unique. National chains aren’t necessarily bad — but a mix of business types is needed for an authentic feeling and a thriving district. Liz Dunn is just one Pike/Pine developer who gets this concept. Hopefully we will get another great tenant in this space soon and we will miss Retrofit on 12th!
Welcome to Donna Moodie and her fantastic new restaurant Marjorie , coming soon (May) to the little stand-alone commercial space at Chloe, on 14th and Union. We are so excited to have her and this great restaurant, in the neighborhood!
Do you know what to do with used bubble wrap, padded envelopes and other packaging material? Unless you’re trying to make a fun dress as modeled by this creepy mannequin, you’re in luck because local businessman Alan Goldwasser will reuse your packaging materials.
You usually can’t recycle this stuff so this is a welcome change to dumping it in the trash and knowing that it will just sit in the landfill for another 100 years.
For more information on Alan’s good work and his local partners, check out the full story on the CHS blog .
You can drop off bubble wrap and padded mailers at Retrofit Home (currently at 12th Ave between Union and Pike but moving to 11th Ave and Pike later this spring). Unfortunately no styrofoam peanuts will be accepted.
This is just one of the many reasons we love Watertown! Thanks to the Stranger Slog for posting this picture earlier.
Our good buddies over at Retrofit Home are leaving 12th Avenue for a bigger and better store. Don’t worry - you will be able to find them just around the corner at 11th and Pike in the old Aria space. Check out the Capitol Hill Seattle blog for more details.
Donna Moodie’s restaurant Marjorie, which closed at its Belltown location, is re-opening its doors on Capitol Hill just off 12th Avenue. The Seattle Times has a good article with all the details here and we look forward to checking out the restaurant when it opens at the Chloe (1412 E Union).
In the article, Donna shares her excitement about the move to Capitol Hill, and how the vibrancy of the neighborhood and the proximity to the Central Area were important factors in the relocation. We can’t help but toot our own horn a little bit and note that Capitol Hill Housing might have done some not-so-subtle advertising to encourage Donna to relocate to this area. What can we say, we’re proud of 12th Avenue and know that this area has a lot to offer as well as a lot to gain from engaged business owners.
Look for Marjorie to open in the coming months!
There’s a great article in the Pacific Northwest section of the Seattle Times about Pike Pine that is worth a read. The article brings up everything that I love about the Pike Pine node around 12th Avenue. The old "auto row" style warehouses, the funky art spaces, fun small businesses, and the bars and restaurants. Of course there are also struggles inherent with a fabulous, dense neighborhood close to downtown. The old brick warehouses might not be "landmarks" according to the city and strict preservationists and therefore are constantly threatened by demolition and redevelopment. There’s also a struggle to keep rents affordable as the neighborhood becomes home to new condos and lofts. People will pay a premium to live here but hopefully this won’t be at the expense of pricing out the folks that make the neighborhood what it is - the artists, baristas, bartenders, and musicians.
This quote from Liz Dunn about urban villages sums up why I love Capitol Hill and can’t think of living in any other neighborhood.
"They offer the kind of community that you can get in a small town but within a big city."
