New Shop needs a miracle

Thrift store meets swap meet and a place to feed the homeless out of the back - that was Dawn Finn's dream when she opened her store at 210B Wells Ave.S. not too long ago. Dawn and an old friend were partners in the store, but at the last hour, literally, it became a one woman show. Dawn has been struggling to realize her dream ever since.

To say it's been hard is an understatement. A third party that was savvy to the ways of Swap Meets also quit on Dawn and her husband lost his job this month. Someone came on to help at the store, but wrote scriptures on the store walls and then went off to join the carnival (really, I didn't just make that up). Dawn just was not getting any breaks.

The good news is that Renton, being the great town that it is, reached out to help. Charles of St. Charles Place Antiques and Restoration just down the street has given Dawn several display cabinets to use and sell at her store. Deb of Girlfriend's Antiques, Gifts and Floral on S. Third has lent a hand. Everyone I know was trying to drop by unneeded items to donate to the cause. But it might in the end just not be enough.

Dawn needs a miracle by this Sunday to help her pull through - a new partner. The owner of the building is not making this any easier on her and she just needs some assistance to help get over the hump.

Everyday the shop is looking better, shaping up and filling out. If you can help - give Dawn a call today. She's waiting and keeping the hope alive.

Dawn Finn
Finn Thrift & Swap 210B Wells Ave. S.
425.829.6526

Ohh, the books, the books

Owner Dacia Hanson, with her current read " Your Vigor for Life Appalls Me - Robert Crumb Letters" by R.Crumb

The return of the independent bookstore to Renton is finally here - and the wait was well worth it. 11 year veteran of McDonald's Book Exchange in Redmond, Dacia Hanson opened her doors this week in the Louisa Building on Wells Ave. S. in a lovely space and shelves that are filling rapidly.

With an emphasis on reasonable prices and customers bringing in books for exchange and credit in the store, now is a great time to spring clean at home. A cool bonus is that your credit will be honored at the sister store in Redmond, owned by Dacia's friend and previous employer, Ann St.Germaine. Though two separate businesses, the idea for this Renton store began when Ann and Dacia noted that McDonald's Book Exchange had enough books coming through the door to fill another shop. Customers from as far away as Olympia and Chehalis were coming to exchange their books on the store's generous terms, so obviously there was a large market that was still yet to be tapped.

All genres are represented at the shop, though a steady overturn in the Romance section is to be expected. Already boasting a good selection of Philip Roth books, a couple of vintage editions of Black Beauty and volume one and two of Art Speigelman's Maus, Dacia is pleased with the growth her new shop has already seen.

If you don't see her as often as you would like this week - it's because she had a car accident recently and is working on getting a new set of wheels. I can already tell that it will not be long before both Dacia and her shop feel like old friends in the DTR.

Old Renton Book Exchange
227 Wells Ave. South
425.430.BOOK / 425.430.2665

Across the street from the bookstore, Dawn Finn has opened the doors of her thrift and swap shop and is now accepting donations and has stall space up for rent for interested parties. This street in Renton has got so many new moves, it is hard to fathom.

Remember the metal detector store? Seems like the empty store front has finally been rented and that a beauty salon will open soon. Yep, right there on Wells Ave.S.

What did I tell ya - this block is the current bomb of activity.

Uwajimaya Opens it's doors today

Renton Village Shopping Center has a new shingle added to their line-up of stores - Uwajimaya. Today at 9 am the doors will open and a new era of grocery shopping will begin in what used to be the local Thriftway market. Uwajimaya is a specialty Asian grocery store that provides fresh produce and specializes in fresh seafood and meat . Their flagship store in Seattle is a mecca for many a shopper looking for anything from Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Indian - you name it, food provisions. Prices at that store are reasonable, staff courteous and store well maintained.

I tried to get a few shots in for you, being the intrepid Picaroon poster that I am, but the staff were hesitant to let me show you anything. The place was semi-full of produce and stocked shelves, but it was obvious that a lot more had to be done to make it to the 9 am deadline. But what I did observe looked good. They will have a weekly flyer with store specials, brightly colored and tasty in content. I can hardly wait.

What I was able to report on was the Human Resources Director, with over 20 years work history with Uwajimaya in Seattle, out slinging hamburgers on a grill to feed the workers going all out to meet the looming opening deadline.
I really like a place that looks after the welfare of it's workers. Bonus points already for our newest store addition. I think that if you work in the food industry, it should go without saying that you feed your employees. They are the back off of which you make your income and your best frontline media representatives. If they are happy, so will the customers they are serving. Can you tell that I thought the burgers looked yummy?

Head on over today and see what is new in the way of food in Renton.

Uwajimaya Renton Village Shopping Center 501 S. Grady Way
Regular store hours Monday - Saturday 7am-10pm Sunday 9am-9pm
www.Uwajimaya.com
Grand Opening Ceremony July 15, 2009

Tully's on Rainer - Gone!

This past weekend, quietly and without much fanfare, the Tullys Coffee on Rainier closed. I was informed by my favorite mail carrier, Barbara (you all know her - and if not - here is my blog about her), that her favorite place to go and get her daily cup of joe was closing and they only informed their customers on the last day of business it seems.

I made it there on Sunday, to find, indeed, the shop completely closed with a sign instructing clients to head over to the Rainier Beach store to get their morning fix. Yeah, like that's gonna happen. I did witness two cars slowly go by as I snapped my photos, mystified by the papered over windows of what used to be their coffee hook-up.

However, the good news is that an independent coffee shop will be acquiring the space and moving in soon. The new name is Tuscany Coffee Co., and there seems to be a drive-through branch of this shop in existence already in Lakewood. Yeah! for another small, family-owned business.

In the meantime, outside of Liberty Cafe, which always has my utmost love, please try the lovely Caffe Umbria coffee that is being served so well at the Yoggi Yogurt store on S. Third Street. Soon, this coffee operation will move around the corner to the Deli that the same owners are hard at work to open in the coming month. Until then, you can have a lovely cup and indulge in the very good frozen yogurt as well.

Yoggi Frozen Yogurt 801 S. Third Street (425) 204-9991 Don't forget to get your yogurt punch card started right away!

What, is that music I hear?

I was sad to hear of the closing of Feathered Nest, but Sue Moeller (owner) assured me that she was really looking forward to enjoying retirement with dear Hubby. So when I heard today that as of July 1st, someone new will already be getting the key to this cute and cool location in the DTR (that's "Downtown Renton"), I was stoked!

Anybody down for Renton's first independent music store? Tyrannosaurus Records, where CD's will cozy up alongside the recent revival of bands issuing music on vinyl. Indie tunes, new and newer bands as well as somethings more mainstream is what I heard - but I will try to bring some more definite info in the coming days.

But, hey - that is enough info to get anyone excited!!