OPENINGS AROUND THE SOUND
A look at the area's new stores
Posted January 2006
American Apparel, the L.A. manufacturer of clothing staples like T-shirts, jackets and pants, announced in December that a second Seattle-based store is ready for business on Capitol Hill.
The design, manufacturing and marketing for the lines of apparel come out of the largest garment factory in the United States - what the company calls vertical integration.
Even though it avoids professional moels and mall-based stores, American Apparel has become one of the fastest growing brands in the U.S., having opened its 100th store in 2005. The casual clothing, sold sans logos, is familiar to many urbanites who frequent the existing University District store.
Barnes & Noble, Western Washington's most visited bookstore chain, opened a new location in Westwood Village in October. The store offers a deep inventory of books, music and DVDs to those visiting the West Seattle location.
Also new to Westwood Village this year is Chico's, the Fort Myers, Fla.-based retailer of private-label women's clothing and accessories. Among the company's 757 stores are White House|Black Market and soma by Chico's. Also new to the open-air mall in 2005 are Pier 1, Sleep Country USA, John L. Scott Realty and Reflections Dental Centre.
The Vance Hotel underwent a dramatic transformation to Hotel Max in October. The lobby and 163 guestrooms feature the best from area artists. Anything but run of the mill, Hotel Max features in-room phones with "You Got It" buttons, red-leather elevators and people-sized photos of Seattle's music icons on room entrances.
Asian-fusion fare is served at Red Fin with decor as notable as the adjoining Hotel Max. Soups and salads start at $5, while patrons can spend as much as $28 on chef Jun Hong's sashimi dinner with miso soup. The restaurant occupies the space once held by Yakima Grill. Art hounds and foodies alike will find the downtown Seattle hotspots one block away from Westlake Center.
The Mac Store, a subsidiary of Computer Stores NW, opened its seventh location in Redmond Town Center. The company sells a full selection of Apple products and training classes.
The new store is only miles from Microsoft's main campus in Redmond. "Despite the presence of Microsoft as a major employer in that area, we know there are many Mac devotees in their ranks, and of course the area has great demographics for the iPod and all its accessories," said Devin Anderson, CEO of Computer Stores NW, in a statement.
Phil Smart Mercedes extended its automotive dealer network in Washington with the October opening of a Lynnwood location. The site on Highway 99 marks the first Mercedes dealer in fast-growing south Snohomish County. As does the downtown Seattle showroom, the Lynnwood location offers service and sales on the full line of luxury autos.
The dealership comes at a good time for the German brand, as 2004 heralded record U.S. sales and 2005 is looking even better for local and national dealers.