The introductory View From the Kirb appeared Nov. 19, 2003. I write about Fremont from my perspective as a lifelong Fremonster, and I enjoy the opportunities this column presents to learn about my community and to introduce readers to people and issues affecting the Center of the Universe.
With this, my 100th column, I revisited some people, businesses and causes.
ALL IN THE TIMING
Many columns in my first year featured Fremont businesses. Column No. 13 (published May 5, 2004) reported remodeling projects at Roxy's Deli, Costas Opa and 35th Street Bistro, all of which continue to thrive.
This September, 35th Street Bistro hosted a Fremont Chamber of Commerce meeting. Approximately 40 business owners, including some community activists, took turns bragging about their latest projects at the first-ever Breakfast of Shameless Self-Promotion.
Of the many businesses I've profiled, nearly all remain.
The Fremont Red Apple Market (originally the Fremont Fresh Market) didn't fare so well. The grocery store opened a pharmacy (No. 4, published Dec. 31, 2003) in an effort to bring in customers; it didn't bring in enough, and the market closed in 2005.
Sources from the 1920s reference three different drugstores operating in Fremont, but the last closed in 1939. I've heard naysayers speculate our community can't support a pharmacy; I don't agree.
Payless leased space for a pharmacy here in 1997, but Rite Aid bought the chain before the store opened and closed it quickly thereafter for reasons of corporate policy.
Bad luck, certainly, but I don't think either loss indicates we're jinxed, only that we're due.
GOOD FOR BUSINESS
Luckily, with Fremont's current popularity, for every business we lose we gain another.
In the large space once occupied by the market, so far we've gained the well-regarded Asteroid Ristorante, as well as an Anytime Fitness franchise owned by Noel Nishi.
The Anytime Fitness concept offers members 24-hour access to cardio, free weights and stretching space. Noel originally opened last December in 6,800 square feet of space.
Business, according to Noel, has been "fantastic! There's been no slowdown," not even the normal seasonal drop-off.
The franchise suggested one new member a day is good, but Noel reported he's had 20 to 30 sign-ups each week. As a result, Noel leased an additional 900 square feet, currently being remodeled into a group class space.
Noel plans to offer a selection of yoga, Pilates and "maybe even dance classes." He wants the room to build its own reputation and perhaps develop as an independent business.
SCALING BACK
I recently also caught up with the owner of Ophelia's Books and community activist Lisa Perry (No. 3, published Dec. 17, 2003), who admitted she hasn't been so active lately.
Since the column appeared, Lisa married, and I suggested her husband might take time from meeting attendance; Lisa said no. She explained that she took Ophelia's on-line, which expanded her business by nearly double - in sales and work.
Diana Park (No. 2, published Dec. 3, 2003) also scaled back. Diana now holds her Wholesale Sample Sale and Gift for Life sale every other year, instead of annually.
Diana organizes a sale of discontinued and donated items from gift-industry retailers as a Gift for Life fund-raiser and has given a total of $140,000 to AmfAR (American Foundation for AIDS Research.)
Fremont once gave her plenty of vacant retail space in which to house the two-month sale, but prosperity here has made her move elsewhere. This year's sale, starting Nov. 7 - featuring gift items, home décor, books and (new this year) furniture - will take place at 2100 Western Ave.
MOVING AHEAD
Chris Webb built a deck (No. 20, published Aug. 11, 2004) to improve his 100-year-old building at 459 N. 34th St. and to expand Fremont Coffee, a business he co-owns.
He then traveled to Germany (No. 46, published Aug. 24, 2005) to retrieve the building's original stained-glass windows, offered to him by a previous tenant's daughter.
He continues to improve the building, and most recently, Household Power installed what Chris described by e-mail as "the largest solar hot-water arrays in Seattle to help save power in running the kitchen" of Fremont Coffee.
ONGOING ISSUES
Ernst Park, an outdoor mini-ampitheater that provides wheelchair access to the neighboring Fremont Public Library, has been a recurring subject. First came controversy over the name (No. 23, published Sept. 22, 2004) and then a debate about the art railing (No. 88, published April 18, 2007).
At its September meeting, the Fremont Neighborhood Council voted to give $5,000 to the railing project to augment the Mayor's Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs original budget of $18,000.
According to public-relations manager Lori Patrick, the railing - as designed by Seattle artist Jenny Heishman - is expected to be completed in March 2008.
GAINING PERSPECTIVE
Every September, I go to the Washington coast for a short vacation. The annual nature of the trip gives me perspective on where I've been, and the weather generally lends itself to introspection on where I want to go.
With this 100th column, I enjoyed the opportunity to do the same. Fremont has seen changes in our population - in who is here, what they want to do and how we all deal with increasing density.
In personality, it is difficult to determine if we're growing up, or simply more glossy.
One thing remains eternal: the intensity Fremonsters feel and act upon in improving the neighborhood we love.
Kirby Lindsay lives, works and recreates in Fremont and has done so for a lifetime. She welcomes your thoughts on Fremont at fremont@oz.net.
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