What do you like about doing business in Junction?

I love being a part of the supportive West Seattle and Junction Community. If I don’t have the book a customer needs, I call Leisure or Pegasus Books or Curious Kidstuff. I try to keep the business in the neighborhood. I know other Junction stores try do do the same for me. I love that the Junction has almost anything anyone would ever need. And I love Summer Fest and Movies on the Wall. It’s great we offer so much free and local entertainment for our community.

How many years has your business been in The Junction?

Our store has been in Jefferson Square for more than 22 years. I have owned it for just over seven years. I was five months pregnant when I bought it. My crazy hormones gave me the courage to jump right in and take over something huge that I had little prior experience with! But much like parenting, I quickly got the hang of it. It’s great to see the growth of my son and the evolution of the store in the same context over the last seven years.

What are some challenges of owning a small, independent business?

I bought the store thinking it would allow me to have more free time with my family, but that is not quite the case. I am always on call. It is hard to go away, and when you are gone, you worry nonstop.  But at least I can bring my son to work with me if I need to-he knows how to ring up customers now, and he likes to recommend children’s books. Being a bookstore owner in this economy and digital age means I need to constantly be thinking about how to market my store and how to adapt to the changing times.

What other Junction shops do you like to patronize?

Any place that serves coffee. I am an addict. I visit Hotwire and Uptown quite a bit. I also love Funky Jane’s,  Clementine and Zamboanga. Shoofly Pie Company is wonderful. I only wish they delivered. I always want pie once I’m home in my pajamas, and it is pouring outside!

What is West Seattle’s best kept secret?

One of West Seattle’s best kept secrets is Jack Block Park. We love to take our bikes, rollerblades and skateboards there. We are often the only people there. I cannot believe I am revealing this. We like it because it is empty!

JUNCTION MERCHANTS – CALL TO ACTION!
Join the Junction Love Campaign!

OBJECTIVES FOR EXPERIENCE JUNCTION LOVE CAMPAIGN

•    Position the Junction as a destination for services, entertainment, shopping and dining comprised of independent, one-of-a-kind businesses mixed with a handful of regional favorites
•    Remind people of the reasons to come to the Junction
•    Introduce new people to the Junction
•    Support an ongoing sense of community

The campaign, which will adopt a new focus each month, is intended to showcase The Junction as a destination for services, entertainment, shopping and dining.  As such, the Experience Junction Love campaign will celebrate the business district’s independent and regional businesses via ten broad subjects:

o    January – Fitness & Health (in honor of New Year’s Resolutions)
o    February – Sweets & Baked Goodness (for Valentine’s Day)
o    March – Arts
o    April – Restaurants
o    May – Shops
o    June – Bars & Wine
o    July – Music (to correspond West Seattle Summer Fest)
o    August – Services
o    September – Veggies & Groceries
o    October – Kids and Halloween
o    November/December – Holiday!

The campaign is primarily implemented through The Junction’s Facebook page, blog, and Constant Contact listserve.  If you’d like your business to be highlighted in any (or all) of these categories, please let us know!

We’re currently keeping a list of which businesses are interested.  To be added to the list, contact:

Susan Melrose  •    •  935-0904

Tricia DiBernardo, Owner, Red Cup Espresso

What do you like about doing business in The Junction?

I love the people! Getting to know our regular customers, watching their kids grow up, and making friends with them has been super rewarding.  Thanks to our customers for all their support – we appreciate it!

How many years have you been in business?

Red Cup has been here in the Junction for 7 years.  It will be 3 years for me as the owner here in May.

Who are you customers?

We get commuters on their way to work, neighbors, Farmer’s Market patrons, tourists, Hybrid/Prius owners, customers who know about our solar panels and energy saving practices.  It’s nice to get recognition from the community.

What do you like about owning your own business?

“I get to be a playa!”  No, seriously though, I get to be off the wall with people.  No limit on fun!  I have a lot of freedom and interaction with people.  It is rewarding to do things that make a good impression on people.

Who is your role model?

My mom, she’s an entrepreneur, a cool lady, fun and engaging.  She owns Roast House Coffee in Spokane, our new organic coffee blend!  I admire what she does and she has always been so strong.  She was the rock in our family.

What do you enjoy in your free time?

I spend time with Nina, my daughter.  I do a lot of domestic stuff – cook, shop and play!

What do you love about West Seattle?

It is a gorgeous place to live with the mountains, water, trees – the landscape is beautiful!  The sense of community, it is close-knit, secure, and safe.

What sort of music do you listen to?

We have Pandora on a lot with all kinds of music! I like hip-hop, reggae, and soul – I am particularly fond of the Brazilian Girls.

Bakery Nouveau invites you to their open house tonight,

December 2nd from 6-8PM.

 Follow The Junction’s Blog and Facebook for holiday events, shopping, AND weekly giveaways (on Facebook only.)  So much love to enjoy…

Want an evening shopping alternative to stuffy malls?

The Junction has you covered!  Many retailers are staying open until 9pm on Thursdays NOW through December 22.

Pair with Happy Hour and you’ve got a great night out!

This October The Junction is filled with spooky delights. From creative and creepy costume ideas to eerily delicious treats, you’ll find everything you need to trick out your Halloween this year.

Here’s a sample of what you’ll find in The Junction this October…

• Outfit your four-legged friends at Next to Nature and Petco.

• Deck out your home, Halloween-style with stuff so cool it’s spooky, from Capers, Click! Design That Fits and Northwest Art & Frame.

• Stock up on booty for the big night at QFC, Safeway or Bartells.

• And get your apples for bobbing (or candy apples) at West Seattle Produce Co. or the Farmers Market.

• Don’t forget to dress up your yard!  West Seattle Produce has pumpkins for jack o’ lanterns, hay bales, or corn stalks!  Also, decorative gourds and sugar snap pumpkins for eating.

• Check out Elliott Bay Brewery’s new MASHING PUMPKIN spiced fall seasonal ale.  Pick up a growler for your Halloween party.  Half price on Monday – just $5!

• Hotwire Online Coffeehouse continues to make up drinks and ‘chider’ is back!  Chider is a delish combination of fresh chai, locally pressed cider and a ribbon of orange peel topped with nutmeg and a dash of cinnamon.

• Isn’t it pumpkin pie season?  Aside from our grocery stores, we have great pumpkin dessert options like Shoofly Pie Company.

Check our blog and Facebook page for more frightful and fun October offerings.