by Kirby Lindsay, posted 13 April 2011
The loss of Fremont Place Books earlier this year upset many Fremonsters. The store officially closed February 27th, 2011, and a storefront that had become a dependable focus of foot traffic – partially due to a consistently, intellectually challenging display window – went dark.
“I was really sad,” explained Sue Sanem, owner of Portage Bay Goods, about the closure. “We’ve become shopkeeper friends,” she said of Henry Burton, owner of Fremont Place. She went to visit him about a month after the closure, as he cleaned out the bookstore. “It felt vulture-ish to think about the space,” she allowed, yet, “I saw a lot of people walking by and thought, ‘Hey, wait a minute…’”
So, in what may either prove to be outrageous optimism or incredible organizational skills, Sanem plans to move Portage Bay Goods (with the incomparable help of employees Rebecca West and Shalene Lundgren) from the original location at 706 N 34th St (across from the Waiting For The Interurban statue) to the former Fremont Place site at 621 N 35th St, and re-open by the next First Friday Art Walk, on May 6th.
A Sense of Place
Sanem started at Portage Bay in 1998 as a manager, under the original owner, Betsy Davis. She bought the Fremont store in 2001, when it occupied only a single storefront of the Canal Building. Sanem later leased an adjacent storefront, to double the size of the gift store “for the thoughtful procrastinator.”
As her view of the ‘hood shifts from the Interurban statue to the Fremont Guidepost, Sanem acknowledged, “the difference is only [a loss of] 120 square feet.” She and her husband, local architect Greg Bjarko, will do some renovations to the space, to make it feel more open, and easier to navigate. They will level the floor (and remove the interior stairs,) plus removing the center wall. Her new landlord, local artist Mike Peck, also has offered to remove a chimney and adjust the hot water service.
Sanem, of course, knew Peck “from the neighborhood,” before she signed a lease with him. She is gratified by his excitement at having her business as a tenant. He’s not alone in that. Sanem spoke with Burton, and got his ‘blessing’ to take over the location that had been, for 22 years, a dependable, respected retail destination. Ann Swearingen, a former Fremont Place clerk and familiar Fremonster, also gives Sanem her enthusiastic support, especially knowing the location will reopen with a business that will not fail.
‘Still Our Irreverent Selves’
“I’ve never felt so loved,” Sanem confessed. As word spread, like only truly juicy rumors can, across Fremont, Sanem heard words of encouragement and support from every quarter.
She was also pleased at the understanding expressed by her current landlord. She regrets having to leave 34th Street, particularly the neighboring stores. “The glory years for us were when PCC, and then Capers,” shared the building with Portage Bay, as well as her fond memories of Dandelion and Pontevecchio.
Starting in 2005 with construction on the Fremont Bridge approaches, the businesses along the 700 block of North 34th Street have witnessed a series of difficulties, from road work, disruptive construction of the Lakeview Building across the street, street parking restrictions, and then the economic downturn – plus more road work.
Yet, as Portage Bay prepares to shift one block northwest, Sanem of her excitement over the awaited arrival – at 770 N 34th – of Milstead & Company coffee roasters. She has admitted to her enjoyment of walking by (and peeking in) at the Salsa Con Todo dance studio.
“I feel like this is going to be a breath of fresh air for us,” Sanem said of the move, “it feels good to be closer to the Center of the Universe.” Expect to soon to be offered good bargains at a ‘Big Ass Moving Sale,’ before the North 34th location closes at the end of April. Sanem doesn’t plan any changes to the store when it reopens on May 6th, beyond location. “We’ll still be our irreverent selves,” she promised, as if that were ever in doubt…
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©2011 Kirby Lindsay. This column is protected by intellectual property laws, including U.S. copyright laws. Reproduction, adaptation or distribution without permission is prohibited.