We received an email tip from My Ballard reader Gooner who had heard that Olivine on Ballard Ave. is closing. Sure enough, a phone call to the popular shop confirmed that it’s going out of business soon.
The clerk who answered the phone couldn’t give us any details, but did say she didn’t know the exact closing date. She asked us to call back and speak with the manager on Monday. Once we get details we’ll post them here.
My Ballard
A news blog for Seattle's Ballard neighborhood and beyond
Popular boutique on Ballard Ave. closing
July 5th, 2008 · 9 Comments
Tags: Ballard
9 responses so far ↓
1 JM // Jul 5, 2008 at 4:51 pm
Perhaps these small boutiques will do better after all the new Ballard people get moved in next year.
2 Jennie // Jul 5, 2008 at 6:29 pm
Olivine’s been around for close to 10 years though, right?
3 John Eddy // Jul 5, 2008 at 8:08 pm
When my wife read this post aloud earlier I asked “so, whats going to replace it?” and in true “Jinx, owe me a coke” fashion, we both said:
Shoe store.
I figured, we just got rid of the next to last wine bar to bring us back to a respectable one, now we need to start adding *more* shoe stores. No offense to Market Street Shoes, I love their stores, but, Ballard has about 3 too many shoe stores. =)
4 gooner // Jul 5, 2008 at 9:10 pm
while i am not a boutique store frequenter, i think too many of them open up thinking that people will like their good tast in (shoes/clothes/etc)
i am not blaming olivine of this, but i am just saying, unless you are in a ridiculously wealthy or touristy area, which ballard is not either, it is hard to maintain a high price (albeit maybe high margin) boutique business.
5 jasmine // Jul 6, 2008 at 7:50 am
Ballard ave is one of the best places in the city for boutique shopping (just behind Fremont). I always take my out of town friends there and frequent it myself quite a bit. It’s sad to see Olivine close. I believe it’s always a finalist on NW Source’s “best of” list.
6 Brand New Dad // Jul 6, 2008 at 1:25 pm
Stopped by at the farmer’s market today and the owner told me that the business is being sold and will reopen under a different name. Olivine’s owner will open a “small things” boutique in Fremont. Nice!
7 Kay // Jul 6, 2008 at 9:14 pm
No! Olivine has been there for at least 8 years, and although I can’t afford their regular prices, everything is marked down at least 50% twice a year. My best stuff came from Olivine sales. I’m so sad!
8 POB // Jul 7, 2008 at 12:24 pm
As a young single man, i loved the clientele this store brought to my neighborhood! Bummer!
9 JamieKC // Jul 7, 2008 at 3:53 pm
I never understood this place. Who are these people who can shop from 10am-6pm? Do people without jobs really buy designer stuff? I would have shopped there more if they were open until 8pm.
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