Blackbird carries men's sizes up to XXL and size 38 pants. Believe it or not, our whole aesthetic is based on how men in Ballard dressed 30, 50 and 100 years ago. We try to offer options that can not be found in other stores; that is why we do not carry Tommy Bahama style shirts (see their store in U-Village). It's impossible to meet everyone's needs but we do try to listen when customers ask for help. Please speak up if there is something you don't see.

Stores like, Bella's, Ella Mon, Asher Anson, Horseshoe, Kavu, Re-Soul and Dolce Vita are all part of our Ballard balance. We are a small town within a big city. We should be happy for the businesses that can survive here and shed a tear for the ones that leave. There is not one retailer in Ballard that is not hurting right now and I encourage everyone stay positive and keep supporting your favorites.

We chose Ballard for its diversity. Blue collar mixed with white collar; singles, couples, families, grandparents and lots of dogs. We have one of everything here in our neighborhood except for a grocery store. We should get mad about this issue.


Lastly, THANK YOU Bella's!!! You'll always be a part of our neighborhood and I wish you a prosperous future at your flagship store.

-Nicole

Judy brings up a good point - where is the chamber of commerce (ie business owners who care about their business and the community). It is a very weak group due to lack of participation. Ballard should be looking alot more festive right now for Christmas to get everyone in the spirit and make it enticing and fun for others to come into Ballard for their social and shopping needs. Ballard is a great place but it has alot more potential!

I didn't specify any demographic that should shop in Ballard, just that Edmonds sounds like it might be more your speed.

Don't get mugged.

Ouch! I can feel the merchants' pain over the inference that there is a particular demographic that should shop in Ballard!

I have money and I spend it. I may not be a target market for a tatoo parlor, but for many of the shops, current and out of business, I am. Money speaks loudly. And even at the tatoo parlor, when one of my children was in college I did give them a gift certificate for a tatoo.

If Ballard wants people to shop in Ballard, they need to spend some time and enegy figuring out how to improve what they bring to the table - this should be a continual ongoing process. Again, where is the Chamber of Commerce?

What about it isn't safe, though, really? A couple incidents and you're acting like it's the ghetto.

It's Ballard.

Ballard is apart of a major American city. Incidents like the guy getting mugged happen in cities. If one or two incidents is enough to scare the wits out of you, than I say shop in Edmonds. It sounds like it's more your demographic, anyway.

I will agree with the parking comment, though. Fortunately, I live in walking distance to all of it.

Oh, bobcat, how quick you assume and how wrong you are. I do not live in Ballard but come a few times a month to visit my daughter and young grandson. We like to shop and have lunch when I visit, and I can more than afford to do these things. We made some significant purchases at Olsen's and a couple of other shops during my visit last week.

Our family heritage is Scandanavian and we have four generations of history in Ballard. I am old and started shopping in Ballard before you were born. Not sure I agree about the melting pot comment, perhaps economically but probably not so much ethnically. Granted, Ballard it is changing, but it is still celebrating its hardworking Scandanavian roots.

When I have a difficult time finding parking, get sideswiped on the sidewalk by skateboarders, worry about getting mugged by vagrants (see Nordic Woman's warning) and continually have fewer and fewer shops in which to make purchases I may choose to spend my money somewhere else. The guilt trip of "shopping local" doesn't hinder me but "Shop Ballard" is what I would like to do.

If you think it is the "owners, employees or promoters of local businesses" that are keeping Ballard alive you are sadly mistaken. Any business model that fails to recognize that it is all about the customers is doomed to fail. Certainly there must be some interesting metrics - what is the average life of a business in Ballard, what is the turnover rate, etc.

I would suggest that instead of being so defensive and contrary, it would be a better use of your corporate energy to find ways to make Ballard an appealing, convenient and safe place to shop. Sell the idea of Shop Ballard!

Makes me wonder what the Chamber of Commerce is doing. Is there a downtown association? Perhaps you 'unruly skateboarders' should get off your boards and support efforts to make Ballard a great place to shop!

Judy, you sound like you need to have your husband let you out a little more often than once a year. I sincerely feel sorry for your lack of reality.

Ballard is, was and always will be a melting pot of ethnic styles. Us 'unruly skateboarders' are the very ones keeping Ballard alive via being owners, employees or promoters of local businesses. We're glad you decided to buy one of those new-fangled condos, but you should learn about neighborhoods before you move in.

As for second hand smoke, i'm sure your Diesel BMW emits more damage than 100 smokers daily.

1 Are you saying that the man who got beat up with the baseball bat was responsible for the attack because he failed to "ignore them?"

Hummm . . . Maybe he only "felt" safe but was not in fact safe!

Judy, if this neighborhood is too scary for you, I suggest you move somewhere "safer" like a development in Issaquah. I have never felt unsafe in Ballard, especially in daylight. If you ignore them, they'll ignore you.

Over a certain age, as the French say, or over a certain weight, the clothes at Olivine are no longer appropriate, and they certainly were NOT cheap! (and they are gone, anyway.) More to the point, where can I buy nice gifts for my mother, who does not need any more knicknacks, kitchen stuff, etc?

Classic Consignment ROCKS, and not only do I buy lots of things there, but I consign things there.

I love Ella Mon, (although I am a little too big for many styles) Classic Consignment, Ballard Home Comforts, Camelion, Kitchen 'n things, Epliogue Books, Romanza, Sandinavian Specialties, Olsens' Food, The R Shoppe, Bop Street, and I ADORE Bellas. I can find limitless things to buy for myself at all of these places. However, their leaving does not help my gift-giving dilemma of what to get my older brother, or my mom.

I may get my mom the gift of having her parents names inscribed on the Leif Erikson statue down on Shilshole, or a membership to the Nordic Heritage Museum. OK, Secret Squirrel Shoppers, how about a suggestion for a 50 year old man? I have two of them to buy gifts for, and they have all the groovy flasks and wallets they can use in this lifetime.

Suggestions?

I'm in my 40s and I shopped at Olivine. Um, am I too old to shop there? I'm not in my 30s, nor am I hip...yikes! Do I fit in? Am I not following the rules of my demographic? Will I get kicked out of the Tractor or Hattie's next time I go? Should I get a tattoo? Or should I just quit worrying about it...

I'll continue to shop in Ballard, cuz I enjoy it, demographic be damned. As my wise friend continually says, "if you can't find it in Ballard, you don't need it"...

(3)choices of where I spend my money are limited because I do not shop at tatoo parlors even for gifts. It isn’t easy to spend my money in Ballard!

how many tattoo parlors do we have? i was only aware of the one-Anchor Tattoo on Market with the cool bikes that are always in the window.
Ballard may be lacking in clothing for women/men of a certain age/size (though have you tried Classic Consignment on 24th?), but we have lots to offer in the way of jewelry, shoes, other accessories, furniture, and even some toys for children and grown-up outdoorsy types. what are you even looking for if you can't find it among the plethora of shops in Ballard??

for Nordic Woman--
i agree with the makeup and lingerie.
for men in their 40-50s maybe Second Ascent? Wallets and man-bags at Re-Soul? Sutter Home and Hearth for all his grilling needs? Secret Garden or Epilogue Bookstores?

I try to do ALL of my shopping in Ballard, but it is difficult to find:
Gifts for my parents. I assure you, I would much rather buy their presents in Ballard than at a mall. There are only so many knicknacks that they want or need (ok, zero.)

Makeup other than the drugstore variety.

Underwear, other than at Fred Meyer. Olivine used to carry lingerie, but I don't think I should have to take out a bank loan for it.

Gifts for men in their 40's and 50's. If there is something I am missing, please let me in on the secret shopping location.

Not EVERYONE in Ballard is a hip 30-something person.

BTW, Ballard had beat cops walking the beat on Ballard Avenue and Market until the 1960s. I think it might be a good idea to bring them back! I keep hearing about various business being broken into, violence on the streets, this latest muggine...and the proliferation of street people has defintely escalated in the last 10 years. Frankly, I would be a LOT more worried about being mugged by a vagrant than their second hand smoke. And you can thank our mayor for the parking situation; I don't notice meters in West Seattle, where he lives!

PDX Ballardite you were lucky, I nearly got wiped out by three skateboarders - maybe young professionals using alternative transportation. And the second hand smoke from the vagarants (possibly sick) leaning against the wall was ugly and its scary to worry where the next baseball attack will occur.

We can argue the semantics in this discussion, but the truth is Ballard could be a lot more shopper-friendly and then maybe places like Bella's could survive.

"(2)sidewalks are scary and unsafe" ????

For four years, I pushed my kids around every corner of downtown Ballard in a stroller and have never once felt unsafe. Actually, the homeless folks are quite friendly, when you have a kid in tow.

Unhealthy? So now you have something against sick people?

GASP!

The people on the street who made me uncomfortable were not on skateboards, rather they looked definitely "unhealthy" and were leaning against a building smoking and watching the passersby. They looked very scary.

I have no problem with skateboards only with their operators. I certainly would think that those "young professionals" would have enough courtesy and intelligence to avoid knocking someone off balance as they zip in and out on the sidewalk using their modern form of transportation. In a pack of three, eve.

I have no problem with diversity, but I do have a choice where I spend my money. Shopping in Ballard is challenging: (1) hard to find a place to park (2)sidewalks are scary and unsafe (3)choices of where I spend my money are limited because I do not shop at tatoo parlors even for gifts. It isn't easy to spend my money in Ballard!

If I am not the right demographic for the Ballard brand, so be it. I am the right demographic for many other places and I can certainly take my money there.

oh and i am with nubee.

not sensitive, just pointing out that a lot of people on myballard are kind of hateful. its something that really turns me off about myballard. it just seems that nothing goes up on this blog without someone being negative about something or towards someone (and usually the comments lack constructiveness)
but hey, people seem to really dig the negativity so whatever. i guess i am in the minority on this one.

I only popped into Bella's once. I saw some cute pjs in the window. They were $119.

I can't afford $119 pjs (or most anything else in the store). I bet I'm not alone.

@ Judy: Ballard already has a brand. In 1997, it shifted from the "Almost Live" stereotype of the old woman, driving with her seatbelt closed in the car door, dragging on the ground, to ex-rockers and hipsters who were ready to buy a (then affordable) house and maybe have a few kids, while still having beers at Hattie’s and jamming in an alt-rock band at the Tractor. For the past decade, those tats, skateboards and rockers (not to mention cool parents) have defined Ballard's new brand. And their creativity and hip cache is responsible for creating what Ballard has become: a hot ‘hood. Where have you been?

"My daughter and I shopped and had lunch in Ballard yesterday. I have to say that there were some people on the street that made me a little uncomfortable and they probably looked at me and wondered what the “old broad” with the baby stroller was doing on their turf. I’m not sure that Ballard has found its “brand” - it seems there might be different clientele at a tatoo parlor than at some of the other shops. Can Ballard really meet the needs of all and still find financial success! If you want me to come and bring my $’s to spend in your shops, you’ll need to protect me from being wiped out by three young men on skateboards. Or do you want to cater to the skateboard, rock music, tatoo crowd - without a doubt there’s a market there too, but its not me."

Really, Judy, I'd say you're a bit out of touch. Skateboards don't necessarily mean "thug" and no one cares if you come to ballard, even if they have tatoos, listen to rock music, and yes, skateboard. If you can't handle a little diversity, move to Edmonds.

I am thinking the reason that some are upset about the bashing of Blackbird and other similar stores is that instead of saying "Wow Blackbird is a great store for that demographic", people make disrespectful remarks about their merchandise. There is nothing wrong with what they sell, its just not suited to everyone. I am of the thirty something crowd but a majority of the clothing sold at Bellas is not in my fashion tastes, but it certainly doesn't mean I would bash them because of it.

I am sad to see Bellas go, just because the few times I have been in there the customer service has been outstanding and I have gotten many gift ideas.

I think we should be supportive of ALL shops in Ballard, regardless of the demographic they serve.

Ironically, some of those "skateboarders" you see may actually be young professionals who just choose a different mode of transportation.

I did NOT mean to be hateful about Blackbirds, but the demographic they serve does not include someone who is 6 ft. 4 and broad in the shoulders, nor does it include my father, or my Boeing engineer husband. Men's clothes, like women's, come in different lines to fit different demographics, and I think you will find that the clothes at Blackbird are more suitable for the very young and the very slim.

The same was true of women's clothes at Olivine, where I was separated from enormous hunks of cash 10 years and 50 lbs ago. Bellas carries lovely high quality clothes for the woman of say 30 and up, where Olivine catered to the 20-something crowd. The clothes lines are also (in retail lingo) "junior" at stores like Olivine and "missy" at stores like Bella. They are cut larger and the styling is different.

I am devastated to see Bella's go. Ella Mon is also a lovely, lovely store, but I am more likely to find gifts for my mom and sister at Bellas.

That said, I have for many years done virtually ALL of my shopping in Ballard. KAVU does a nice line in men's shirts for the not-so-young and not-so-slim . I encourage everyone to support their small local businesses here in Ballard.

elle - I think you sound a little on the sensitive side. There are different styles for 22 year old men who work as baristas than there are for middle age men. I can definitely see the difference. Cut Nordic woman some slack - we do know what she is trying to say.

My daughter and I shopped and had lunch in Ballard yesterday. I have to say that there were some people on the street that made me a little uncomfortable and they probably looked at me and wondered what the "old broad" with the baby stroller was doing on their turf. I'm not sure that Ballard has found its "brand" - it seems there might be different clientele at a tatoo parlor than at some of the other shops. Can Ballard really meet the needs of all and still find financial success! If you want me to come and bring my $'s to spend in your shops, you'll need to protect me from being wiped out by three young men on skateboards. Or do you want to cater to the skateboard, rock music, tatoo crowd - without a doubt there's a market there too, but its not me.

why is it on myballard people cant just put a comment that is positive or constructive rather than bashing someone or groups of people?? (ie:"actual men" vs "22 year old baristas") i just dont get all the hate.

Dear My Ballard.com readers,
This is a sad time for me as I get ready for our sale to start on Thursday, December 4th.
We have made so many friends here. ...I love my Ballard customers.
My Olympia store is surviving (not really thiving) because it has been around for quite awhile and I have a loyal, established clientele. We were starting to get that here in Ballard but it is too little, too late, for us.
I hope that our sad experience will be an inspiration and reminder to Ballard residents to sincerely commit themselves to shopping at local businesses.
Our sale will be fun...we have prizes. If you haven't been in before, please come in and introduce yourself.
And to our customers (Nordic Woman, in particular), thank you so much for your support.
Sincerely,
Karin Wagner
Bella's Boutique

Ballard didn't use to be this way! I was shocked to read about the baseball-bat weilding thugs. We need to take back our neighborhood !

I am very sad to hear that Bella's is closing; I bought a lot of very beautiful clothes there and I'm sad to see it go. There is now nowhere for "women of a certain age" to buy clothes in Ballard, and it was the only place to buy men's clothes for actual men, as opposed to Blackbird's, which carries clothes for 22 year old baristas.

But don't they have marauding gangs and thugs in Olympia as well?

Maybe it has more to do with the marauding gangs of homeless and baseball wielding thugs in Ballard.

Oh that's right, they a protected class.