Eagle-eyed reader “Beads” spotted this listing on Craigslist today:
STORE CLOSING – all must go! (Wallingford)
Need to vacate our current store premises. All merchandise on sale up to 50%+ off! All fixtures, tables, chairs must go too!
Ay carumba! Not a Number closing? We checked in with Kara Ceriello from NaN who confirmed that they are closing their Wallingford shop, in as little as the next two weeks, but held out that the game wasn’t over yet.
“We had things lined up to move into a really beautiful, perfect spot here in Wallingford, but at the last moment, a snag came up, and we weren’t able to do it, but we’re still trying to find another way to stay here in Wallingford,” she said. “For a little while there, we were talking with Twice Sold Tales [book store in the University District] about moving over to Wallingford and sharing the space with us, but they’ve decided to close up shop for good. The owner is taking his books to Vashon to sell them on-line.”
So now, they’re left trying to find a smaller space, somewhere.
“We really want to stay in Wallingford, we love it here and we have great support from the community,” she said. “But we’re also talking with the Chamber and realtors in Ballard and Fremont, too. Of course, Ballard lost their card shop to Wallingford, so…”
Kara and her partner John are well embedded in the Wallingford community, so it would be a shame to see them leave. Kara was president of the Wallingford Chamber of Commerce for years, building up its membership significantly, and John remains vice president of the Wallingford Community Council. In fact, there are few major events that they haven’t had a hand in over the past few years.
“We love it here and are really hoping we can find a way to stay, we just need to downsize our space. Something 800 – 1,000 sq ft, maybe a business that wanted to partner and share the space.”
For our money, that Winchell’s that Rancho Bravo has let sit as an empty, peeling eyesore on the corner of Thackeray Pl and 45th St would be perfect. Who knows?
I am sorry to see this. I wonder if there is room in the Fremont Solid Ground place.
The old winchells is too far away from everything. Kara and John need to be located in the thick of things.
How about that littl eplace on the corner wher ean accupuncturist used to be.. where once condoms were sold? There was a pile of boxes outside.. is i tvacant?
What about using the Wallingford Chamber/Council office? Or leasing part of it?
Or moving that entire offic eto halfof NaN’s space and thus NaN would simply consolidate. NaN has been inits regular place as a center of the community for so long.. it should not disappear without much consideration to keeping it right where it is-= on 45th!
Isn’t Izilla Toys looking for someone to split their space in Wallingford Center?
What about the spot where the lovely tailors used to be on 45th next to the vegan place?
It would certainly be a shame to lose them!
Great idea, rachel! It would be a great use of that building.
@Rachel, I heard a rumor that they were hoping to move in there, but it’s the spot that fell through. The family wants to move in another business.
Stupidly, I forgot to ask Kara about that. Dumb reporter.
I think I saw a small spot near Wally Pets (or a few doors north of there) just last week.
the sewing place is the one which fell through due to mold
where is the one by WallyPets?
I think it was insurance before, maybe business services or something like that. If you’re at WallyPets, head toward 45th. Should be in that strip of doors before you get to Dr. Gay’s office. Or in that block anyway. I’ve slept a few times since I saw it, so the details may’ve become trapped…
I love Not a Number! It’s a vital part of the Wallingford community and Wallingford’s soul, for my money. I was a longtime Wallingford resident, moved in 2007, but still return frequently to shop at John & Kara’s remarkable, wonderful shop. (Since I’m there anyway, I still get all my meds at Bartell’s, and often pick up groceries at QFC, stop for java at Tully’s, takeout at Moon Temple, or a drink at Murphy’s.)
So, landlords of Wallingford — please, please step up and make some space available for Not a Number… the people and community love and need it! Thanks for listening. 🙂
How about where Quiznos is/was? Parking there also!
Jon and i are so appreciative of this fine community! thank you so much for all your support. XOXOXO!
some quick responses to the above thoughts:
. yes, Quizno’s has a pkg lot, but i don’t think there’s any contact info there, and all the quizno’s stuff is still inside. should we look at the closed 7-11?
. the empty storefront on Wallingford Ave was a salon (Cutz, which moved 1.5 yrs ago to behind Murphy’s), and the size is great. however, the owner (Babalu family) thought we should’ve been arrested for having “impeach Bush” stuff in our windows. she’d never rent to us. 🙂
. the “Alterations” bldg was the one we thought we were moving to. they had even started tearing out the carpet for us, but then they found a ton of dry rot. also, the owner’s son miscommunicated some info, which caused his mom to mistakenly become mad at us. sigh. if anyone feels like it, go over there and talk to him and say that we are in fact decent, well-meaning longtime business owners known here, who really care about the community, would do well in that space, and are not “pushy”!
. we love the Neighborhood Office and wouldn’t try to take any space there. actually i wanted to try to get the city to pay a bit towards it since we lost our city Neighborhood District Office that was located in fremont….
. we’ve known the owners of Izilla Toys for years (Jon used to play Ultimate Frisbee w/ owner Jude!), and would be a great fit with them. but it’s in Wallingford Center, which famously turned us down when we first looked here 5.5 yrs ago, and has many stringent rules, like we couldn’t be open till 8+ on Saturdays.
. around the corner, which was once the Rubber Tree (miss it!) and is now a moving co. and naturopath, is owned by the same landlord we have now. love to go in there but they’re taken, and…
. our current landlord, who is really nice and has been very supportive, told us in Nov & Dec we could move into our current smaller space next to Sock Monster. but now wants to move someone in both spaces, prob a hair salon from what we heard (geez, we need more hair salons here in wallingford)
we would draw more customers to any block or area, as evidenced by Fainting Goat Gelato and Sock Monster. the biz on Wford Ave would very much benefit from us being there. W Center biz would get a big boost, i bet.
Ballard wants us since they have no card store or Archie’s any more. we’d do well there but …. we don’t really wanna leave you, Wallingford!
The stringent rules are too bad, but we’d rather have you in Wallingford Center than nowhere at all!
I’d think either Quiznos or 7-11’s space would be nice, the businesses across Quiznos seem to do OK, and in 7-11 you’d have a Perfect Storm of weirdness w/Bizzarro’s! Plus post office/Blue Star/Baseball Barber Shop customers.
Agree with all of these comments. Not a Number is a huge part of Wallingford and we would all – even Bushies – suffer should Kara and John depart. They are fantastic members of the community, always welcoming and friendly, and add energy to the street. I’m deeply saddened by this news and would support any efforts to keep them here!
I was grieving the loss of my favorite hang in Wallingford, when I got an email-we aren’t losing Not a Number after all-Hooray!!!!!!!!!!
I can’t put into words what a relief I feel in not losing the coolest little store in the universe-with two of the coolest people, which is of course what makes it what it is!
Now, everyone that has any money-run over and spend some there right away-well not right away, they probably aren’t open at 1:45 on Sunday morning. I know they’re downsizing-wish they didn’t have to, but it’s a whole lot better in my eyes than losing them altogether. Whew!(wipes beads of nervous sweat off forehead with back of hand)