Ever wondered what the buildings in Wallingford were before they are what they are?
What was Nikola’s before it was Nikola’s? Well, sure, that’s easy, it was Rusty Pelican. And before that, actually, it was Nikola’s, again. But what about before that? And before that?
Robert Ketcherside has thoughtful history of the building going back to when it was built in 1927 on his blog, ba-kground.
According to RoKet, the building was completed in 1927 and leased to Eba’s grocery store chain, which occupied the spot for just two years (apparently, something bad for business happened in 1929, probably Obama’s fault).
“After Eba left in 1929 it was briefly a Frye meat market,” writes Ketcherside, and then a branch of the 9-chain Ernst hardware store before becoming a Brehm’s Grocery.
Lots of fun neighborhood tidbits and snapshots, check out the full article, Wallingford’s Eba’s Store No. 7.
(Photo from Seattle Times, 1927)
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In the 60’s the space was occupied by Fuji’s – a five and dime store with a great collection of penny candy and just about everything else a person might need – fabric, small appliances, clothing, cards/wrapping paper, tools, zoris.
That would be much better than more drugstores, nail salons, confectioners.
Chris, thanks for the reminder about Fuji’s. It was, indeed, a wonderful place to shop in our neighborhood. You could find there everything you could conceive of needing.
More confectioners? Am I missing a glut of confectioners in Wallingford? We’ve lost two bakeries recently.
I love that the feature of the women’s restroom is so noteworthy it’s mentioned in the caption!
I loved that Fujis. Do any of you remember when it was a large toy/ party favor balloon store?
I wish the old facades of the buildings could be brought back. The windows and street appeal seemed a lot more appealing then!
@Fruitbat: There’s the Sweet Side, a cake/macaroon space on 45th between Latona and Thackeray. And t looks like there is more baking to come from the Erotic Bakery space. Also Throphy, Chocolati, the Butcher & the Baker. I am probably forgetting a few more.
After Fuji, there was a store with a new wave/punk theme, for lack of better descriptors.
It is to bad that this Nikolas spot is not listed on the historical buildings list. My husband and I are owners at the Sutra restaurant looking for space to open a Sutra Market/Restaurant I spoke with the owner of Nikolas and it seems this beautiful building will be torn down in the next two years 🙁 Builders are coming to Wallingford in a big way. The small guy is struggling!!
Well it has been a year and 4 months since Kitaros’s asked the neighborhood to ” be a little patient”. It is again covered in graffitti. How can we get this cleaned up and removed or remodeled?