Erin Leach-Kemon

30 Articles

Erin Leach-Kemon moved to Seattle from her one-stoplight hometown of Middleburg, Va. in fall 2008. She completed her bachelor’s degree in English at the University of Mary Washington in Fredericksburg, Va. Before moving to the Pacific Northwest, she interned as a staff writer at local newspapers and magazines, as well as working as a student affairs intern/House Mom/ pub crawl organizer in Bath, England. Currently residing in Wallingford, she regularly contributes stories to her neighborhood blog, Wallyhood and works as a technical writer for Microsoft. Her interests range from European country hopping, non-fiction writing (primarily on the city’s metro buses) and the occasional dumpster dive.

Siblings Team Up to Help Family Business Hit 100-Year Mark

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George Swanson Sr. never had the chance to attend high school, yet he built a family-operated Seattle shoe repair business that continues to thrive today—more than 80 years later. And, it’s still in the family.

Swedish-born George Sr. left school as a kid to work in a shoe factory due to Sweden’s then famine-stricken economy. Later into his teens, he immigrated to the U.S., where he gained citizenship and was drafted into World War I—landing him in Fort Lewis, repairing military boots. Following his service, he began working in various downtown Seattle shoe repair shops. By 1928, George Sr. owned …

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University Fitness: Bankrupt

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I’ve gone to University Fitness (45th and Roosevelt) for nearly a year now. After noticing that they hadn’t charged me for my February membership, I asked the owner’s wife about it on Monday. She told me that she already knew about the issue and it was just a glitch in the system–one that they would soon fix.

Stopping off at the gym yesterday for a workout, I found it empty, the doors locked, lights off and a notice taped to the door essentially stating, “We went bankrupt. Sorry.”

The notice did include a recommendation for American Athlete at Green Lake …

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Neighborhood Market Struggling, Needs Community Backing

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In the coming weeks, Meridian Market—located in Tangletown, across from Zoka and Mighty-O’s—will distribute a notice with customer purchases: Customer headcount has plummeted 40 percent since last year, and the market’s looking for all the help they can get.

Store owner, Wallace “Wally” Wright [Ed note: no relation to the blog] says he’s had no choice but to shorten store hours, cut staff and hold back on products they once carried, leaving some shelves bare. An eccentric, independent neighborhood market, Meridian’s the only one of its kind in Wallingford. With nearby competitors, such as QFC, Trader Joe’s and Safeway, though, …

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Wait Your Turn, Even If You’re Dave Matthews

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This is not fast-food hair. It’s not exactly “your grandfather’s barbershop,” either. Spin’s Barber Shop (4501 Interlake Ave N) primarily works on an appointment basis; men, women and youth make up its customer base; cuts last 30 minutes; and, 90 percent of storeowner Spin’s customers are regulars—some for the past 20 years.

And, Spin’s in his late 30s—a far cry from the 60-something-year-old you might expect to see running this type of operation.  It makes sense though, if you know his career took off in the eighth grade.

Born and raised in Washington state, Spin (born Spyridon Nicon, but nicknamed …

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Bluegrass/Folk Jam Sessions: Mondays at Al’s

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In an effort to escape the merciless downpours and warm up with a pint, my sister and I ducked into Al’s Tavern (Corliss and 45th) around 9pm on Monday. Accustomed to seeing just a few bearded-and-flannelled men in their fifties and the occasional mutt stretched out under a booth on weekday nights, we were surprised to find the dive bar packed.

Then, we heard the music.

About five or six bluegrass/folk musicians had crammed themselves, several chairs, guitars, violins and what appeared to be a lap steel guitar and an upright washtub bass into a corner booth. They were all …

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Senior Center Decision to Be Made By End of January

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Photo by Matt Mason

A final decision regarding the potential closure of the Wallingford Community Senior Center will be reached by the end of January, according to their Board. Just before Christmas, Board members agreed to make this the final month for decision-making. To help in the process and for a fresh outlook on the situation, they’re bringing in the outside aid of seven to eight community members. At this point in the game, the conversation will center on the reality of financial resources, the possibility of reconstructing the Board, staff and volunteers and community dedication.

Kathleen Cromp of the …

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Truly Bizarre

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I’ve probably passed by Bizarro Italian Café a hundred times, but last weekend was the first time I actually noticed the 23-year-old restaurant, located on Stone Way and 46th.

From just the entryway, my boyfriend and I were able to take in the entirety of the lively, intimate interior: chefs whipped through the kitchen, tending to an array of saucepans; mouthwatering scents burst into the dining area as the cooks passed piping hot pastas, blanketed in rich cream sauces, through the hand-off counter to wait staff; and, laughter and energized voices bounced off the restaurant’s vibrant red walls.…

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