Category Archives: Stores and other places that sell you things

Habitat for Humanity Store

Funny story… I’m in the car with my husband and he says let’s go to the Habitat Restore in the Port. Oh boy! I’ve been wanting to see the new estuary nature place that I read about! I was pretty excited that dear husband would suggest it. That’s the spirit of adventure!

And then we pulled up here at the Habitat for Humanity Store at 505 Puyallup Ave., Tacoma, WA 98421. Oh, I see. We need bathroom tiles. No, really its OK. I just had my heart set on seeing ducks!

In actuality the Habitat for Humanity Store is very cool and I’ve been meaning to go there. Folks donate building materials (doors, lighting fixtures, tile, cabinets, mirrors, etc.) and other folks buy them. Habitat makes a little money for their most excellent work. We walked out with some tiles, groat, and a ceramic soap dish to go in the shower. No ducks.

I guess I can do the Habitat for Humanity store again in the future because they are moving to South Tacoma Way and the building is available for lease.

More information about the local Habitat for Humanity is here: http://www.tpc-habitat.org/

The building is on the site of Joe Zehnder’s First & Last Chance Saloon, sadly now demolished. The current building was constructed in 1926 as the Stevens & Vetter, Inc. Garage / Fageol Motor Sales Co. and had been used as warehousing for the adjacent railroad. Although the building has been renovated over the years I can still see the original structure in the roof line. Look here to see the building as it was in 1928: http://search.tacomapubliclibrary.org/buildings/bldg1image.asp?j=1&o=5&n=24097&i=9072#text

The Bead Factory for your beading needs

When I saw that the Bead Factory on Sixth Avenue had closed, I thought I had lost my chance to visit. But they had just moved to 5705 N 26th Street, Tacoma, WA 98407. I actually just went in for some of those little plastic things that goes in the back of pierced earrings so they don’t fall off (what are those things called?!).

They store was bustling with lots of happy looking women and one guy. In addition to a traditional retail store, they have classes and parties and mail order. I even joined their club for $3.00, which gives me a $10 store credit after I spend $100 and gets me on their mailing list. I just might go to one of their Saturday night beading parties! Stranger things have happened 🙂

The Bead Factory’s Website is here:
http://www.thebeadfactory.com/

Their Facebook page is here:

http://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Bead-Factory-Inc/159406874807

  

Happy Birthday 7-11!

Happy Birthday 7-11! by Gexydaf

Today, 7.11.11 was 7 Eleven’s 84th birthday and they gave away 7.11 oz. slurpees all day long.  We went to the one near the Tacoma Mall at 4701 S. Oakes and we weren’t the only ones with this bright idea!  I had the banana, which was pretty darned tasty and dear daughter had the Berry, which was blue and she drank the whole thing so I guess it was alright. According to Wikipedia 7-Eleven is “is the world’s largest operator, franchisor and licensor of convenience stores, with more than 39,000 outlets”. 8,200 of these are in the US.  The company originated in Dallas, TX, but the franchise is now owned by the Japanese Company Ito-Yokado.

Mr. Mac has moved, but not far

Mr. Mac by Gexydaf
Mr. Mac, a photo by Gexydaf on Flickr.

I’ve long admired the shiny black tile that fronts the building now occupied by Mr. Mac (1124 Martin Luther King Jr. Way). The space had previously been occupied by Cost Less Wholesale. Per their sign, Mr. Mac features the latest fashions and shoes for men.

Fred Meyer has pretty much everything!

While reading over the Sunday paper, I noticed that Fred Meyer at 6305 South Bridgeport was having a sale that included a tech gadget I had been needing. And I also needed groceries and the kid was demanding new sheets (something about a huge hole in hers!). Luckily Fred Meyer’s seems to have it all. The Fred Meyer in University Place is a newer building and is well maintained. Its a bit further for me to drive, but seems worth it to me.

http://www.fredmeyer.com/

 

Organic Herbs & Spices, Plus Organic Espresso


Organic Spice

Originally uploaded by Gexydaf

Today’s new place is the recently (maybe today) opened Organic Herbs & Spice Plus Organic Espresso. Located at Organic Spice Traders, 1127 Broadway Plaza, Suite 101, Tacoma, WA 98402. The owner is a nice guy and makes a very tasty organic Americano! The store features a wide variety of spice and herbs as well as the espresso stand.  There are also some tables to sit and relax.  While I was there I bought a small packet of cinnamon, which I’m sure will be tasty in my morning oatmeal. It is nice to see an interesting new business open up in downtown Tacoma and I wish them well.

http://www.organicspicetraders.com/index.cfm

Update, my daughter told me that the store is closed now. Makes me sad!

 

A different world of shopping

 


 

Kent Station reminds me of the shopping in Dallas. It is full of upper end stores and a perfectly maintained, self contained arranged like a small village. My place of the day was Christopher and Banks, woman’s clothing store. They were offering 40% off everything in the store and I also had a $10 off coupon. Seemed like a good time to go!

http://www.christopherandbanks.com/home/index.jsp

http://www.kentstation.com/

Purple Dragonfly

Purple Dragonfly by Gexydaf

The Purple Dragonfly at 1744 Pacific Avenue in Tacoma is a store of pure indulgence with nothing I needed and plenty that I wanted. It is full of lovely jewelry, decorative items and lotions. They had a grapefruit hand lotion that I really liked, but it was out of stock. Oh darned. I guess I’ll just have to go back!

Garden Sphere, Tacoma’s Organic Gardening Store

Garden Sphere by Gexydaf

I’ve been meaning to stop at the Garden Sphere for ages and today I finally did! What a lovely welcoming place. As I wandered around one of the workers offered to help me and I mentioned that it was my first time there. She said they change out stock every couple of weeks, so there is usually something new to see and that if I wanted something they didn’t have, they’d get it for me. Wow. That’s nice.

While there I purchased a lavender plant, something with a purple flower, a package of sweet peas and a candle. I’m sure I’ll be back for more.

I think my favorite part was the chicks. There were three sizes of them and they were all darling! I could just sit and listen to their trilling, chirping noise for hours!

http://www.gardensphere.biz/

 

The Price of Getting Around

I was riding around on fumes today when I pulled into the Shell Station at 5744 N 26th St., at N. 26th Street and Pearl Street. I paid $3.95 per gallon for the regular gas and that seemed expensive to me, though at the time I didn’t complain because I was so happy to have gas back in the car!

That made me think about gas prices and I found this website that provides the gas prices within cities or zip codes. Per the site, the average gas price in Tacoma and Washington State is $3.90 per gallon and in the US the average is $3.80 per gallon. The site also has a trip calculator and an interesting 72 month average price chart. Nope, it’s not my imagination, gas is high right now!

http://www.tacomagasprices.com/