Evolution of a Paint Store

This spring we moved from Downtown Bellevue (where we have been since 1961) over to the Northup neighborhood. We looked for almost 2 years before we found the right place to call 'home'. But it was worth the wait!

We love our new digs and our new neighbors. What we weren't sure about was how moving a business that had been on the same corner since 1978 would transpire.

Luckily, no major disasters occurred. Well - we lost one of our tint machines because the movers tipped it over while unloading it. Oops.

But we kept our sense of humor and got the new store up and running. The worst part? Cleaning up 30+ years of crusty tint room build-up in the old place!

So Much is Happening Right Now

And I don't mean the tanking economy... and although the economy is cause for concern, decorating must go on!

So to enable our Eastside clients in their design pursuits, we are in the midst of negotiating a lease for a new store in Bellevue. Did you know that there's been a Daly's on the same block since 1961? That's a long time. We've relocated 3 different times since then, but always on the same block. Way back when (or so I've been told...), there were 5 different paint and decorating stores within a 3 block radius.

Both the industry and the neighborhood have changed. Many of our earlier competitors are gone and downtown Bellevue is COMPLETELY different. Where there was once a small outdoor mall, there is Bellevue Square. Arby's is now the location for a huge apartment complex. Safeway - gone. Etc, etc, etc... The face of downtown Bellevue is lovely, cosmopolitan and simply no place for a paint & decorating store these days.

But far from being upset at the prospect of moving, we are so excited! We will be moving near some great retailers like Pande Cameron, Ambiente Tile, Fireside Hearth & Home, ecohaus and others. So shopping will be more convenient with more options in the neighborhood. Even more paint stores (but we won't go into THAT!)

Once we get the legal paperwork out of the way, I will let you know where we will be located, and I'll be giving you regular updates on our build out. We are estimating the new store to be up and running around May 2009.

Ch-Ch-Ch-Changes (say this like your are David Bowie)

There is an old saying that the more things change, the more they stay the same. I think about that sometimes as I drive through the neighborhood where our Seattle store is located.

I grew up less than a mile away from here, so I've witnessed a lifetime of evolution and change of this locale. I remember when walk/don't walk lights were installed on 45th street in Wallingford. I wrote my first check at Fuji's 5 and Dime (and I remember contemplating the idea of stealing a piece of candy there, too! Never could, never did. But I remember entertaining the thought...)

Stone Way Avenue is evolving. So many more residential units are being built on upper Stone. My business partner Herb recalls hanging off the end of the trolley on his skates and getting a ride up the street when he was a kid.

So things change. Others never seem to. Like our store being on this same corner since forever.

It looks like Daly's will be making some changes in Bellevue. The downtown core had transformed to a point where the rent is almost doubling. Wow. Who'd have thought?

Daly's has been on the same street (although 3 different addresses) since 1961. When we moved in to Bellevue, the Evergreen Floating Bridge wasn't even built, yet. Bellevue Square was a small outdoor mall. There were 5 paint outlets within that many blocks.

Change is good. The more we flex and adapt, the better we are at keeping up with the times. Small changes are easier than large ones.

So, we are going to get serious about finding a new home for our Bellevue shop. Ironically, even with all the annoying construction and traffic - we've have some great business in Bellevue.

The adventure continues....