main street reset
The pandemic can’t stop retail from charging on
Words & photos by Leslie Kelly
Warm fuzzies — Yarn in every hue at Lamb & Kid
Since the ‘retail apocalypse’ of 2020, downtown shopping districts have roared back to life. Here are a few new establishments you’ll find around the West Sound.
Poulsbo
Abigail’s Artful Abode
This quirky shop is filled with home décor
in a variety of styles from Boho to midcentury,
farmhouse, vintage and glam. With
lots of color, natural textures from rattan
to velvet, and Indian print sofa pillows—
there’s something for every liking. “Having
a brick-and-mortar store is a real commitment,”
says owner Abigail Lopez. “You
always wonder, ‘will I be able to make a
living?’ Unless you get really creative, you’re
not going to make it.” For her, “creative”
includes traveling the world looking for
items to stock, even when that means getting
stopped by TSA agents because she had
a large wooden crocodile in her suitcase.
18830 Front St. NE
Cake Studio
This Mexican-style bakery is known for
its elaborate sweet creations. Seasonal and
custom cakes, orejas (cinnamon sugar puff
pastry), concha (Mexican sweet bread),
bolillo (savory bread), Tres leches (sponge
cake), and empanadas are among their
baked goods. Luis Montes and his daughter
Angela are the creative power behind
these special sweet treats.
20149 Viking Ave. NW
Kingston
Brightside Flower Farm
“The pandemic was the reason we started,”
says Rachael Cates, who co-founded this
flower business with her friend Amber
Kinnaird in 2020. Kinnaird recalls, “We
took a ‘make some lemonade’ approach
and ditched our regularly scheduled lives
and jobs to grow flowers together.” When
the two met, it was a natural fit. Amber
knew flowers and soils and Rachael knew
marketing. Plus, Rachael had farmland.
Bouquets are available daily from their
farm stand, with an assortment of more
than 100 varieties of blooms and grasses.
Amber and Rachael also make custom
bouquets and offer a CSA program for
weekly fresh flowers.
11825 NE Jefferson Point Road
Ono Poke Too
The Kingston outpost of a popular
Edmonds eatery that opened during the
pandemic has stayed busy throughout.
This Hawaiian restaurant only uses fish
from sustainable sources and local, organic
and pesticide-free produce. Their menu
changes daily and is posted on Facebook.
Give spicy tuna, spicy salmon or scallops
a try. Owner Steven Ono was raised in
Hawaii and learned the art of cutting
poke from his grandfather, a fisherman.
Pronounced poh-kay, meaning “to cut
into cubes” in the Hawaiian language,
its origin is said to have begun when
fishermen seasoned cutoffs to eat after
filleting a fish.
25960 Central Ave. NE
Bainbridge Island
Østmoe
Kristine Lynch opened this shop for “paper
nerds” last year. A designer and serial
entrepreneur, she saw a “for rent” sign
and knew it was meant to be. Formerly
the owner of a stationery store in Wallingford,
Lynch had her eye on the spot
for some time, knowing “it was the
perfect place” for her collection of
fibrous ephemera. One wall is filled
with greeting cards, notecards and pieces
of colorful wrapping paper. Nearby
is a selection of bright, shiny ribbons
to tie those packages, alongside a bounty
of locally made stationery. Pens, some from
Japan and England, and notebooks cover
the back wall. “During the shutdown I
really missed the aspect of shopping that
allows you to touch and feel what you
are considering,” Lynch says. “Sure, you
can buy online, but we crave the personal
touch.” Østmoe is open two or three
days a week, and by appointment.
106 Madison Ave. N
The Lamb & Kid
A knitter’s delight, this little
shop features unique artisan
yarns, including their own private
label and a selection from their
favorite dyers. The Lamb & Kid also
offers workshops for every skill level
to keep the creativity flowing.
104 Madison Ave. N
Island Life Artisan Gifts
Filled with unique art, cards, jewelry,
decor, apparel and souvenirs celebrating
the spirit of Bainbridge Island, this store
carries works from 17 or so local artists and
artisans. Owner Alex Sanso set up shop
in August 2021. Inspired by the beauty of
the island, the former Disney artist created
her own line of Bainbridge-themed
prints and merchandise in 2013, which
she sold at pop-up events and through
other local merchants. Sanso hopes the
store will be a place where “community
can gather and discover the wealth of
creative talents in our own backyard.”
488 Winslow Way E
