Ketch boutique opens on Ballard Ave

Geeky Swedes Ballard

Ketch, a new women’s boutique is now open at 5317 Ballard Avenue, the former White Sage Studios location.

Owner Stephanie Kaldestad says that this has been a vision of hers for the last five years. She went to school in New York, has worked for Nordstrom and came back home to open the new shop. “At Ketch, we blend the urban New York fashion and the laid back L.A. style,” Kaldestad tells us. “Ketch offers clothing and accessories for women who define their style as casual chic, classic, edgy, girly or a mixture of more than one style.”

Kaldestad has roots in Ballard. Her family has been in the crabbing industry here for decades. On the wall of the shop is the blueprint for her grandfather’s fishing boat, F/V Kevleen K. Several of the wood pieces in the shop are old dock material from Pacific Fisherman Shipyard and the cash register sits on old wood decking from a crab boat.

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

98 thoughts to “Ketch boutique opens on Ballard Ave”

  1. Another silly, expensive boutique on Ballard Ave,opening during the worst economic downturn since the depression of the 1930’s. These places have become a sad cliche, and this one will be closed within a year.

  3. Nonplussed–perhaps you should have named yourself Debbie Downer! Let’s give Ketch our best wishes. Beautiful graphic identity designed by Ballardites at Turnstyle and fun/funky/innovative interior design by Zinc Concepts. I have only been in briefly and like the owner’s style and taste. Cute clothing and great jewelry. But I do think she would benefit by bringing in some lower priced items to round out her customer base. Best Wishes, Ketch, and welcome to the hood!

  4. what lines do they feature! since there are two other boutiques that sell high end right there i wonder what designers they have???? give us some hints??

  10. I wish Stephanie and Ketch all the best! I for one love all the little stores and boutiques in Ballard. I never have to hit the big malls or department stores for myself, birthday gifts, or Christmas shopping. I can’t wait to see what she what treasures she has!

  11. Does she define her style as “casual chic, classic, edgy, girly or a mixture of more than one style.”

    LOL. Go away, Stephanie Kaldestad. Just GO AWAY.

  14. Hey Negative Nancys: get off the internet and go for a jog. I think the forums are making you angry. And I hear jogging makes you happy!

  15. Time will tell. I hope you are wrong though. I admire people trying to start up a business in this environment, and wish her much success.

  18. Here’s a HUGE F. U. to all the naysayers. Seriously, what is wrong with all of you? Are you really upset that people open businesses in our neighborhood and bring in tax $$?!

    Welcome home, Ketch!

  19. I went in here last week. It’s a pleasant enough layout in a photo, but a tad spare when you’re standing in it. There’s alot of empty space and a bit of a cold feeling. One or two pieces caught my eye, but I felt that the selection was quite monochromatic – alot of oatmeals, dark wash denim, indigos, greys… sad clothing for sad weather? I very well might blend right into the asphalt and mist if I wear an outfit from here.

  20. Here’s a HUGE F.U. to you Mko265 for saying there is something wrong with me. This boutique appalls me. I wish the owner nothing but bankruptcy. I am pretty sure her unemployment will cost us more than the meager taxes she’ll collect before going under.

    Get a clue about the economy, Kvetch. And what a puke sounding name!!

  25. Which is why Seattleites are known for being such great dressers. You all love Europe souch around Herr, couldn’t u at Keats try to not dress like slobs?

  26. I haven’t even been in the store but I would rather have 5 overpriced boutiques in Ballard than one more cheap national chain store. Let the girl follow her dream fercrissake! These people are serious wet blankets.

  28. wth I completely do not understand all the malice and anger. I’m fully baffled by the haters. A person opened up a shop. Whoop de doo, why is everyone freaking out and building e-voodoo dolls with their comments?

  30. It seems the people who think this store is a great idea are the real haters.

    I think this store is completely idiotic. So yeah, I must be poor and fat.

    Or maybe I have a f—–g clue about Ballard and business. You can apologize to me in three months.

  31. It insults the sensibilities and values of Old Ballard.

    I hope her fancy crab boat countertop gets donated to the Food Bank when her little misadventure in retailing is over. That would show some respect for the hood, not $200 oatmeal pants.

  35. Ah yes, people who welcome a new independent business are haters, those that spit venom at it because it doesn’t fit in their blinkered, politicized view of the world and class struggle, they are the lovers. Sure.

  36. I can’t afford your clothes. When your customers like HeatherHeather are spending all their money please tell her that I am not a voodoo practicing or malicious or overweight or jealous person. Just a woman who worked in business administration 30 years at a good job and can barely make ends meet. It must be nice being HeatherHeather so critical of people who work hard for a living. I buy my clothes at Value Village and I’m neither proud or embarrassed by that. Good luck with the shop.

  37. Luckily, a lot of people read w/out posting. I say good luck to her. I don’t understand all the vitriol either – but that’s the interwebs for ya. Especially this site. I’m surprised the trail hasn’t been brought up yet . . . but maybe she’s too new to have joined the Chamber!

  38. I don’t think HeatherHeather would be critical of you because unlike most of the people who’ve spoken out against this shop, you’re not being rude – just stating your opinion. Not everybody shops at a place like this – I generally don’t. But I also don’t wish that the owner go into bankruptcy either. Or get my feathers ruffled because a shop is opening that I might not frequent.

  40. How great that someone opened up a store that caters to people who dress well. It is nice to see people who appreciate nice clothing and aren’t ashamed to put an effort into looking good.

  41. Sounds like you aren’t a customer. I wish her well. It takes guts and resolve to open any business and you may not be aware of this, but business is what pays for your state employment or whatever it is you do that didn’t take any skill and/or courage.

  42. What an ass. Really. Even if what they sell is not what you might buy, why wish for their failure? How pathetic – hoping for the ruin of others, especially those with whom you have no relationship, have done nothing to you and won’t adversely affect your lives. Really, your comment (and those who “liked” it) speaks more about who you are than anything else. You certainly represent the Ballard I know and love.

    Congratulations Ketch! I wish you the best of luck.

  43. I know your type. You drive a smoky old Volvo around while calling yourself an environmentalist. You are fat and dumpy. You wear your hair in pig tails even though you are 45 y.0. You have a bunch of idiotic tatoos and piercings that, news flash, don’t look good. You aren’t attractive but think you are.

    You aren’t a prospect for Stephanie’s clothes. That’s OK, but don’t be a hater. You are too rigid and closed already.

  44. Ahhh, another boutique for all those people who like to dress like friggin’ French or Italians instead of like real women, in a hoodie with boots with some damn fine tattooin’ and smellin’ of fish guts.

  45. Don’t be a hater, indeed.

    People like you, who like this shop, are the reason people like me, who don’t like this shop, can not wait to see it fail.

  46. Oh please sir, don’t threaten us little people with your classy missus and her expensive tastes in food. It’s just .. it’s just .. too much!! She just sounds so, FANCY!! My head is turning purple.

  47. “It insults the sensibilities and values of Old Ballard.”

    And what sensibility would that be? The Sunset Hill sensibility or the dive hotel on Ballard Ave sensibility? the Whittier Heights sensibility or the 15th and Market sensibility?

  48. “Dressing well” no longer seems to be a continental European plot to embarrass poorly dressed, over weight American tourists shuffling through the Louvre in sneakers and a sweat shirt, now it’s come to Ballard!

    We must resist!

  49. “But working class people are not supposed to be “ruffled” when an obnoxious store brags about how it’s countertop is made from crab cages.”

    Can you not read? Her family has been in the crab business ‘for decades’, so wouldn’t that make her working class? Or do you think working class people can only live a certain way, one you approve of?

    No doubt the only thing you know about crabs are the ones you got from some ‘lady’ who thinks ‘dressing up’ means wearing long sleeves to cover up some stupid tattoos.

  51. Didn’t really think I needed to “up my cred” on myballard but whatevs. And yeah, sometimes I’ll pick up a lower priced accesory item from a trendy shop – sue me. Sheesh.

  56. Mrs. Negative 45,

    YOU are what is wrong with the economy!
    Why would you wish someone bankruptcy? That is just sad.

    Best of luck with YOUR dream, Ketch peeps!
    Ignore all those ANGER RIDDEN FOLK out there! Geez!

  58. I love reading all these hilarious comments! It trips me out how FREAKED OUT people can get over the littlest things!

    ROCK ON, BALLARD!

  61. Quick poll: If I decide to relocate my six year old business from the South Lake Union neighborhood to Ballard, should I post my intentions here first?

  62. I don’t believe anyone is hoping for failure here but it is apparent that this sort of hobby/ business is bound to fail. All the rest in Ballard have already done so. I suppose it’s ok as long as Daddy put up the money and the rest of us don’t have to subsidize her .

  67. Failed? Most of the boutiques on the Avevtgat have opened in the past few years are still there. But keep up the class hatred, it’s cute.

  68. Not if it riles up people who think your clothes are 1.Expensive or 2. Vaguely stylish and European.

    If you’re selling hoodies, Dickies and boots the inevitable class hatreds shouldn’t appear. Just be sure your product does not offend any of the PC political prejudices of the angry, lunatic left who find any kind of indulgence or ‘fashion’ offensive to their blinkered, forever politicized view of the world.

  69. Lots of daddies with money money paid for lots of good businesses in the area and in the world. I don’t see the problem here.

  70. ah but if you’re selling hoodies and Dickies and boots then the homeless people will shop there and we can’t have the neighborhood marred by such visual atrocities…think of the crime rate increase! Crack on the streets! Vans parked out front! NEVER! It has to be cheap enough for the upper middle class to not look frivolous, but too expensive for the lower class so they won’t hang around.

  74. “I don’t believe anyone is hoping for failure here”

    Oh really?

    “I will celebrate your failure.”
    “can not wait to see it fail.”
    “when this shop goes under”

    Class hatred is so sad.

  78. I’m shocked by the negative comments posted here. BTW, the Kaldestard family has provided a lot of jobs for a lot of Ballardites for many, many years. I certainly remember her grandfather, who was a great old man! I think it’s a great addition to Ballard, and I’m happy she decided to stay in the hood!

    Good Luck Stephanie, I’ll be stopping by. Ignore the negative comments. The peo0ple on this board represent less than 0.0001 percent of the people in Ballard. Ignore them- they are jealous trolls.

  79. Geez, there’s people bringing businesses and money to Ballard and you want them to fail? Would you prefer empty storefronts that have become toilets for the homeless? I am SO sick of the whiners in this neighborhood.

  80. So… with your knowledge about Ballard and business what do you suggest? A clothing store is “idiotic”… um, some people like to buy clothes. And some people will travel from other neighborhoods to this sad little corner full of whiners because there is a cool new store featured on Yelp and in Lucky magazine.

    Anyone rooting for this new store to fail is mentally ill. Seriously – you are hateful old coots that want to keep Ballard a smelly old homeless-loving fishing village and fear economic growth for whatever reason.

    I with Ketch all the best! Congratulations and taking an empty eye sore in Ballard and turning it into a beautiful retail space.

  81. But they are NOT traveling from other neighborhoods.

    I am not rooting for failure but if a person wants to open viable business and not a hobby, he might look closer at the current retail climate.

  82. Actually Debbie I am a retired teacher and a lifelong Ballardite from Sunset Hill. I drive a 2006 Mercedes. I have short grey hair and am skinny, not thin, skinny! I am exactly who any retailer would want for a customer. Baristas and the other young folk who hang in Ballard do not have money and what they do have they spend in bars trying hard to ‘hookup.’ I do have money. Of course I have it because I never shop at overpriced boutiques and certainly never at Nordstrom.

    I know the family of this young lady very well and they are nice people. Having a nice family or even a family that has been in a neighborhood for a long is no reason to think a business might be successful. This young lady is simply not in tune with the current retail climate. For her sake I do hope the owner gave her the pace for fee to keep it from being empty.

  84. No what’s wrong with the economy is not enough people make enough money. They work in little fancy shops such as this new one and can’t afford to buy what they sell.

    One does not create an economy by hoping, good or bad.

  85. Why do you care? Have you done research on the current retail climate and what will work? Is this your line of business? What gives you the right to call this a hobby when you know nothing about this person’s business model and the research she’s done.

    Can’t people just be excited that SOMEONE wants to open new business here and that downtown Ballard isn’t yet a total ghosttown?

  92. With all due respect, Ytoo, I don’t think you are her target customer. You said yourself that you don’t shop at pricey little boutiques, and not even at Nordstrom. While you seem like a smart, fit and elegant lady, you are not her target customer. She is going after the woman who LIKES THE PROCESS of shopping at small boutiques, likes spending a bit more for certain labels and am guessing has the money with which to do so.

    Unfortunately, I’m not her target customer, either. I was hoping for a bit more unique selection, a bit more colorful, and slightly lower price points. About 25% more than I care to spend. She did have a huge denim selection, and I’m not a big denim girl. I think there ARE customers that fit the bill. And I want to help those customers find her because I want her to do well. How can she create such a great space and not have done her research. I’m sure the selection and the price points are all intentional.

    And I have to say, if you do know her and her family…don’t you feel slightly bad saying these things on a blog that I’m SURE she is reading? I’d be hurt if a friend of the family felt the need to voice an unfavorable review about my new business venture on a blog about the very community I grew up in and am starting my business in…Or maybe I’m just sensitive.

  93. NOT TRUE! Are you a Realtor®? We bought before 2006 and are doing fine. So are most of our friends. In fact, I don’t know any of our Ballard friends that are ‘underwater and with no disposable income’. Not everyone is in dire financial straits. Argh.

  97. My 2 daughters and I visited your shop on Sunday 12/19.. We had so much shopping there.. Cute and beautiful! We love all the designers you feature.. Thank you for having such great taste!!!

  98. My 2 daughters and I visited your shop on Sunday 12/19.. We had so much shopping there.. Cute and beautiful! We love all the designers you feature.. Thank you for having such great taste!!!

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