Many locals grumbled when they heard that Ballard’s beloved Souvenir was closing earlier this year. Now the artist tells he’s moving into the former Guitar Emporium (5349 Ballard Ave NW) space on the corner of Ballard Ave and 22nd Ave.
According to NW Source, he plans to open the new shop, which may be called “Curtis Steiner,” the first of May. “You could have offered me any space in Ballard and I would have said ‘no thanks.’ But for me, I could not resist this space — it’s so beautiful,” Steiner tells NW Source.
Shoppers can expect many of the same things that Steiner produced at Souvenir – jewelry, trinkets and paper products. “I’ll continue to do what I did before, but I’ll do it better, in more of a refined way,” he tells NW Source.
This isn’t Steiner’s only new shop. He also plans to open on First Hill. You can read more here.
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trinkets? do people really buy trinkets?
something tells me he would’ve found a way to make ballard work, what with ‘all the grumbling’ about the inability to find a good trinket shop nearby.
I don’t think you really understand the back story, he isn’t moving because his last shop didn’t do well, his landlord wanted to turn his space into an elevator shaft so he could make the above units condos. His shop has always been a great stop on Ballard Ave.
YAY! I was just walking on Ballard Ave, peeping above the brown paper in the windows and thinking how tasteful the shelving and light fixtures looked. OF COURSE it was Curtis!
This man has an amazing aesthetic, and Im so happy to see him back in Ballard. He adds so much pleasure to the neighborhood.
I am thrilled that Curtis is staying in Ballard. I loved Souvenir; loved his windows and loved the treasures in his shop. Could I afford to shop there regularly? No. But that didn’t detract from my enjoyment. And obviously it didn’t detract from the shop’s success either.
A larger space and more windows signal more beauty on Ballard Ave.
YAY!!! Souvenir was such a beautiful place, and Curtis has such a refined and amazing sense of taste. I can’t wait to see what he does with a bigger and better space!
Welcome back to the ‘hood, Curtis! We’ve lost so much retail over the past two years that it’s nice to know one of our locals will be back AND in such a beautiful corner space. I can’t wait to see what he does with it.
yes local. as in first hill?
I really wish that guita shop came back.
Local – as in his shop one on Ballard Ave for over a decade. Yeah. As for the guitar shop, the owner chose to move to Orcas and take the store virtual – a win-win for him.
I’d give my eye teeth to have one of Curtis’s “trinkets.” Think “Cabinet of Curiosities.” He is a genius.
Old question on a new thread but does anyone know what happened to Bradley’s Guitars that was on the other corner of Ballard Ave and 20th? Great shop for the guitar aficionado!
Your reasoning does hold true in the case of The Jerk Store. They went out of business because of the oversupply and all the online competition around here.
Good news. The window displays alone were reason to walk past that shop.
He always has a gift to get you out of trouble with the girlfriend. Extremely tasteful and always loved by the recipient.
Brad closed shop due to rent hike. I think he’s still selling guitars out of his house. He lives down the street from me. I’ll see if he wants to post some contact info on MB somewhere…
Love it! I e-mail John Tusher about the candle sticks he just got from you and was wondering where you were- he linked me to the new shop…I am SO happy for you- if anyone deserves this space it is YOU! I will be by! EJ
any thing he does turns to gold
Spam for dogs.