Commercial Avenue Sears store offered for sale

Anacortes’ Sears store is up for sale by owner Leo Mitchell.

“It’s a career move for me,” Mitchell said. “I’ve really enjoyed being in Anacortes.”

The store, at 2403 Commercial Ave., opened in late March 2007. The asking price is $110,000.

“It’s a good opportunity for somebody to get a nice business,” he said.

Mitchell also owned a store in Oak Harbor which he sold in April. He previously worked for 25 years in the oil industry and plans to return to that job. The store carries riding and push lawn mowers, refrigerators, microwaves, stoves, chest freezers, televisions, television stands, DVD players, treadmills and ellipticals. They also have a selection of washers, dryers and dishwashers.

Despite the tough economic climate, Mitchell said the store is doing OK.

“We’re on track,” he said. “At the moment were up 43 percent over last year (for sales to date).”

He has started heavier advertising in the San Juan Islands and expects that to bring more customers. He said about 25 percent of sales are from the islands.

“I really do expect it to show an increase,” he said.

For more information on purchasing the business call (360) 240-2552.

Former Crossfire owner buys Insights Gallery

New Insights Gallery owner Bill Dingle doesn’t plan any changes.

The business, 516 Commercial Ave., was previously owned by three business partners — Mitch Everton, Alfred Currier and Anne Schreivogl.

“I’m ready to start a second career after 28 years in the corporate world,” Dingle said. “It seemed like a good second career for me.”

He owned Crossfire Gallery in Anacortes in 2005. Dingle said he has collected art for about 25 years and has always enjoyed it. He is looking forward to turning his hobby into a job.

Everton said the three previous owners plan to continue to be involved on an as-needed basis. Both Currier and Schreivogl plan to continue to show their work at the gallery.

After being open for six years, Everton said it was a natural progression of the business. They opened it because there was a cultural need for another gallery in town. The partners were looking for someone who can keep pushing the business as the town has embraced the gallery scene.

Dingle said in the future he would like to expand the scope of the gallery.

“We’re going to try to continue to grow the business and extend the reach beyond the Skagit Valley,” he said.

Fidalgo Bay Coffee drive-thru stand will open July 15

Fidalgo Bay Coffee is opening its first retail coffee house in Anacortes next month. The first drive-through stand, at 12th Street and Commercial Avenue, is planned to open July 15. It is the former location of a Chevron gas station.

“You have to have incredible coffee, fantastic people and a great location. If you have all those business will go well,” said Mark Evans, one of the owners of the retail side of Fidalgo Bay Coffee.

Evans said the company is known for its wholesale beans and roasting. It recently opted to expand to the retail market.

“We have a few sites that are under different phases to be launched,” he said. “Our hope is to have three or four open in the next six to eight months. It’s certainly going to grow from there.”

The drive-through will offer all the company’s coffees, teas and espressos plus ice cream, milk shakes and a limited food menu. Customers can also get Fidalgo Bay Coffee’s whole beans. Evans said the company is excited to make Anacortes its first site since it was the birthplace of the business.

“A lot of it is to come back to the place where we started Fidalgo Bay Coffee,” he said.

Tabitha Bates will serve as manager. She was named Best Barista at the first Best Barista Competition sponsored by Fidalgo Bay Coffee in April 2007.

“We are excited to have her,” Evans said.

A grand opening is planned in August.

DJ’s Pizza offers family cookin’ at 11th Street storefront

DJ’s Pizza opened earlier this month at 910 11th St., the former location of Dominos.

Owner Jeff Shope, who has 17 years of experience in the pizza business, said the single store offers carry-out, delivery or take and bake.

“We have the freedom to do whatever the customer wants,” he said.

Shope is from Anacortes and moved back with his family after Hurricane Katrina. He said the pizza place has a family atmosphere.

“Three of the pizzas are named after my kids,” he said.

Hours are 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday through Thursday and until 10 p.m. weekends. Call 588-2232.

Radio station will be off air this weekend for move

Anacortes’ radio station, KWLE The Whale, will move to a new location at the end of the month

New owners Robert and Jennifer Uteda are moving the station to 904 32nd St., the former home of Happy Valley Farms. The station has been at 2416 Commercial Ave. for nearly 40 years.

Bill Berry, who owned the radio station for 43 years, bought the Commercial Avenue property in 1975. He plans to remodel the building and said he has several prospective renters.

The move means the station is expected to be off the air Saturday, June 28 and Sunday, June 29.

Visit http://www.1340thewhale.com.

Island Medical Spa now open Saturdays

Island Medical Spa has expanded its hours and is now open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturdays. It is also open 9:30 a.m. to 6 p.m. weekdays.

Board certified dermatologist and dermatologic surgeon D. Russell Johnson opened the new 3,000-square-foot state-of-the-art spa facility in March. Island Medical Spa now offers total body skin care and rejuvenation, with the addition of body treatments, massage, aromatherapy and a spa experience: the Vichy Shower.  

Johnson is the first in the Northwest to offer the ablative fractional laser, new safe and effective wrinkle treatment and skin resurfacing technology. Cosmetic injection specialist Kristy Anderson, a registered nurse who provides Botox and facial injectables north of Seattle, consults with clients to ensure optimal results.  

Visit http://www.islandmedicalspa.com to see pictures of the new space.

Other business news:

• Washington Nails moved to 2114 Commercial Ave., the former home of Finn’s Photo.

• After trying to sell Island Video for nearly a year, owners Rebecca and Brian Hobbs are closing the store at the end of June. The couple bought the business in early 2006 to prevent it from closing after the building it was operated out of was sold. Island Video’s inventory is being liquidated and the store will close June 30.

• Skagit State Bank celebrated 50 years earlier this month. Founded in 1958 by the late James P. Bishop and other local businessmen, Skagit State Bank is an independent community bank run by local people, serving local people.

It has an Anacortes office at 1400 Commercial Ave. Visit http://www.skagitbank.com.

• Work is moving along at a new Strandberg Construction development overlooking Storvik Park on 29th Street. The one-, two- and three-bedroom condos, called Storvik Park: A Private Residence, are expected to be complete this fall. Prices start in the low $200,000s. For more information visit http://www.strandbergconstruction.com.

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