As we were busy building, buying and prepping for the grand opening of our first store at Bellevue Square, our previous employer, Jeffrey Michael, was busy raising millions and reimagining itself as Logan Drive, sparing no expense and remodeling all eight of their northwest locations. The downtown Seattle location at 4th & Union would be their flagship store. As Jeffrey Michael, it was a dramatic space, but after the Logan Drive face lift, it was "state of the art." The 5000 square feet of marble, light ash and dark maple trim was built on two levels and boasted soaring, beamed ceilings with ten enormous windows at street level. It was amazing!
Less than a year after opening, Logan Drive declared bankruptcy and abruptly closed all their stores, abandoning the leases and improvements. Shortly after, we were approached by their Seattle landlord and offered the 4th & Union space. Another opportunity too great to pass up; another dream come true. I had always longed to get out of the mall and work downtown.
After locating and buying back the fixtures and lighting from a liquidator for pennies on the dollar, hanging new signage and picking up their white delivery van in the deal, we were able to open our new store for less than $10,000! We entered our downtown Seattle era on 4th & Union in June of 1995.
David of David Lawrence
