Amazing and unique store in a central location. I hope to…read morereturn soon! Highly recommend it!

Many visitors and shoppers tend to have an emotional connection to Kobo, formerly known as Higo. I…read moream one of those people who calls it Higo, before I will remember it is in fact Kobo now. Higo is the original shop owned and run by the Murakami family. This is one of the few businesses that survived the Executive Order 9066 written in 1942 with thanks to the non-Japanese friends of the family who owned businesses in the same building. Today, Kobo represents a new generation of local artists, selling gift items, crafts, tees, books, art, jewelry, and much more at varying level of prices. I highly recommend Kobo when shopping for unique gifts. When I recently visited, they had a glass artwork on display, art gallery style. It was also the yearly Nihonmachi celebration, and they had a table outside with an artist painting one of three designs on classic Japanese windchimes. I was thrilled to buy one of these adorable windchimes commonly featured in anime including Studio Ghibli movies. For those who want to read the long version of the store's history: https://www.historylink.org/File/9094

A shout out to the fine folks at Adorn who recently made and…read more gave away over 300 masks to neighbors in Phinney. What a wonderful gift to the community! Many thanks to Renate and Denise~

It's not just that I get to visit with Rocco the wonder dog when I drop by Adorn, but that…read morecertainly doesn't hurt. Adorn is a little bit different, but in a good way. Renate Ruby, shop owner, is basically a curator of craft. She travels to the factories of the furniture lines she represents, for example, so she speaks from the perspective of someone who has really dug in deep to get the know her products from the inside out. Warning: only get her started on the properties of quality linen if you are prepared! That girl knows her stuff. She's scouts out things like small-batch wallpapers and dishware that are not readily available. So that's cool. The other thing I notice about the shop, well check the hours before you drop in, is that there are occasional events that bring people I have never met together, Once, there was a salon-like gathering and the presentation was on perfume. Again, small-batch, hand-crafted product. Because we live in a world that increasingly feels mass-produced (maybe it's my reaction to the myriad of cranes and skyscrapers being build in this SeaTown), it's important to find and share these gems. Without them, what would our world look like? Target and Ikea only? Check it out.

​I was just strolling down 1st Ave when I stumbled upon this absolutely stunning shop for the very…read morefirst time. Pro-tip for first-timers: if you're confused about how to get in, just press the button next to the door! The friendly staff will buzz you right in. ​Once inside, I was completely blown away by how beautifully the shop is curated. The front features gorgeous color-coded displays in vibrant greens, pinks, and yellows. As you wander deeper into the store, it's like a treasure trove filled with high-quality wines, perfumes, artisanal soaps, gourmet treats, and incredibly tasteful home decor and novelties. ​This is the ultimate spot to pick up a little self-care treat or find a unique, thoughtful gift for someone special. Yes, the prices are a bit on the higher side, but given the exceptional quality and uniqueness of everything they carry, the satisfaction level is 100% there. Such a gem with a wonderful aesthetic!

We stopped by Watson Kennedy Fine Home after being drawn in by its beautifully curated window…read moredisplay, and it did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed by the wonderful staff. The store is a dream, everything is thoughtfully color-coordinated, making it a feast for the eyes. There's truly something for everyone, and it's the perfect one-stop shop for creating a thoughtful gift basket. I could have easily spent hours browsing the unique selection, but my husband was eager to get to our next destination. We were visiting from out of town the first time we stopped in, but now it is a go to spot, even if it's just to check out what they have put out recently! If you're in Seattle, this store is an absolute must-visit!

As I wandered around the city while visiting Seattle I decided to find the coolest and unique spots…read moreI could find for all the things I love - stationary, artisan-made goods, unique gifts, and artwork that is affordable. I even saw jewelry, name brand reusable bag line merch, and stickers here at Butter Home. Of course there was quite a variety of home goods too including candles, books, etc. I saw some great artwork that was Seattle-themed and a lot of cool large paperclips, stamps, and whatnot to bring back to my office mates as small gifts. You will find something for you and then some here. Service was great as I asked the person working for any other nearby shops. They had great suggestions for other spots to eat and hang out in the neighborhood. I was super happy they were friendly enough to make some recommendations.

Cute and unique! If you're searching for some niche home decor or trinkets, you've come to the…read moreright place! Look for signs that say "Chophouse Row" and you'll see Butter Home on your right in the alley. They have lots of items that are great for gifts! They had stationery, kitchenware, artwork, and lots of Baggu. It's a small store, but there was lots to look at. A nice change-of-pace compared to other stores in the area. A hidden gem :)

Couldn't even get through the phone conversation with the guy before getting laughed at and made…read morefun of for the way I phrased asking the price of a standing freezer. Sure, maybe I'm completely ignorant of freezers, their models, and that there are differing prices etc. but that's why I called, so I could get an idea. I figured he would be able to point me in the right direction for what I need for my shop. He sure did a great job of making me feel even more stupid than I already do, and that's why my business sure will be avoiding doing business with them.

This is one of those old-school businesses that has it all. While being specific to the restaurant…read moreindustry, it feels more like a friendly general store than anything else. The staff knows their business inside and out and the banter is relaxed and friendly. I went in there to replace a few pieces of my Homer Laughlin dinerware, you know, that nice heavy off-white china that a lot of restaurants use. I bought my original pieces at thrift stores in Philadelphia, then some more pieces in Raleigh, NC, at a restaurant supply store, and over the years, some of them had gotten broken and I no longer had a full set. With a dinner party of 7 people at my house on Friday night, I snapped about the mismatched dishes that I was going to have to put on my table. That led to the little journey from my downtown office to Dick's, conveniently located on 1st Ave just south of town. Anyway, one of the guys behind the counter sized me up, knew that I was new to the store (immediately) and not only asked me what I needed, but in a totally cheerful way took me right to it. And it turned out that in the back, he had half a pallet of one of the pieces I needed, and enough of the rest to piece my set back together. He teased me about only buying 6, saying he'd give me a better price on a couple of hundred... but where would I put them? :-) This store is not really meant for the home cook unless you're serious about it. You have to buy dishes ("smallware" in the trade) in units of 6 or 12, which might be more than you need or want. Still, their prices are really good, especially considering what it costs to ship the stuff if you buy it online! It's heavy, and fragile(ish), so shipping usually costs more per dish than the dish itself... but not so at Dick's. It's a good thing I was in a hurry or I would have been desperate to shop for aprons, knives, mixing bowls and maybe even a tocque (what a conceit!) LOL As it was, I paid my bill and left with a nicely-wrapped box of dinerware dishes. They do have everything, and if you are serious about cooking at home, you should check them out. They are way cheaper than Williams-Sonoma, Sur La Table, etc., and the stuff is meant to last forever and to take a lot of abuse. It won't be as pretty as La Creuset, but you'll get great service out of anything you buy at this store.

Update...Still no resolution to my damaged oven. After spending $1,500 and $250 on delivery fees, I…read moreassumed some level of customer service beyond basically getting ghosted. Beware if you are buying anything online with this business. Apparently processing returns, refunds, or repairs is something that Nancy and Terra Bella are not familiar with.

Was looking for a birthday gift for coworker so I went here to try and shop local. When I walked…read morein, there were two women at cash register gabbing away. Neither of them said hello, asked if they could help me or even acknowledged I was there. I looked through whole store and didn't find anything I liked. Not to say they don't have a fine inventory of Knick knacks and what not but nothing spoke to me. As I left, neither of the two even looked at me or said a word, so neither did I. I took my business to Amazon. Sad.

Watson Kennedy Fine Living is a very specific type of gift shop - it's lotion and candle focused,…read moreorganized by color and extremely scented. The strength of the scent is frankly overwhelming to the point it's unpleasant to browse and the shop could do with an air purifier if it's simply the byproduct of the items carried. The service was friendly but I couldn't stay in the shop for long and the scent lingered on my clothes for about ten minutes. Those with sensitivities likely won't do well, but for those who like strongly secreted spaces, Watson Kennedy is your store.

I love this store and have been here before but the lady working here yesterday was so rude. She…read morecouldn't have made us feel less welcome. I asked her about the fragrances and she said that wasn't their specialty but then it actually it is because they have other sense around the store like candles and lotions. I would give the store five stars because they have so many cute little knickknacks and beautiful cards and memorabilia of Seattle and it's located next to the inn at the market hotel next-door to Sushi Kashiba which is amazing.