Sign of the Times
Saying goodbye to Annie Sparrow’s Tulip
Posted by: Laura Cassidy on Feb 05, 2009 at 07:00AM
18 Comments
I was truly sad to read an email from Annie Sparrow this week announcing that she would be closing Tulip.
I’ve been working near First and Seneca for nine years now, and Annie and Tulip have been there for seven. I remember when she opened because previously, there really hadn’t been much in the way of window shopping options in that neck of the woods. Tulip’s sweet windows and Annie’s sweeter presence inside the shop gave many of my days a little lift, and the store itself was always a sure bet for the softest jersey basics (I think I bought my first Clu piece there) and great, shapely statement pieces (like the Hanii Y dress in last spring’s fashion spread). I consider Annie a neighbor, and I hate to see her go.
But because I remember a time when the First and Seneca area didn’t have a really wonderful European-feeling shoe shop, a truly innovative menswear store, an ultra-glam yet pretty darn green co-ed clothier, and a bridal boutique sporting gowns and ready-to-wear by local designers, the news about this particular closure feels bigger, too.
I don’t want it to—I don’t want Tulip’s closing to be a sign of the times, but I can’t help but feel that it is. I’m bummed to see anyone with a solid business plan and a fair game close up shop, but it’s especially disheartening when the shop has a real history and place in the community.
And let’s just be frank: It’s heartbreaking to see the colossal failure of a few greedy minds destroy the hard work of so many.
You know what I keep thinking about? I keep thinking about Teri Garr. Remember 1983 and Mr. Mom? Such a recession movie. Michael Keaton’s character gets laid off so Garr’s goes back to work in an advertising agency. (Don’t forget that 25 years ago it was normal that one parent worked, one stayed at home.) One of her clients is Schooner Tuna — and please tell me I am not the only one who remembers all of this like it was yesterday, but their tagline was, “The tuna with a heart.” Anyway, Garr’s character wins at work by successfully pitching her client with a comeback campaign that went like this:
“Schooner Tuna sympathizes with those hit so hard by this trying economy. To help you, we are reducing the price of our tuna by 50 cents a can. When this crisis is over, we’ll go back to our regular prices. Until then, remember, we’re all in this together.”
Folks, shopkeepers all over town have effectively reduced the price of their tuna by 50 cents a can. You know this. No, they’re not being altruistic. (And neither was Schooner Tuna back in ‘83. We know this.) The sale sign above is the real sign of the times. And man do I cringe as I feel the patriotic tone of my voice coming down the pipeline — I’ve learned to question and appreciate my country in very, very equal measure — but I think we need to loosen our purse strings and do some shopping. We’re all in this together, and I don’t want to see shops like Tulip continue to disappear. Be thoughtful about what you buy. Think about local businesses and American industry and quality and craftsmanship and longevity and true style. But buy. If you can, and if and when it feels right.
Because really, couldn’t we invent our own stimulus plan? If every employed Seattleite spent 100 bucks a month for the next three months on something for their home, their children, their wardrobe, their loved ones, wouldn’t that stimulate something?
Before you cue the Schooner Tuna jingle, yes, Annie’s hosting quite a sale in her final days. I spied a couple of those great, complicated yet simple, crisp white Acne shirts, and some perfectly loose, open-shaped pieces by Humanoid, a Dutch line that I really love. Prices are criminally low, and the store still feels wonderfully sweet.
Go soon, and say your goodbyes.
F___, I FEEL SO PATRIOTIC RIGHT NOW!!! truly heartbreaking sendoff. i feel for shop and restaurant owners both. i think we DO need to spend money, but we should spend it with a mind for what you’re getting at: supporting things we don’t want to one day do without.
I feel the sadness too. I did not know Tulip, but I’ve enjoyed the feel of individualism and cultural richness that Tulip, Betty Lin, Les Amis and so many others have brought to us as gifts from a larger world.
And I think your individual-action stimulus plan, as a social movement,
is brilliant. I know that I’ve felt the importance of spending my money where it matters most. The other night I made sure to buy olive oil at the Continental on the Ave after my Avgolemono soup, just to spend a few more dollars and chat a bit with these good people who have greeted me for so many years.
These good people create the habitat for our community. Isn’t that worth including in the budget?
it’s a testament to how dangerous this economic climate is when institutions (wamu) and small businesses that seem to have “made it” (tulip) are forced to shutter their doors. i agree that it’s important to spend money now…and definitely support american, if not local, businesses. i used to work two (near) full-time jobs, but am now down to one. though i’m truly fortunate to still have my job (and with significant security), i am scrutinizing how and where i spend…yet still taking advantage of all the deals that are widely available due to the economic downturn. giant sales aren’t great for the retailer’s health…but they have to get rid of inventory somehow, and i feel like i’m doing my duty in supporting them by making these purchases. does that sound contrived? because i really do believe it. and speaking of great american fashion, rag and bone came out of kentucky and centers all of its manufacturing in us factories. i love their collections season to season because they focus on classic shapes, great fabric, and expert tailoring. i just had to mention r&b because i almost bought a pair of high-waisted tux pants at the mario’s superbowl sale last weekend, but they were about a half size too small. love them!
hey all — I’m glad you’re feelin’ what I’m feelin’… it’s not without a lot of thought that I advocate spending — and yeah, it’s a mixed blessing for retailers to unload merchandise at deep discounts
- ugh. All of it is really loaded and confusing and heartbreaking and difficult. But it’s so encouraging to me, and hopefully to retailers, that we all feel a sense of community and bigger picture here -- I do feel like the market is oversaturated with, you know, 476 varieties of denim. So let’s get Darwin – the strong will survive, if you buy the brands that matter, the ones that are doing it right.I would really love to start a list of American-made, sustainably produced, meaningful fashion houses and lines. I’ll start it here, after I figure out how to best utilize the blogging tools available. In the meantime
- yeah, let’s just talk about them. Rag and Bone is a great example. I can’t/haven’t been able to confirm this, but I understand that the factory that R&B uses is the very one vacated by Levi’s -- the original American denim-when that company scattered their manufacturing across the globe. So ironic, considering that the R&B guys are a couple of Brits.@ Joni: not to get off topic, but avgolemono. let’s talk about it. boil whatever chicken pieces you have around the house (bones, meat, whatever) in ~32 ounces of chicken broth (plus pepper, bay leaf if you want (i don’t)) to better flavor the broth. do it for a while, but don’t reduce too much. idk. 20 min? then strain all that stuff out, throw away bones, keep meat/skin whatever for later. put (washed) white rice in the broth and cook it. while rice is cooking, whip three eggs and one large or however many tiny lemons together in a separate bowl. when rice is done, take some of the broth and mix into the egg bowl, stirring the whole time so the eggs don’t cook. do it a few table spoons at a time until the eggs are a little brothy. then turn off the broth, pour the brothy eggs in, add the set-aside chicken bits, stir and serve immediately with oregano on top and bread on the side. BOOM.
thanks momma kazaras!
thanks momma kazaras!
why you talkin about my momma?!
Ndrwmtsn: thanks for the avgolemenono recipe. I’ll just have to keep straight which bones were talking about: chicken bones of Rag and Bone. :-0
Hi there, I just want to say “right on,” to your article. I own a clothing boutique in Tacoma, and when I was first opening Annie helped me out a ton. I always did and will consider her a mentor. I have wanted to send a similar message to my clients about spending in the smaller stores if and when they can, but have not had the guts nor do I know how to with out offending someone. However, kudos to you. I hope people really take in what you have said, or when this is all over what will we have, except the walmarts and old navy’s of the world. Thank you for writing this.
Hi Rebecca,
I’m so glad you chimed in, and I can totally understand your hesitancy in telling folks to buy buy buy. It’s my pleasure to have said it on your behalf! (I see from your email address that your shop is Dame Lola — a great little joint!) I, too, want this whole thing we’re in the middle of to obliterate the Walmarts and Old Navys. It’s going to take such retraining and education to get us there tho — frustrating because you figure, we came from a world where dressmakers operated in every town and city and neighborhood and etc; our heritage is to buy, live, and breathe locally and with intention and thought… we just got really really off track. I do pledge to do my part to get us back on. Thanks Rebecca!
An excellent post. I could not agree more. Just yesterday I was at A Mano and Totokaelo stocking up on timeless, well-crafted basics (on sale). I felt a bit guilty when I got home (since I’m second-guessing everything I buy lately, and for the slim margins I know the proprietresses are making), but your article was a tonic. I appreciate you speaking what’s been on my mind. BTW, beautiful the way you wove in Mr. Mom. Great writing!
Laura, you’re not just an astute thinker but you’re a fantastic writer! this was an enlightening and motivating post. Every time NPR tells me that Walmart’s sales increased last quarter I want to cry! who is shopping there? why? I’m going to take your advice and spend $100 each month this quarter in appreciation for being gainfully employed. Thanks!
Laura…what a thoughtful/insightful/inspiring piece.
i recently closed my shop in seattle, and it was bittersweet because during the final sale, everyone was coming in saying ‘oh, this is my favorite shop – how sad!’ but honestly, i had never seen any of these people ever buy anything in the store until the last week! if you loved the shop so much, I WOULD NOT BE CLOSING!
Hi Nicole,
I can understand how frustrating that must have been. I was watching a similar thing at Tulip
-during Annie’s sale, women were practically throwing elbows to grab at cardigans and button-ups, and I was thinking, well, if they had shopped with this fervor a month ago …Please keep in mind how hard this is on all of us, I’m sure your clients wanted to support you, and buy great things for themselves, but there is so much fear out there right now — so many of us are just sort of frozen in it. I do hope we’re helping to encourage some micro-stimulus spending here tho!
and Pat – great to hear from you … I’ve been plotting a Fremont day and will figure it out soon, when I’m over there, I’ll stop in and see what’s new at Merge. Thanks to both of you for reading!
Lovely story Laura! I completely agree that supporting local businesses makes our cultural framework of our city unique. Personally, I championed an event this past December (4-7th) called City Stimulus to promote small business and am in the planning stages for a spring City Stimulus that incorporates additional neighborhoods. For reference, here is the website: http://citystimulus.com/
I’ll be sure to share more about the new event details in the next couple weeks. Thanks again for the fantastic piece.
Laura, thank you for supporting the little guys. I just discovered your blog and am happy to not only hear from you, but also all the lovely good folk of Seattle that are rallying to keep the indie shop alive. Take care, much mahalo.