Archive for the ‘Gig Harbor Shopping’ Category
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Apr
09
Posted by Matt Thomson
Green Cottage Pet Store recently moved to a new Gig Harbor location…about 50ft from their old location! Located right downtown, the Green Cottage complex is undergoing a major transformation. This move was just one step in that process.
My love for dogs isn’t any secret, and Green Cottage Pets is the store of choice for me, and has been since we moved to Gig Harbor. Owned and managed by Gig Harbor resident Tom Moodie, Green Cottage carries an extensive supply of holistic foods, supplements, and treats for your canine and feline friends. There are other pet stores in Gig Harbor, but Washington is known for our health nuts and friendliness, so Green Cottage stands out.
Tom and his staff research–extensively–the products that they sell. Their website is loaded with information about nutrition, training, grooming, and local pet events. When I was there today, the staff and another customer were commenting that Green Cottage stands out from other Gig Harbor pet stores in that it is a place pet owners can go for information, not just supplies. I’d never thought of that before, but it’s certainly true.
When I adopted Sebastian nearly 8 years ago (he was about 1 at the time), I read some horror stories in the Whole Dog Journal about some name brand dog foods. A dog trainer friend of mine recommended I either feed them a raw diet or take the advice from the Whole Dog Journal and get a more premium food. I have fed Seb Canidae his entire life, and he seems to thrive on it. Green Cottage Pets is one of the few places I’ve found in the Gig Harbor/Tacoma area that carries Canidae pet foods.
I was given a free “Healthy Hips” dog treat today to pass on to Seb, and like everything else I’ve brought home from Green Cottage, he loves it! If you are looking for food, supplements, dog treats, toys, collars, whatever, they have it or they’ll get it. There’s tons of cat supplies there as well, but Seb doesn’t want me talking about that. Best of all, stop by Green Cottage for advice on how to care for your pet. In addition to having the best supplies, they are friendly and extremely knowledgeable about what they carry and what else is on the market. They also have a store in Fircrest, Wa, just across the bridge from Gig Harbor. Click here for a map of their Gig Harbor location.
I love my dog, but he does have a drooling problem. His duck meat “Healthy Hip” dog treat didn’t help that!
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Feb
27
Posted by Matt Thomson
Gig Harbor’s Uptown Center is getting further and further along. I didn’t really want to say this, for fear that my wife would read it, but Ann Taylor Loft is now open in Gig Harbor. I’m going to have to sell a few more houses to support her Ann Taylor habit. Actually, I’m quite fortunate in that my wife, while she enjoys shopping, is extremely thrifty and is a great deal-seeker.
In addition to the opening of Ann Taylor, Gig Harbor’s new Galaxy Theater is set to have their grand opening on Friday, March 7th. They are offering the first 500 guests a free T-shirt and the first 100 guests will receive a free 90 day pass! The entire first weekend will feature $1 popcorn and $1 soda. I’m not sure how or if you can go to the movies with a 5 month old, but that sounds like a pretty good time to me!
Still no word yet on the restaurants that will be part of the Uptown Center, but as soon as I know I’ll post them. Currently, Panera Bread Co and Jamba Juice are open, as well as the cafe inside of Borders Bookstore.
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Jan
31
Posted by Matt Thomson
Yesterday’s edition of The Peninsula Gateway announced a few more stores for Gig Harbor’s Uptown Center located on Pt. Fosdick Dr. Guys, this mall seems to be tailored to the women, with stores such as Chico’s, Coldwater Creek, Bloom Denim, Aveda, and J. Jill. Bloom Denim is currently located on Gig Harbor’s Finholm District on the waterfront. My wife took me in there last month, showed me their jeans for $200+, and I felt awkward in my $12.98 jeans from Costco.
My wife is anticipating the opening of Ann Taylor, which is set to open in February. There are a few places for men in the Uptown Center, as well. Adam and Eve is a clothing store that will carry men’s clothing, but unless they have the $12.98 jeans, I can’t imagine I’ll buy much there. I will be shopping at a few of the other stores, however. Panera Bread looks like a great spot for lunch, Jamba Juice will be a nice spot for the occasional smoothie, everybody can find something at Border’s Bookstore, though I’ll probably still prefer the smaller, privately owned bookstores such as No Dearth of Books.
My top two picks for the Uptown Center are the huge new movie theater set to open in March, and the Ben & Jerry’s ice cream store also set to open in March. I’m not sure if Ben & Jerry’s can compete with Animal Crackers and Kelly’s Diner, though. I prefer the smaller, local shops…somehow the ice cream tastes better. The Pt. Fosdick/Olympic Drive corner will now have Ben & Jerry’s, Dairy Queen, and Baskin Robbins.
Also set to open in the Uptown Center is an AT&T store, Hush Baby, and our “mystery restaurant.” I’m thinking that The Cheesecake Factory is out, as The Gateway reported a “Seattle-based Italian restaurant” is in the works. Apparently there is one other open spot for a restaurant, with 3 possibilities, so who knows? Regardless, this area is sure to see an increase in traffic, which has many residents upset, but I believe that a movie theater and restaurants are long over due in our area.
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Dec
20
Posted by Matt Thomson
Each year I give my clients a 12-month calendar featuring photos of Gig Harbor that I have taken throughout the year. If you are interested in a full size, high quality Gig Harbor calendar, I would be happy to get one to you. I would need $15 to cover printing costs, plus any shipping if you’re out of area. If you’re in the area, I’d be happy to drop one by for you. Just email me at mthomson@kw.com or give me a call at 253-226-7595 if you want one!
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Dec
12
Posted by Matt Thomson
In a small community like Gig Harbor, it can be a challenge for small business owners to succeed. Marketing is necessary, but it can be expensive as well. I’m curious what marketing is deemed most effective. How do we choose our professionals?
There are several TV ads that stick in my mind. Recently there has been a disgusting ad for a divorce lawyer that shows a couple clearly angry with each other watching TV when a commercial comes on with a lady exclaiming how she made her ex-husband’s life miserable by hiring this lawyer. The couple on the couch then go into a scene that disturbingly resembles domestic violence as they fight for the phone to try and make each other’s life as miserable as the other lady did to her husband. Seriously, that’s on TV. There’s also an insurance company that has some screaming farcical cowboy with other odd characters dancing around behind him. It’s non-sensical chaos that I truly thought was a joke the first few times I saw it, then I realized it was actually advertising for a real insurance company. I’m ashamed to admit I remember the name of the company, but happy to say I’d never insure anything with this side show.
On the flip side there is a commercial for a local mattress store (Silverdale is where they is…you have to see it) that is probably the most entertaining thing on television. I don’t care how much they charge, next time I need a bed I’m going to the Mattress Ranch in Silverdale (you can view a YouTube commercial here…it’s from his Alaska store, but same guy and same idea). Each week in the Peninsula Gateway (our local newspaper), there was a doctor or chiropractor who ran an interesting ad. It looked like a basic Dear John letter, and it was real personal and mushy and completely contrary to anything I’d ever do. Yet I’m pretty sure that if I ever needed a doctor or chiropractor, I’d call this guy, ’cause I kind of liked his unique ads. Problem is, I don’t know his name and I don’t even remember what kind of doctor he is.
Makes me think of my own advertising. A few years ago when I first got into real estate, I sent 100’s of postcards out each month to people I didn’t even know (I’m sure you get this kind of stuff frequently). I bought a nice little campaign piece that featured a different doggy postcard each month, with cute doggy pictures and fun sayings like, “Matt Thomson…your best friend in real estate” and “HUNTING for a home? Let Matt Thomson be your pointer” and “Matt Thomson can sniff out the best home deals for you.” I never got a single phone call, email, or any other type of response from those cards, despite spending $100’s of dollars. Maybe people didn’t want a dog for their real estate agent. I’ve since changed my approach and no longer mail out junk mail. I do my marketing in other ways.
I’d be curious to know how you choose your professionals. When you need a doctor, a dentist, a plumber, or a Realtor, do you open up the phone book, scour ads in the paper, call a friend? I’d love to hear your thoughts.
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Dec
10
Posted by Matt Thomson
Have you ever been to a play where the fan in the rafters starts blowing cotton all around and it looks like it’s snowing in the theater? It makes you smile, it’s kind of pretty, it feels like Christmas. Have you ever been in a real snow storm? Not a blizzard, but one of those snow storms where big fluffy flakes are slowly drifting down, where you can catch them on your tongue and they taste good even though it’s just water, where everything is still and the blanket of snow makes everything quieter, where it’s cold but you don’t care or even notice it, where it’s so much fun even the adults come out to play…one of those kinds of snow storms.
The difference between the theater snow storm and the real snow is kind of like preparing for Christmas at a major grocery store versus preparing at Gig Harbor’s Harbor Greens Market. The grocery stores aren’t bad, they have food and drink and usually one of those Christmas tree lots out in the parking lot with the single strand of light bulbs and the piles of trees leaning on one another. You can get what you need, but it just doesn’t feel right.
Harbor Greens Market is a totally different experience. You can make an incredible dinner with prime rib, ham, turkey, whatever you wish. You can even pre-0rder the meats if you wish to have the cuts that you need. You really have to taste the freshness to understand the difference. They’re more than willing to let you sample their deli meats.
They are also overflowing with fresh produce that beats anything else you can taste. Not sure what type of apple makes the best apple pie? They’ll be happy to slice some up for you so you can taste which is best.
Walls of wine (many from Washington), rows of cheese, homemade candy canes, wide selections of gift baskets, tables of fresh garland, huge fresh wreaths, and rows and rows of trees from the Sumner, WA, area are just some of the things that Harbor Greens offers. The trees are special, too. They are not only locally grown Douglass Firs, Grand Firs, and Nobles, but they are stored in water keeping them looking, smelling, and feeling fresh. Harbor Greens staff will trim the tree to your taste, load it on your car, everything.
If you haven’t been to Harbor Greens yet, you owe it to yourself to try it. At the very least, walk in and smell the pine, sample some fruit, cheese, and meats, and see if you don’t agree that your entire Christmas meal and decorating needs can be met locally!
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Nov
21
Posted by Matt Thomson
Gig Harbor’s Uptown Center, located on Point Fosdick drive just south of the Safeway shopping mall, is really starting to take shape. The new Borders Bookstore has been open for a few weeks now, and it has been joined now by Chico’s clothing store, Coldwater Creek clothing, and Panera Bread. Jamba Juice is very close to being open, and the rest of this outdoor mall is rapidly taking shape.
Perhaps most exciting will be the opening of the new Galaxy Theaters, set to open in March of ‘08. This 10-screen complex is much needed in Gig Harbor, which currently only has a 3 screen complex that is quite outdated.
Approximately 35 stores are set to be housed in the Uptown Center when it is completed. Imagine, dinner at Panera, a movie at the theater, then dessert at Ben and Jerry’s. Sounds like a great evening out in Gig Harbor!
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Nov
03
Posted by Matt Thomson
Gig Harbor, Washington, is now officially “on the map.” With the buzz surrounding yesterday’s grand opening of Gig Harbor’s Costco, you’d think that without a Costco your town doesn’t count! Well, now we count!
Costco has a little bit of everything, from furniture to electronics, food and clothes, even gasoline and tires for your car. Need a prescription? 10 pounds of beef? 5 gallons of mustard? New shoes? A new computer? Film developed? The Johnny Cash box set? A DVD for Christmas? It can all be found at Costco, and now you don’t have to drive to Tacoma or Bremerton to get it!
Costco is just one of the many new additions to Gig Harbor North, joining the YMCA as recent additions to the rapidly growing area of our town. This area now sports the Y, Costco, Target, Albertsons, Home Depot, Office Depot, Pier 1, McDonald’s, Subway, and many other shops and eateries. Harbor Crossing housing development has some models open and many more homes on the way, and the new hospital is well underway.
Make sure you give yourself plenty of time and wear your walking shoes if you choose to visit the Costco. The first two days have drawn huge crowds and parking has been limited.
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Oct
31
Posted by Matt Thomson
To the delight of some Gig Harbor residents and the dismay of others, Borders Books is now open in Gig Harbor’s new Uptown Shopping Center on Pt. Fosdick Drive. Borders is the first store to open in the new shopping mall that some say is long over due and others argue is out of place in our little community.
Borders should provide a great place for residents to not only purchase books, magazines, and music, but also provide a great gathering spot as well. The Harbor’s smaller, privately owned bookstores should still be able to flourish due to their waterfront locations (high foot traffic) and quaint, tourist-friendly atmospheres.
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Oct
22
Posted by Matt Thomson
Gig Harbor’s newest grocery store has set itself apart from their competition. Harbor Greens is a local success story in every aspect. Co-owners Chad Roy and Scott Teodoro are both locally raised, and they like their produce that way as well.
If you are looking for the best, biggest, and least expensive produce, Harbor Greens is the place to find it. Even the experience of wandering through the market, sampling their fruits, veggies, and cheeses, is worth the trip.
You may want to visit the market during your lunch hour, as their made on the spot sandwiches are quite literally in a league of their own. The freshness, quality of products, and size of a Harbor Greens sandwich will keep you coming back, I’m sure.
