By Liz Steen

Jane Baldorj loves her new neighbors at the Alki Smoke Shop & Grocery, “First week we were just asking the people what they need…. We are still listening.”   She opened the store with her husband, Bagi, and on the second Saturday morning that she was open, two neighbors had already stopped into the smoke shop for a box of butter. It’s not what you’d expect at a smoke shop, but it’s what the neighbors said they want. “It’s easier for the neighborhood to get something. It’s nice for the people who live down here,” Jane said.

She said the first few visitors to the store suggested produce and the kind of items neighbors might borrow from each other when they don’t have time to run to the store, like milk and butter. The shop is small, but “We can have at least garlic and onion and banana and apple,” she said, pointing to nearby displays of fresh fruit.  “They were (the neighbors’) ideas, and so we listened and they want some produce.”

Based on the requests, the shop now stocks “a variety” of milk and butter, as well as candy and a wide selection of drinks. “Space is limited but we will try to have at least what you need,” Jane said. The prices are lower than the closest grocery stores, too, Jane said. She believes Alki is often a pricey area, but she said prices at her store are lower than most in the area, “I stopped by (a large chain grocery store) yesterday and I thought oh my god so expensive!”  

Business has been surprisingly brisk even “in the slow season.” “It’s better than expected because it’s a brand new store.” Even with foot traffic on the beach lower for November, Jane has seen returning customers. “I really appreciate the neighborhood because they were saying to another person and another one,” as people who come in mention they heard of the store through word of mouth, she said. “Everyone is saying, Oh we don’t want to go up the hill,” she said, gesturing behind the shop toward the road that leads to West Seattle’s Admiral District shopping area.

Customer K.D. was enthusiastic in her support, “Yes 100%. It’s such a cute shop and I just want the best for them,” she said, holding the Red Bull she bought. She walked to the store while running an errand on Alki beach. She said the location is perfect for quick trips, “I was like oh hey it’s just right here.”

Jane and her husband found the shop’s beach front location through his work as a contractor. Bagi helped to remodel the space upstairs, “And he found out (the landlord) was going to rent this small space and we were thinking, what should we do here?” At first they planned to open another restaurant. The couple had previously operated a Teriyaki restaurant in the North end of Seattle. “So we had experience. But there are so many restaurants,” she said.

The location has been home to Alki Miniatures and Brocante (now in the West Seattle Junction) in the past.

The cheery space is kid-friendly and open to all ages. Smoke products are kept behind the counter. Alki Smoke Shop & Grocery Store is located at  2622 Alki Ave SW Suite 102.