On May 12, Washington Retail Association’s (WR) interim CEO Alesha Shemwell, Director of Policy & Government Affairs Crystal Leatherman, and John Engber, Director of the Retail Industry Coalition of Seattle, met with the Fremont Chamber’s Executive Director, Pete Hanning. This meeting is one of a series of meetings that WR is holding with Seattle retailers and local chambers.
Businesses that are members of the Fremont Chamber face many of the same challenges confronting retailers across Seattle and beyond. Ongoing public safety concerns and strategies to better engage with Seattle government leaders and the Seattle Police Department were discussed.
Transportation is another frequent issue of concern for businesses. The central business district in Fremont is currently disrupted by a large road improvement project that is tying up a significant percentage of street parking – even when construction is a couple of blocks away.
Both organizations committed to work closely together on these and other issues.
Afterwards, the WR team traveled to Ballard to meet with new WR board member, Matt Humphrey, owner of Steele Barber + Spa. Matt’s has had ongoing challenges with break-ins and vandalism over the past several years, frequently drawing the attention of local and national news media. Matt gave the WR team a tour of his spectacular barbershop, then took them to a terrific neighboring retailer, Gold Dogs, which is also dealing with significant retail theft problems.
