Sidewalk sale draws shoppers to annual SeafoodFest bash

The largest and oldest sidewalk sale in Seattle has become a tradition as the business community welcomes the annual Ballard SeafoodFest each summer with deals and bargains for shoppers.

The four-day sale starts on July 26, two days before the SeafoodFest begins and has been going on since 1942.

"We love to do this for our customers to find bargains and enjoy their shopping in downtown Ballard," said Ballard Merchants Association President Mary Hurley, who owns Best Regards.

Over 100 businesses on Market Street and Ballard Avenue are expected to participate in the sale.

Olsen's will sell p¯lse lompe, homemade Norwegian hot dogs made from pure pork. Also being sold are Norwegian chocolates and a special pickled herring that has won awards from the Leif Erikson Lodge.

The store, popular with the local Scandinavian community, reserves the sidewalk in front of their business for Bob and Janet Jones, who traditionally sell wild silver brite salmon from Alaska at a special price. The Jones' were missionaries for 25 years in Italy and sell the fish as a fundraiser with proceeds sent to programs in Rome.

During their salmon sale, the couple sings Italian, English and Swedish songs to entertain the crowd.

"The salmon has been a tradition for a long time," said Anita Endresen who owns Olsen's with her sister Reidun.

Richard C. McMillan, manager of The Tux Shop will have sell shirts and coats, with prices as low as one dollar on some items. McMillian, who goes by the nickname "Mac," describes the sidewalk sale and Seafoodfest this way. "It's fun, it's a riot, it's exciting," he said.

Each year the crowd estimate for the Ballard Seafoodfest is 25,000 to 30,000 people.

"It's a great weekend. There is a lot of people coming through here for the sidewalk sale," said Bob Carlson, who owns the Great Harvest Bread Company with his wife Crystal.

Music lovers will end up in front of Sonic Boom Records and CDs. There, employee Adam McKinnon will welcome customers.

"There's lots of bargain cds. I want to work outside really bad. It's nice to be out there. It's nice to have stuff set out on the sidewalk," said McKinnon.

With so many people walking the streets, many will end up at Market Street Shoes. The store participated in the sidewalk sale last year after being open for only four months.

"We had good times with it last year. It was a great experience for us as a new store," said co-owner Ryan Stauffer. He owns Market Street shoes with Lanne Stauffer and Mark Magdaleno.

"We had lots of shoes and great discounts. We had a blast last year. We love Ballard," said Lanne Stauffer.

For those who like sweets, Cookies is the place to stop. Owner Carolyn Truitt plans a display of cookie jars and other merchandise. "It's a lot of fun. We have sale and clearance stuff. It's nice that all the other stores and people are out too. It's fun to go visit and see what they have," said Truitt.

The sidewalk sale, combined with the Seafoodfest can make Market Street a busy place and Demian Johnston, an employee at Annie's Affordable Art likes it that way.

"We always have a good time at the sidewalk sale. I like the chaos," Johnston said. The store will have frames, posters and other items on sale.

With the first two days of the sale leading up to the Seafoodfest on the weekend of July 28 and 29, it serves as a warm up to the big event.

"It sets the stage for the Seafoodfest before it starts," said Ballard Chamber of Commerce executive director Beth Williamson Miller.