(Image: CHS)
Ditching the corporate fashion world to open a boutique clothing shop on Capitol Hill may not seem like the obvious move for the father of a young family. But after spending years traveling in the clothing and shoe business, Jeffery Gardner said it was time to settle down with a clothing vision of his own.
Carrying the Big Lebowski sweater also has to be an edge.
After 15 years at Nordstrom and several years purchasing for major shoe companies, Gardner has set out on his own with his first store located in the former Edge of Circle Bookshop at E Pike and Boylston. Standard Goods quietly opened its doors last Friday — Gardner said he decided to worry about getting the word out afterwards.
Standard’s focus, as the name might imply, is casual and affordable fashion from American-made brands. “I really want to focus on sustainable brands, brands with a conscience,” Gardner said.
Brands like Pendleton, makers of the sweater made famous by the Dude, figure heavily in the store’s lineup. A smaller selection of shoes, small gifts, and accessories round out the Standard’s offerings.“I’ll respond to what community wants to see,” Gardner said. “As a one and a half person operation, I have the flexibility to do what I want to do.”
While Capitol Hill’s indie retail scene remains sluggish, Gardner said he’s banking on neighborhood demand for local shopping. Demand, however, wasn’t the issue when landlords said goodbye to Edge of Circle owner Robert Anderson in June after 20-plus years serving as Capitol Hill’s source for paganism and magic.
After Edge of the Circle left and found a new home in the University District, the space remained empty until Standard moved in last week. Since it didn’t require a change of use, Gardner said the move was relatively smooth.
Gardner said he did consider some spaces in Capitol Hill’s newest developments, but the buildout costs were prohibitively high — around $150,000 per year on average. He is hoping other independent retailers will find a way to move in.
“I really think shop local is an important thing,” Gardner said. “I want Seattle to have some cool boutiques to shop in.”
Standard Goods is open at 701 E Pike 11 AM-7 PM Monday-Saturday and 12-6 PM on Sunday.
Good luck, Jeffery! It is great to see new retail on the Hill — I look forward to stopping in.
Exciting to see a small clothing shop opening here. Looking forward to checking it out. I hope they carry petites. :)
I hope this use is what the landlord had in mind when they kicked out Edge of the Circle books. Wouldn’t want a unique business that caters to a niche audience on the way to Redhook.
Won’t be stopping in, regardless of the products sold.
“Won’t be stopping in, regardless of the products sold.”
yes, let’s penalize a new, small business owner because of something that happened in the past that they had no control over.
your thinking is just as small and flawed as that of the tech and bro crowd you seem to be railing against.
I, personally, have no interest in the shops in Seattle.
Lack of diversity in merchandise is a HUGE problem.
I train to Portland or drive to Vancouver to shop.
I’m sick of SAFE design. Congrats to Jim for hearing the
aesthetic needs of the few who value visual stimulation in this gloomy city!
Merci Beaucoup, Jim…….Harriet of SURPLUS design
Ponchos our a bourgeois favorite
“He is hoping other independent retailers will find a way to move in.” What? Those are the only kind of retailers you find in that area pretty much, and its been that way for decades. On that specific block also. Lets see how many we can list in Pike and Pine. Alive and Well, Stitches – which has been there for 10 years at least -, Le Frock (the first DRESS SHOP), Totokaelo, Edie’s, Glasswing Shop, 35th North, Retail Therapy, Sugar Pill, etc. and tons more that came before them like EDGE OF THE CIRCLE. Maybe he really means ‘independent retailers like mine with more of the same over priced old school brands for the bourgeoisie such as $300 blankets I mean ponchos’. Geez you are not some kind of pioneer dude. All the best, but get real.
Amen, Cat. The Hill is now and always has been a hotbed of independent retailers. Chains never last, except the ones we absolutely need, like QFC, Bartell and Rite Aid.