By reporter Steven Smalley
Three generations of Champions have taken turns running Champion Party Supply, now newly located in our neighborhood across from Albert Lee Appliance at 1461 Elliott Avenue West. In business since 1936, granddaughter Victoria Champion (25) has steered the ship for the last five years, keeping it all in the family. She was not even born when Champion Costume and Display was located in the Pike Place Market, run by her grandmother who originally sold props and costumes, such as feather boas, to vaudevillians.
?My grandfather started this business. My father took it over, and now it?s my turn,? she says.
Right in the middle of Halloween season, Victoria made the exhausting, albeit involuntary move to Interbay, and is now open for business.
?People keep asking me if I?m excited. I?m just tired,? she says.
The vacant structure on lower Queen Anne caught some by surprise.
?The old building [on Denny Way] got sold to a redevelopment company,? she reveals. ?I knew for about two years, and then I got the letter [to move].
Seattle-based Teutsch Partners wants the city’s permission to build a six-story building with 75 residential units and six live and work spaces at the old Champion site, according to the Puget Sound Business Journal.
An examination of Champion’s new place on Elliott makes one imagine an old haunted warehouse. “It?s definitely spooky,? Victoria points out. ?It?s probably the coolest store I?ve ever seen. It?s ready for Halloween.?
Is she going to make it through the busiest season?
?I?m very nervous. It?s definitely hard to sleep at night. I think it?s all going to work out,? Victoria declares.
With Magnolia and all its jazzed-for-Halloween kids just up the bridge, one might say, it?s horrifyingly perfect.
?We have done a lot to cater to the Magnolia family base.? she says. ?The kids? stuff is all in the front and the scary things are way in the back. If you have little ones who are wary of [creepy costumes], you can bring them here.?
There are 30 parking spaces on the south side (best), north, and west of the building. There?s even parking on Elliott Avenue during certain times of the day.
Finally, a few words to the ?hood from Victoria, a UW Husky: ?Shop local. Shop Champion. Shop Halloween.?