Kelly DeRitis, co-owner of Poggi Bonsi, confirmed to The B-Town Blog Thursday that they would be “relocating” the original Poggi Bonsi Gift Store (the corner store in Olde Burien at 9th SW and SW 152nd) to a new location in the Renton Landing.
The new store will be called Poggi Bonsi and will contain a mixture of gourmet kitchen products, as well as imported ceramics, linens and gifts., like Poggi Bonsi Cucina.
The new Renton store will be twice as big as Cucina, with 2,800 square feet.
Until then, they’ll be holding a Moving Sale, with 30% off Imports, 40% off selected Gift Merchandise and 50% off all jewelry. They’ll be open every day starting Nov. 1st at their corner store location (901 SW 152nd).
In mid-November the store will be closed to move the merchandise to the Landing, which will open Thanksgiving weekend. The new store will be located at 920 N. 10th, Suite F, in Renton.
“We’ll still have two stores now in two distinct shopping areas,” said DeRitis. Their Cucina store will remain in Olde Burien, as well as the management of their website (www.poggibonsigifts.com)
BTB Advertiser Howard and Marge Clothing and Accessories will be leaving their Seahurst location to occupy the corner store spot.
Owner Robin Dunkle “hopes to open towards the end of the November, and asks BTB readers to watch for the grand opening.”
by Janet Grella
Photos by Michael Brunk
EXCLUSIVE: Eat Local owner Greg Conner has selected Burien for his stores’ second location in the greater Seattle area – he’s opening his 3500-square foot store at 810 SW 151st soon, right next to Bicycles West. His Queen Anne location has been open for three years.
Greg hopes to have Eat Local open by early fall of this year. He will also be locating Eat Local’s open kitchen in the Burien location.
Eat Local is a “speciality food store, not a restaurant, or a grocery store,” explains Greg. “It’s a concept store specializing in food products purchased from local northwest organic farmers. It is also an artisan food store offering prepared meals made with seasonal, organic ingredients bought directly from local farms”.
Organic farmers include:
- Thundering Hooves for pork, beef and lamb
- Salmon from Loki Fish
- Grains from Bluebird Grains Farms
- Stokesberry Farms will supply the organic eggs
…just to name a few.
Greg Conner is returning to his roots so you can "Eat Local."
Eat Local will be selling entrees, sides, baked goods, desserts, soups, all cooked on-site and frozen to keep the nutrients in. All the consumer has to do, is take it home and “mike it” (as in “microwave it“).
They will also be carrying a selection of other items, including:
- Rockridge Orchards cider
- Bluebird Grains
- Empire Ice Cream
- Tiny’s Organics
- Blue Cottage Jams and Woodrings Spreads
- Local cheeses, dairy and eggs
- They’ll also have their own wine label from Mt. Baker Vineyards and beer from Georgetown Brewery
Why Burien?
Greg grew up in Burien, and is a graduate of Kennedy High School. He wanted to “come home to one of the best little cities in the Seattle area. I think Burien is going to just get better and better in the years to come.”
If you can’t wait for the opening to enjoy their prepared food items, you’ll find them at Burien’s Thursday Farmer’s Market, which is one of four local farmer’s market selling the Eat Local products. You can also visit their location in Seattle at 2400 Queen Anne Ave. North.
For more information, visit their website here.
The B-Town Blog is proud to welcome our latest Advertiser: Poggi Bonsi, which has two retail stores in Olde Burien at 929 SW 152nd Street and 907 SW 152nd Street.
In the summer of 2000, Keli Sim-DeRitis, a freelance graphic designer, went on an extended family vacation to Italy to visit her husband’s relatives. While there she fell in love with the vibrant colors and unique designs of the Italian pottery as well as the Italian culture.
After returning home she found a local Italian food importer and worked on developing a business idea, identity and packaging for a corporate gift line of artisan olive oil and hand-painted ceramic dipping bowls. The name “Poggi Bonsi” came from the Tuscan town of “Poggibonsi”…while on vacation Keli and her family got lost every day and kept running into signs directing them to “Poggibonsi,” they had so much fun learning how to pronounce the name and repeating it again and again, that it stuck.
Keli recruited her friend and fellow entrepreneur, Michelle Codd—a floral and container garden designer–whom she had met through their children’s preschool to become a partner.
In August of 2003 a friend approached them with an offer of a small retail space in the Olde Burien Shopping District. Using Michelle’s strong background in floral design and visual merchandising and Keli’s background in graphic design along with a common work ethic and drive, they created a tiny gem of a store in only one-month’s time. This first store, at 929 SW 152nd St. opened in September of 2003 selling Italian ceramics, linens, olive wood and specialty foods.
The retail store soon gained a following and in September of 2004 they launched their online store www.poggibonsigifts.com and a larger retail outlet at 901 SW 152nd Street. In March 2006 they again expanded with Cucina, their kitchen store, located just down the block at 907 SW 152nd st.
Today Poggi Bonsi has 9 employees, imports products from Italy, France, Spain and Portugal and ships them from their Burien location to customers across the United States. The first time they shipped an order from Olde Burien to New York City was quite an event. Since then they’ve gained many loyal customers from Burien and beyond. Some special orders have been: a wedding present to Glenn Close—a Christmas gift to Mario Batali—and selling home décor items to Kelsey Grammer’s interior designer.
They are now in the midst of redesigning their online store and adding a blog with stories from their travels abroad.
We welcome Poggi Bonsi to the B-Town Blog family, thank them for not removing our little yard sign in front of their store, and ask all readers to please support them by clicking on their ad on the right sidebar and checking them out!
| Mar ’08 |
| 13 |
| 3:00 pm |
Starting today (Thurs. Mar. 13th) through Saturday (the 15th), come celebrate the 2nd Anniversary of Poggi Bonsi’s Cucina Store, located at 901 SW 152nd in “Olde Burien” (206-859-6401).
Save 25% on all Italian and French Ceramics
Thursday, March 13th from 3-5pm:
Specialty Food, Olive Oil and Chianti Tasting at Cucina with Ritrovo Italian Regional Foods
Friday, March 14th from 1:30-3pm
Amoré Chocolate Tasting with chocolatier Brenda Archuletta.
Friday from 3-5pm
“Festa di Té” (Tea Party) to launch Tea Forté. Sample teas and treats as you browse our unique display of home decor, jewelry and gifts.
“In the Pink”
Wine Tasting and Appetizers. Discover the lush flavors of Rosé wines from Europe and the Northwest.
Saturday, March 15th from 4-6pm
“Think Spring” Wine Tasting and Sampling Dips and Spreads with Kelsey from Noble Wines.
Daily Drawings:
Thurs.: Tea Forté items
Fri.: Tea Forté items
Sat.: Set of 3 Italian Baking Pans
