PORT ANGELES — Five Port Angeles businesses were shuttered or announced closure plans in October.
Some were victims of the economy, while others closed or moved out of the area for family reasons:
n Waste Not Want Not, a store at 724 E. First St. selling recycled building materials, was a resource for do-it-yourself homeowners looking for one-of-a-kind bargains among materials salvaged from remodeling or demolition projects.
“Sales have been dropping every year since 2008,” owner Sue Rising said recently.
The store is now holding a going-out-of-business sale and no longer accepts donations of salvaged material.
It will remain open until the end of this month — or when most of the materials on the property are gone, Rising said.
The store, which celebrated its 10th anniversary in February, has both indoor and outdoor areas which display home improvement items including cabinets, coaxial cables, windows, kitchen sinks, tubs, piping and a number of things that could not immediately be recognized.
Many of the store’s customers are artists who specialize recycled art made from salvaged metals, wood and glass, Rising said.
“We were well-supported by people in Port Angeles,” she said.
Many people have stopped by to express their sorrow over Waste Not Want Not’s closing, she said.
When the new-housing market slowed three years ago, a niche market dried up.
Owners of relatively new homes used to come in to buy unusual old doors, clawfoot tubs and other fixtures with old personality to specialize their homes, Rising said.
“We got a lot of Martha Stewart types,” she said.
The store has a second location in Port Townsend at 1532 W. Sims Way.
It will remain open.
Two downtown restaurants closed for personal reasons, not because of the economy, said Barbara Frederick, executive director of the Port Angeles Downtown Association.
“It makes it a little easier when they do it for family,” Frederick said.
However, it does leave two downtown voids, she said.
n Rick’s Place Restaurant and Lounge, 102 W. Front St., closed Oct. 15.
The family restaurant served breakfast, lunch and dinner in Port Angeles since 1991.
Something may open in the building in the next few months, but exact plans are uncertain, Rick’s Place owner Rick Mathis said.
“We’re looking at a couple of options,” Mathis said.
The restaurant and catering specialized in traditional American fare such as hamburgers and fish and chips.
Rick’s Place’s swan song came Oct. 28, when it hosted the bar for a Masquerade Ball sponsored by the businesses Steppin’ Out and Twisted.
Mathis and his family also own Smuggler’s Landing, a waterfront restaurant at 115 E. Railroad Ave. in The Landing mall.
Smuggler’s Landing will be handling the catering and bar hosting side of the business, Mathis said.
n Thai Peppers, a popular Thai restaurant located at 222 N Lincoln St., near Railroad Avenue, also closed in mid-October.
Owner Noi Itti said he closed the business because he wanted to retire.
“I am devastated to report that Thai Peppers has closed its doors for good,” wrote a fan of the restaurant on the Yelp.com website.
n Clothing store Tiger Lily, once located at 106 N. Laurel St. in Port Angeles, moved to Towne Square Port Orchard.
The store opened in August 2009, with a line of trendy young adult clothing, including juniors, misses and young plus sizes, said owner Lyn Fauth.
The move to Port Orchard was to be closer to family members, but the economy contributed to the decision, Fauth said.
“We’re hoping business will be better,” she said.
Tiger Lily’s new location is expected to open Nov. 16, in time to take advantage of the holiday season, she said.
n Another business which closed in October, United Rentals at 3368 E. U.S. Highway 101 — next to the old Walmart store — provided rentals of tools and equipment for contractors and household home improvement projects.
Calls to United Rentals’ corporate offices — requesting information about why the store closed — were not returned.
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Reporter Arwyn Rice can be reached at 360-417-3535 or at arwyn.rice@peninsuladailynews.com.
