SEQUIM — The oldest edifice in town, on one of its highest-profile corners, is in the middle of a makeover.
The Town Square, also known as the Hurricane Coffee building, was constructed circa 1900 by Charles F. Seal; it housed the Dungeness Trading Co. and reportedly stocked everything a Sequim pioneer could need or desire.
These days the building itself needs new awnings, windows, trims and colors, so owners Gary and Carol Zellmer — who say their building is Sequim’s eldest — hired a local remodeler to start work in mid-September.
The project is valued at $75,200 according to the building permit posted at Town Square.
“People told us we were crazy and that we should hold on to our money,” at least until the economy begins to turn around, said Zellmer, who with her husband bought the building a decade ago.
But she and Gary, who spend summers in Sequim and winter in Paradise, Calif., considered this an opportune moment to give Sequim’s local construction industry a boost.
“During a boom time, it’s hard to hire a good contractor,” Zellmer said.
“But there are a lot of people not working right now,” and she was able to retain the local builders she wanted: Integrity Property Developers as the contractor and Dungeness Design as architect.
This is the second project the Zellmers have done since the beginning of summer: They had a new roof put on the former Sequim Opera House, the building adjacent to the Town Square that now houses Bauer Interior Designs.
“We like to help the economy of a small town,” said Zellmer. “This is the time to do it.”
Hurricane Coffee and the other Town Square businesses, The Good Book and Professional Real Estate, are open throughout the construction, though orange fencing is strewn around the front door and orange cones dot the area where people used to stroll.
“It’s been hard,” said Hurricane owner Teresa Gordon. “But there are ways in,” through the cafe’s back door facing Sequim Avenue just north of Washington Street.
Carol Follmer, a staffer at The Good Book Christian book and gift store, said she hasn’t noticed a dropoff in foot traffic.
“People are finding us, through Hurricane Coffee,” she said.
“We’ve been after them for five years to do this,” added Professional Real Estate’s Ron Gilles. “It’s going to be really nice when it’s done.”
Coffee colors
The building’s new signs, trim and exterior walls will be painted in coffee colors: brown, taupe and beige, Zellmer said.
She added that after the building is done, the landscaping in front of the shops along Washington Street will be made over, too.
Ron Robbins, manager of the Carlsborg-based Integrity Property Developers, said coffee and tea drinkers have been sitting at the outdoor tables, spectating.
“They heckle us all day,” he joked. “They tell us, ‘Hey, that’s crooked.'”
Robbins said that next week, the sidewalk flanking Hurricane Coffee and The Botanical Touch on North Sequim Avenue will be closed, but the entrances to both shops will be accessible.
The building should have its new look by mid-October, Zellmer said, well before the start of the holiday season and wintry weather.
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Sequim-Dungeness Valley reporter Diane Urbani de la Paz can be reached at 360-681-2391 or at diane.urbani@peninsuladailynews.com.
