South Lake Union business owner turns down millions to defend old-time Seattle

Monty Holmes won’t say specifically what kinds of offers he’s received for his third-generation, family-owned business in the heart of South Lake Union. And while it’s safe to assume the offers are in the multi-million dollar territory, Holmes told KIRO Radio’s Dori Monson that his Athletic Awards trophy shop isn’t for sale. And that prospect fills Dori with joy.

“I’ve got to tell you, this fills my heart,” Dori said. “I feel like I try to be one of the torch-bearers of old-time Seattle, and to see your building standing as a sentinel against all the sameness of all the other office buildings that have gone up, that’s really cool to me.”

Related: Gentrification in Seattle’s Central District about more than pot shop

The Athletic Award business opened in 1949 and moved to its current location at 817 Republican St. in 1983. The shop sells awards, trophies, engraving and corporate logo merchandise. The relatively unassuming one-story shop is capped by the “World’s Largest Trophy Cup” that is dwarfed by the sky rises and tech hubs that have sprouted all around him.

Holmes, who like Dori, is Ballard High School grad was among the business owners who opposed the Seattle Commons plan in the ’90s that would resulted in a 61-acre park stretching from downtown Seattle to Lake Union. He said he and other business owners didn’t feel the imminent domain offerings were fair and they won with a grassroots campaign.

“We fought hard because we knew that the city needed to have some area to grow rather than having a bunch of grass clippings, so we worked hard for Paul Allen to save this area for him to develop it,” he said. “I haven’t gotten a check from him yet.”

But part of that argument was also to keep the neighborhood’s character that included artist’s lofts and warehouses. Dori asked if Holmes believes the character of the neighborhood has been lost anyway with all of the massive development.

“We kind of did but now we have customers come in and say we are so thankful that you’re still here and stay strong and hang in here,” he said. “And the thing about it is, if you have to do business anywhere in the United Sates, I’d like to do it in South Lake Union, it’s a great spot. And on top of that, if I decided to move, where are you going to go? You’re going to get a five-year lease and then all of the sudden guess what they’re going to tear your building down. So why not be in the best spot in the world to business?”

Holmes said his parents own the building and that he isn’t privy to the kinds of offers they receive. When KIRO Radio’s Josh Kerns pitched hypothetical offers of $10 and $20 million, Holmes turned him down, but joked he’d think about it at $50 million.

Dori asked why Holmes didn’t simply sell and retire.

“But why? I’m not ready to retire,” Holmes responded. “You’re going to keep the company going, you don’t just want to shut this place down. So you go to SoDo area, and the property down there is more expensive or almost expensive as South Lake Union. And that’s who you serve. So you would serve the people down there. I’m serving South Lake Union, I’m serving downtown Seattle.”

And to that, Dori gave one final salute.

“I love that there are still people who are standing strong and caring family traditions around there because there truly isn’t enough of that and there has become a real sameness to our city,” he said. “I love it that you’re resisting the temptation of multi-millions.”

Follow @http://twitter.com/Mynorthwest