Another Building Facelift
Do you recognize this building? I sure didn’t at first. Its next to Il Fiasco on 6th Ave. The former home of Gypsy Lily. Yeah, that building.
The copper roof is gleaming in the sunshine. It doesn’t look rented yet but it sure is pretty.
Filed under: General
46 comments
J Jesse March 6, 2009
There’s something going in on the left side. I havent stopped to look in the windows though.
R RR Anderson March 6, 2009
Are those the right kind of doors for that building style? I had to squint my eyes… at first I thought it was plywood boarded up hurricane katrina style
S Sarah H March 6, 2009
The left side looks to be a salon, at least thats what I thought when I drove by last week.
E Erik B. March 6, 2009
The hair salon is apparently open already. They are looking for a tenant for the left.
A ton of work went into the building.
T Thorax O'Tool March 7, 2009
I miss Gypsy Lilly.
N NSHDscott March 7, 2009
It’s the salon that used to be in the Rector’s building up the hill a few blocks.
C Christine March 7, 2009
It is a strange mish-mash of styles to be sure. I suppose it works, I’m always happy to see buildings rehabbed and open with new businesses.
A Ann March 8, 2009
I miss Gypsy Lilly too. Anyone know where she went?
J Jenny C March 8, 2009
I thought I saw a similar blue building with copper trim that was kiddy corner to this one.
Any leads?
C cabochon March 8, 2009
I’m with the others who want to know where Gypsy Lily went. :(
S sonya March 9, 2009
I love Gypsy Lily and I want her back in Tacoma….where is she?
J Jerome R. March 9, 2009
I heard Gypsy Lily was moving to Asia somewhere but then I heard that my friend heard her singing Karaoke downtown. I wish she was still open, she had the coolest stuff and the coolest stories.
J Jackson Jones March 9, 2009
Gypsy Lily is the Best. I never experienced anything like her and her store before…she was part of 6th ave. for 10 years, and now that she is gone that street is a corpse, yuppified and phony.
We need living art like Lily to teach us all how to really be alive.
Where ever you are Lily, I love you!!!
C charlene March 9, 2009
Gypsy Lily’s Caravan of Dreams Tacoma Washington’s Matrix-Free Zone is Gone??? When??? How??? Did anyone try and stop this?? I am not sure what to do now, this is awful.
6 6ther March 9, 2009
Poor Gypsy Lady… BOO HOO..
I’m sure she’d really appreciate all the “too little-too late, after-the-fact” sob/love festing going on here.
If I were the Gypsy, on my way back to Asia…… or…….. Bob’s Java Jive, I’d have one question for all you Lily loving, Lily missing 6th Ave patrons…
“Where the ‘BLEEP’ were you when I needed you, huh?”
Thanks for the memories folks!
W Woody March 9, 2009
Lily lives around the corner on N Anderson. You can’t miss her house. When she moved out she bought a truck from which she was planning to sell her stuff.
T Thorax O'Tool March 10, 2009
“Where the ‘BLEEP’ were you when I needed you, huh?“
I can’t speak for all y’alls but I did go in there every time that I passed the shop and it was open.
M MonkeyBob March 10, 2009
Ok folks this picture does not do justice for what they have done.
It looks great. It is a HUGE step up in the neigborhood.
Not sure what happened to the color of this photo but it makes it look really clownish. Stop by and see for yourselves. Kudos to the owner who gave it a much needed facelift.
S sigh March 10, 2009
The building’s color looks WAY out of place and those doors are ominous for a retail building. I would think they should have at least been dark stained doors not lightly finished plywood.
The reason the Gypsy Lilly left is becuase lack of business. I think everyone who enjoyed her store just commented above.
M Mofo from the Hood March 10, 2009
Yeah, those doors…In order to create some visual balance, maybe the front window area should be blocked in with Wilkenson sandstone. I’m thinking 2’ x 1.5’ blocks.
R RR Anderson March 10, 2009
you’re putting a giant visual obstruction on the front of magnificent glass storefront… bad move. Get some glass doors! glass doors!!! with a bell. don’t block 1/3 of your storefront.
R RR Anderson March 10, 2009
why do I have to fix everything
M Mofo from the Hood March 10, 2009
Glass doors? One word: fingerprints.
T Thorax O'Tool March 11, 2009
fingerprints=good for the forensics team
J John March 12, 2009
It is sad to see Gypsy Lily leave after 10 years! I have a few comments.
I want to make a comment on what that moron Woody said(comment number 17) Why are you telling people where she lives you idiot! She desires privacy moron!
She did not go out of business due to lack of business. The building was sold and she was forced out and they raised the rent by four times! They are fools for letting such a beacon of light leave Tacoma. It was one of the brightest spots on 6th Ave….6th Ave is now turning into “Pottersville” Nothing but bars and is going downhill.
This was not an improvement…6th Ave has lost its soul!
S Sandra March 12, 2009
I heard that Gypsy Lilly had to close down recently and I hate to see the great businesses on 6th go away. The outside of a building is nice, but since when does a package mean more than the contents?
S SolaRichard March 12, 2009
Lily is still around town. You might try O’Malleys on Karaoke night. She loves to sing as much as she loves to tell stories.
D Doris March 12, 2009
Whoever said: “The reason the Gypsy Lilly left is becuase lack of business. I think everyone who enjoyed her store just commented above.” has no idea about who she is and what is hip, cool or real.
Gypsy Lily is a living legend, she has tons of fans mr.sigh has obviously never heard her sing caberet old chum. She did not go out of business because of lack of customers…she was thrown out for the building remodel.
A Aaron March 13, 2009
Yeah, well, that’s what happens with time. Things change, and move on. Nothing ever stays the same. Lily is my mom, and I don’t even know where she’s at anymore. I live in the tropics, last I head she was in Tacoma. I hope she gets a new store going or something. God Bless Us All… <ONE>
C Carmel March 13, 2009
Enough with the doors. Ever here of Anthropologie. Vintage, old, unique. Store front glass doors, how boring! Whoever bought the building, nice job.
T Thorax O'Tool March 13, 2009
What is in there now? I drove by this evening and saw boxes and a mess that looks like either something is moving in, or the remodel isn’t done.
A altered Chords March 13, 2009
I hope it isn’t another music venue like:
El Gringo Loco
The Muse
Stephanie’s Gospel and Jazz.
These 3 places each lasted about 2 weeks. I’m beginning to feel as though these music venues are actually sting operations.
J Johnson March 13, 2009
Thats the truth, new businesses come and go in a short time…Lily was there and part of the community for 10 years.
T Thorax O'Tool March 14, 2009
There is some kind of shop it seems, I saw plants in the window and an “OPEN” sign.
Must investigate soon…
But back on the trolley here for a second. If we all love Lily so much, then why aren’t We, as a community helping her find new retail space? In case no one had noticed, there is plenty of vacant space on 6th Ave, on St Helens, on Fawcett (the old Blackwater spot?), on Market (Juno & it’s neighbors), in Downtown, etc. It’s not like people here don’t know others who might have space or anything. Hell, if 100 of her former customers pitched in $20, she’d have $2K to sign the lease. If we’re all part of the “community” and if Lily is as much of an asset as we’re saying, then why don’t we put our money where our mouths are? $20 won’t make that big a dent in your budget…
Of course, this does have 2 other questions that must be asked: Is she already looking for or found a new place? Or is she just choosing to give up the ghost and not reopen?
J Johnson March 15, 2009
It sounds like you need to start a new thread Thorax.
J Jackson Jones March 16, 2009
I went by today. The uplift may be new, but that building/business looks dead, yuppified, and boring.
K kim tushay March 18, 2009
6th ave is turning into another south tacoma way and we all know where that lead and what it is now. and what about all that 6th ave commercial space no one wants to afford to rent? yes lily was one of the last to be ousted. i still hang with her and hopefully she will be around long enough for a real dance club to open and have fun singing dancing and partying away from 6th ave where there is parking. we will alll miss lily but if u go out and about and keep your eyes open u will always see your gypsy….
A altered Chords March 18, 2009
Sounds like Gypsy Lilly could have used the Tacoma Business Triage Group.
F FRANKY KNUCKLES March 18, 2009
What is the TBT group?
G Gypsy Lily March 19, 2009
I was at Shakabrah this morning and was told about this site. Thank you one and all for your concern. I have not yet found a way to reopen, but I will post here when I do. Thanks again and I love you all. GL
M Mofo from the Hood March 20, 2009
Gypsy, what about those doors?
G Gypsy Lily March 20, 2009
Bad Feng Shui.
I don’t know about those doors…they look out of place to me with strange handles. Rent there is now over $4,000 per month….jeez I would have to sell an awful lot of incense to make that!!!
W Woody March 20, 2009
John (post26) I didn’t realize GL was in a witness protection program. I won’t stoop down to your level and call you names. Your response shows your level of intelligence. And GL, glad you found this site. Sorry about all the throngs of people hanging out in front of your house. Don’t feed them or they will never leave.
I also heard that new doors have been ordered so everyone can now releax
R russ stearns March 20, 2009
It’s nice to know many understand how extra ordinary Lily is. I think karma is karma and it was time for her to move to a higher plane. Perhaps we shall see in it’s proper time what her newest incarnation will be.
L Lesli March 20, 2009
I’m not sure what’s on the other side but I’m pretty sure the side closest to Il Fiasco is now the home of Baroque Salon that used to be on State right behind Rectors. They’re an amazing group of people that are as friendly as they are talented! It’s unfortunate when businesses are forced to close their doors but it’s a great thing to see the spaces filled with thriving business instead of sitting empty!
D Doris March 20, 2009
How can you compare a yuppie hairsalon to Gypsy Lily’s? Do you have any idea what the neighborhood lost? Is the new hair salon going to help people who have spiritual dilemmas and crisis? Will you be able to consult the hair salon when you see a flying saucer, a ghost, or have a family member die? Are they going to be a refuge and a sounding board for the youth, the troubled and the mentally ill? GypsyLily served the neighborhood and the local community with information, encouragement and optimism….the change of business on 6th avenue is not about what is truly good for the neighborhood…..money is what that change in venues is about.