A Ballard thrift store is preparing to unveil a hidden gem for shoppers.
Thread Hunter, owned by Elissa Pemberton and located at 5510 22nd Ave., is set to open a speakeasy serving drinks inside the store. The shop also has a location in Pioneer Square.
One night, Pemberton was brainstorming ways to make better use of the store’s spacious storage room, which featured vaulted ceilings. She teamed up with her father, a carpenter, to create a dedicated storage area and transform the rest of the space into a speakeasy.
“I have a back storage room. There’s a door with a sticker that says, ‘Storage Room.’ The idea is I’m going to advertise it as you have to know about the storage room in order to see it. People can go back and have a drink or they can also just walk around the store with their beverages” Pemberton told What Now Seattle.
She continued, “I cleared everything out of the room and moved it into this tiny corner. When you walk into the speakeasy, there will be an art wall to start showcasing local artists. I just got some gallery lights to put up. I hung up my sequined-type New Year’s Eve outfits and costume pieces. I got a velvet green couch in there with a coffee table.”
The drink menu will feature local brews from Bale Breaker and Yonder Cider, along with non-alcoholic options like iced coffee and kombucha.
Pemberton also plans to host in-store events, taking the speakeasy experience to the next level.
“I did a test run with some girlfriends and I closed down the store. We went around and we talked about our fashion goals–what we want to try to incorporate into our wardrobe that we’re nervous about or trying to figure out. It was a lot of fun,” Pemberton said.
She continued, “I want to advertise private shopping experiences, bachelorette parties or if book clubs want to meet there–just kind of open it up to all kinds of things.”
Pemberton is eager to share her speakeasy with the Ballard community and bring people together in a new way.
“I’m excited to do more collaborations. I feel like this gives me a lot more space. Everyone I’ve talked to about it, they’re like, ‘Oh my gosh! This is what Ballard needs!’ People love the idea of the two-in-one space and knowing a little secret,” she said.
A grand opening date for the speakeasy has yet to be announced, but stay tuned! For updates, follow along on Instagram and Facebook.
