Ballard

The story

Ballard's shopping runs along two streets that meet at NW Market St and 22nd Ave NW. Ballard Ave NW, the brick-and-cobblestone stretch from 20th Ave NW to NW Market St, holds the boutiques, jewelers and a curiosity shop, and most of the shops we list there sit in the 5300 block, within a few doors of each other. NW Market St, from 20th Ave NW to 24th Ave NW, holds the record store, the bookstore and a shoe shop.

What to Shop For

Jewelry and oddities come first. Begin sells founder MK Byrne's handmade pieces alongside designers such as Hannah Keefe and Michael Michaud, silverwork by Oaxacan silversmiths and an estate and vintage case, from under $50 to $1,000+. Aviv Jewelry (5337) stocks artisan makers and takes Visit Ballard gift cards. Ballyhoo Curiosity Shop (5333) sells taxidermy, insects, fossils, skulls and human osteology, Victorian, nautical and medical antiques, silver and vintage jewelry, and mystery boxes for gifts.

For clothes and shoes, Studio RA (5301), the corner boutique at the south end of the strip, carries European labels such as Rundholz, Ilse Jacobsen and Lurdes Bergada plus Citizens of Humanity denim and menswear. re-souL (5319) sells Vagabond, Camper, Frye, Karhu and Clae shoes and its own line, with barware, candles and stationery. Horseshoe Boutique (5344) has Western-leaning women's clothing from Prairie Underground, Velvet and Pendleton. On NW Market St, Market Street Shoes, owner-run since 2006, stocks work, walking and athletic shoes from Dansko and Eric Michael.

For the home, Woodland Mod (5330) stocks Ferm Living, Marimekko, Hasami Porcelain, Hario and Secto lighting, plus ceramics, kids' goods and plants. Fair Trade Winds (5329) buys directly from artisans and cooperatives abroad: knitwear, upcycled sari goods, kitchenware, coffee, tea and spices. Summit & Terrace Artisanal Fragrance (5402 22nd Ave NW) sells niche perfumes from established houses and independent perfumers, plus its own candles and reed diffusers.

NW Market St is the stop for records and books. Sonic Boom Records (2209) sells new and used vinyl, CDs and cassettes with an indie focus and buys used records, so bring a stack to trade. Secret Garden Books (2214) sells books for all ages with a strong children's section and runs a monthly book club and author events. Annie's Art & Frame (2212) next door has premade frames, art prints, toys and housewares and takes walk-ins for custom framing.

Eating Between Shops

Restaurants sit between the shops on Ballard Ave. Gracia (5313) does tacos and margaritas a few doors from re-souL, and San Fermo (5341), in an old house between Ballyhoo and Begin, is known for carbonara and farinata, with a porch for wine. Farther down Ballard Ave are Lupe's Situ Tacos (5239) for fried tacos, GoodMart (5130) for seafood lunch plates such as apple-miso black cod, Little Beast (5107) for lamb korma pie and scotch eggs, and The Walrus and the Carpenter (4743) for raw oysters at a marble bar. A block over on Leary Ave NW, El Moose (5242) is best at brunch, and Aa Sushi (5463) serves good-value nigiri and rolls.

When to Go

Sunday is the day. The Ballard Farmers Market fills Ballard Ave NW from 20th Ave NW to NW Market St, 9am–2pm, year-round, rain or shine, and takes EBT/SNAP, WIC, Fresh Bucks and cards. Street meters around Ballard Ave are free on Sundays, and ADA parking for the market is on NW Vernon Pl between Shilshole Ave NW and Ballard Ave NW. Woodland Mod opens at 9am on Sunday and Secret Garden Books at 10am, so both work with the market.

Most shops open 10–11am and close 6–7pm, with shorter Sunday hours. Begin and Studio RA are closed Monday. Sonic Boom is open daily 11am–7pm, and Ballyhoo opens at noon on weekdays and 11am on weekends and stays open to 7pm every day. Aviv, Horseshoe, Fair Trade Winds, Summit & Terrace and Market Street Shoes don't post hours, so call ahead.