Over and over again, we hear about the struggle of our local island retailers and we are encouraged to support them with our business. But the sale of a building is forcing one of our retailers, Island Quilter, to move off island, and for what? So we can have an exercise facility in our main retail area. This will cause a significant adverse impact on our small island businesses and restaurants. Already there is a very strong negative reaction to the news that Island Quilter has had its building bought out from under them when the owner believed the building was not for sale.

Island Quilter is a nationally famous quilting store, and people come to Vashon from all over the country as well as the immediate Western Washington area to shop, and once they are on Vashon, guess what? They eat in our restaurants, they shop in our other stores. No one is going to come to Vashon for an exercise facility.

In addition to the obvious retail business, there are also quilt retreats held on Vashon, primarily at Camp Burton, and the organizers of these retreats are canceling their events, another loss of revenue.

Once a year Western Washington quilt stores host a quilt shop hop, and during the five days of shop hopping, nearly 600 people flock to Island Quilter, once again positively impacting our entire island.

I have talked with many islanders and I have yet to hear anything but pure outrage at what is happening. Even those who are not themselves quilters and who may never have entered Island Quilter are dismayed because they realize the impact that this very unfortunate transaction will have on our island economy.

Is there any way to save Island Quilter?

— Daphne Ashling Purpus