Phil Wright said it was a blow to the business that Bliss Soaps just couldn’t overcome. This fall’s $20,000 dispute over a soap business deal gone bad set a series of financial hurdles in place that make continuing Bliss at its 619 Broadway E location impossible, according to Wright.
Proprietor Originally uploaded by sea turtle
Today, the windows of the shop area already papered over and, inside, Wright is working to pack away years of small business detritus. Wright said he and co-owner Chuck Sapronetti had no choice but to shut Bliss down even though he says the business was successful in its arbitration following this fall’s financial dispute. “Business was fine,” Wright tells CHS. “Chase [Bank] closed our account just before Thanksgiving. They re-opened it and then closed it again. We ended up with no inventory. We had no choice.”
The closure marks another small, quirky, possibly not always well-run but interesting business leaving north Broadway. Earlier, we reported on Harem getting booted by a landlord and the Museum of the Mysteries has been scooted along by the success of (CHS advertiser) Metrix: Create. Yeah, even the Yeti is gone.
Wright said he told his landlord — who Wright said has been “very, very good to the business” — that Bliss just shouldn’t go on. Wright said he needs to get the financial side of things cleared up before continuing business.
He hasn’t given up on Broadway. “I have no clue what I’ll do next. Keep checking the web site and hopefully we’ll be back on Broadway,” Wright said. “I won’t open if we can’t be on Broadway. Or at least on the Hill.”
Thanks to Leedale and Sea Turtle for the tips that the shop had put the butcher paper up confirming rumors we started hearing earlier this month.
this makes me very sad
one of our favorite neighborhood business owners–always so helpful & friendly :(
This makes me physically ill. Bliss Soaps has always been good to me and my son, both of us having sensitive skin and all. Will they still be selling product online? I’m not sure my little man can survive without his banana soap.
Sorry to leave that vague but it’s not clear. Wright told me two things:
1) The online store will be coming down soon
2) He might make the business online only
Those two facts don’t line up. You can contact Phil here [email protected] and we’ll also follow up when they’re not overwhelmed with the move. Sounded like there’s a lot to get done.
one common theme I keep seeing in people’s financial distress CHASE
Those folks fcked over WAMU when they got them from the government, fuck over seattle in general and continue to fuck over anybody who is unfortunate enough to be in a business deal with them.
How sad
I dropped into Bliss yesterday (picked up a lot of their final inventory at rock bottom prices) and Phil told me that they were going to take some “time off” to rebuild their inventory & take a break, and then they would resume online sales.
I’m really sorry to see them go, as I only discovered them last year after the business deal fiasco, and I enjoyed shopping there very much. We’ll miss you Bliss!
WAMU fucked itself otherwise it would not have been taken over.
Taking out a mortgage you can’t afford is fucking over yourself. There are many people who should take responsibilty for their own actions.
I first met Phil and Chuck when Bliss was on a cart in the old Broadway Market, about 10 years ago. Nicest, friendliest business owners (and human beings) that you’d ever want to meet.
Very sad that the store can’t continue. I hope Chuck and Phil can stay involved in the community, and I wish them the best of luck.
Agree. The WORST bank in America.
Do NOT do business with these scum.
Agree with Mike, Chase is the worst bank ever. I used them for a few months after they took over Wamu and then promptly switched to BECU. Best decision I’d made in a while.
So Phil gets conned by these thugs and now he loses his business. That is tragic and so unfair. Can’t any lawyers do a little pro bono and help the guy out? Ugh, so sad. :(
They have an attorney, but the situation is complicated and schtuff doesn’t happen overnight.
Be well, Chuck and Phil!
Yes, their soap rocks.
Yes Phil and Chuck are really nice guys.
But what do you expect when you never open your store or never open until like 2-4 pm? (And this was before the whole $20,000 “scandle”…
(Phil calls it CPT, if you know what that means…)
Plus, he has had offers to re-do his website and he just plain flaked. The website sucks.
Good soap, bad business plans.
I am not at all shocke that this place is closed. While enjoying many experiences on Broadway, this shop always seemed never to have the doors open. The shop was closed during the Pride on Broadway event just last weekend. I was shocked by this and mentioned to my fellowing ducklings that the store is missing out some great revenue. I am sad to see a local business idea fold, but for quacking sense… why did they not appear open more often than not. I felt this store was open as a cover shop only, but oh well… I am just a duck without any business ideas for quacks sake!
Cover/front for local sex dungeon?
Plenty of soap to clean up afterward… tee hee.
Seem like this store was destined to close for several reasons. Bad management, poor hours and all the blood sucking customers like the ones I read who took advantage through the years of giveaways and discounts even on the final days. True and loyal friends would have offered help and support to maintain a business which everyone states was important in the communtity. I would imagine in this part of Seattle any business can be considerd a front for some form of sex business. Shows me the mentality of those on the “hill”
Unless you have solid proof to offer, keep you sick perveted opinions in that gutter you call your head.
Poor business practice, tough economy and blood sucking piranhas, aka customers, led to this downfall
In defense of the “front” comment, the dungeon was just a joke. dot dot dot… Although, trying to be a “clean” joke… it would be a clean dungeon!
Phil and Chuck do have a sense of humor. And I do wish them the best.
And they do have great soap!
Any updates on Bliss and Chuck and Phil (July 2011)? The website is gone. I was hoping they’d be back in business by now.
lawyer understand the contract. bilss soap don’t. learn to be a business man, stand up do what you said.
sorry man but this is a old friend and i what to talk to you email me