Souvenir, the decorative arts gallery on Ballard Avenue has been a unique Ballard attraction since it opened in 1999. The shop was among the first to transform Ballard Avenue into the popular shopping and dining destination it is today. Now, after 12 years, it is forced to leave to make way for an elevator shaft.

“When I came here, there was parking as far as the eye could see,” Steiner said.

“I was one of the first here and I brought new and sophisticated retail to Ballard."

Steiner also spearheaded the idea to bring the Ballard Sunday Farmers Market to the street.

“I knew it would be successful because I lived in Fremont in the eighties and saw what the Fremont Market did for that area. People will travel 10 miles for a head of cabbage and they come back,” he said.

Steiner is being forced to close so that his landlord from Mycon Property Management can turn the space into an elevator shaft and stairwell for the upper floors.

The upper floors have been condemned for the past two decades and no one has been allowed to set foot in it, said Steiner. Now that Ballard Ave is a popular destination, the landlords are planning to renovate the upper floors.

“It was of no hard work of his to make this a successful area,” Steiner said who added that business is great. “He is now benefitting from this and I’m the victim.”

Not that all is lost for Steiner. Souvenir has been a very successful shop attracting customers from as far as Europe to see Steiner’s hand-picked selection of decorative art.

Steiner has a permanent installation at the Seattle Arts Museum and Travel & Leisure Magazine named Souvenir among the best places in the world to visit, the only shop in Seattle to have made the list.

“I have weathered the recession because this is such an esoteric shop’” he said. “I’m such a specialty.”

Steiner has plans to take his talent elsewhere and neighboring retailers said he’s got his eyes on First Hill although Steiner would not officially announce his next project.

“I do have plans but it’s lost to Ballard for sure,” Steiner said adding that the project will be in “creative experiental sales”.

“I’m looking at this as the death of Souvenir. I’m not going to rebuild Souvenir elsewhere,” he said. Instead, Steiner is looking to reinvent himself.

The neighboring retailers and customers are saddened and outraged, some are even sporting a black mourning band around their arms to show their support.

“I’m super sad,” said Nicole Van der Meulen, owner of Camelion Design.

When she first heard the news, she didn’t believe him.

“I’ve been her since 1997 and like, Curtis, was one of the first,” she said. “His leaving is just so unnecessary. I’m livid at it.’

Van der Meulen said it will leave a void in Ballard as his business drew in people from New York, San Fransisco, and even Europe.

“He is one of the most brilliant people in Seattle art-wise,” Van der Meulen said. “First Hill is lucky to have him.”

“Whatever he’s going to do, it will be great. He’s a brilliant artist. We’re going to miss him,” she said.

Curtis Thorfinson from Sutter Homes & Hearth, which is in the same building as Souvenir, said Souvenir’s closure is sad but the renovation of the building is necessary.

“Renovation is needed in case another earthquake hits,” he said, pointing out the building's failing front facade and recent patches to the store’s ceiling.

“What they’re doing is a casualty of what happened. I think the situation is very sad. Curtis was very respected and beloved,” Thornfinson said.

“He’s a very strong personality and not the kind of person that will fall down.”

Thornfinson said Souvenir bears a lot of memories for people, he himself bought a card for his wife there on the day he proposed to her.

Since the closures was announced, fans and customers have been writing their Souvenir stories and kind words on the gallery's facebook page.

Souvenir will hold its annual Super Bowl Garage Sale one last time on February 6th before closing its doors forever.

The landlord could not be reached for a comment.