Press releas from owner Scott Law:

The Electric Train Shop is moving down the track! Due to the Liquor Store's decision to leave us high and dry by their unneccesary and extravagant choice to move to Capco's complex on Alaska Street, and the fact that Junction area rental space has become "beachfront property" we have been forced to leave our home of the last 13 years. (staying would have meant a 300% rent increase)

But instead of crying over spilled vodka, we are making lemonade-coolers and will be moving to a much larger and more affordable space right in the heart of beautiful downtown Burien. The new address is 625 - SW 152nd. We will be closing our California Ave location in early June and hope to be open at the new store in late July. More information will be posted as available at www.ElectricTrainShop.com

3:30 p.m. The West Seattle Herald just spoke to Scott Law and this is what he said:

"I got the keys Friday to the new place. The liquor store is moving out and will split the space into two equal sized spaces, about 2,500 square feet. My shop is 1,200 square feet. It would be twice the space, but triple what my rent is now. He's got a couple of people interested.

"When I moved in here this space was the Soap Box, ladies lotions and potions.
The Burien space's last tenant was a kid's clothing consignment shop, but apparently it was once the Burien Pharmacy. It's two and a half times the space I have here. I live about three miles south of here, and the Burien space is about six miles south of my home, so it increases my commute by three miles.

"The rents are going up in the Junction because all of the stuff going on around here. The little laundromat I was thinking about is going to be the smoke shop, and the Sneakery is opening."

(The West Seattle Smoke Company is moving to 4748 California Ave. SW. in about three weeks, and The Sneakery, with a location already in Ballard, has opened at 4736 California Ave. SW., the former site of Liberty Bell Printing.)

"The (new) shop is on the main east-west drag through old Burien, across the street from the new library and City Hall and apartments.

"We're probably closing here the first week in June. It might be August 1 by the time we open in Burien.

"I'll miss the Junction certainly, and all the friendships and the people I know, and I'll lose some customers who won't drive to Burien, but it seems like it's the best option for me now. I'll have a lot more room. And it's still an old school, downtown little neighborhood kind of place.

"I'm still going to be around. It's not like I'm moving to Timbuktu."

See our recent story on the shop and rental space.