Despite the current economy, the Alaska Junction is considered a thriving business district with shoppers and diners visiting from across the city. But for businesses located on the Conner Homes property their future in West Seattle is uncertain.

If construction begins on the Conner Homes project, located on California Avenue Southwest, Southwest Alaska Street and 42nd Avenue Southwest, all existing buildings on the property would be demolished, including some of the Junction’s oldest businesses.

Businesses operating out of small spaces, like the Classic Barber Shop, are especially concerned about finding affordable locations of a similar size.

West Seattle’s local barber shop has been doing business at its current location on California Avenue since 1927. Owner Keith Grayson said he will stay there as long as he can, but expects he will have to move if the Conner project moves forward.

"I'd rather not move, but if you have to you have to," he said.

When asked if they'd been offered new retail space in the Conner project he and stylist Julie Dobson said no.

"Like we could afford it," said Dobson.

Ron Glew, owner of Ron’s Cobbler Shoppe on 42nd Avenue, is less optimistic about the possibility of moving. He said the shoe repair shop has been there for almost 40 years and doesn’t believe he’d be able to find another small space at an affordable rent in the neighborhood. If his building is demolished Glew expects he might be forced to close his business.

“I would like to move but I don’t know where to look,” said Glew. “West Seattle is a hard place to find an affordable space.”

Nonetheless, two businesses have already leased new spaces nearby and are getting ready to move this summer.

Funky Janes Consignment is also paying rent at two locations and plans to move to 4455 California Ave. S.W. where Nature's Way Supplements used to be.

The store's owner Angela Nichols said when she first moved into Funky Janes existing location eight years ago she was told the building would be demolished in 18 months. Now, she has a hard time believing the project will ever go up. Nevertheless, she is paying rent at two locations to secure the new space.

"I don't want (the Conner project) hanging over my head," said Nichols.

She hopes to open at her new location in June, before the street fair.

Seasons Hair Salon, on 42nd Avenue, has secured a retail space in Harbor Property’s newly developed Mural complex just south of their existing location. They plan to move in June.

Super Supplements, which has 21 different locations around Western Washington, is the only business that plans to move into the Conner project's new retail space. The local branch's manager said that Conner Homes has been working with Super Supplement's corporate office and that the store could likely stay on the same corner in the new development.

Nichols said Conner homes offered Funky Janes the opportunity to move into one of the new retail spaces but she says the only way she could afford it would be to downsize to a much smaller space and move down near the alley on Alaska Street.

Some of the smaller tenants say Conner never even presented the option to them, but also agree that they won't likely be able to afford the new rent. Others say that they could not afford to close down during construction.

Some local business owners wonder how Conner will fulfill its promise to match the character of the Junction’s existing small businesses with such large retail spaces planned to replace them.

“I can’t blame them for redeveloping,” said Glew. “But West Seattle has always been such a fun place to shop. I’m afraid it’s going to lose that feeling.”

In the meantime, ground breaking on the project doesn’t seem to be too imminent; Conner has encouraged many of its tenants to renew their leases. Rubato Records has already renewed its through December 2010.

Still, community members have been vocal about their support of the local businesses.

“Small businesses are what give the Junction its local flavor,” said Susan Melrose of the Junction Association. “Having a cobbler shop, a message studio, a barber shop, these services make up the fabric of our community.”