Alki Mail and Dispatch at 4701 SW Admiral Way had an anniversary party on Tuesday Nov. 17th to celebrate 20 years in business.

They began down on Alki itself where Don Wahl and his former partner Don Cavanaugh began in 1989, "When people were just starting to telecommute," explained Wahl, "In a little shack that was 400 square feet when computers and faxes were too expensive to come by and people needed the services of shipping and packing and faxing."

Wahl's partner had worked with this kind of business in Monroe so they took a look at other shipping companies like Pony Express and did some consulting with friends at Queen Anne Mail and Dispatch. "We loved their name so much we decided to borrow it so now there's Queen Anne Mail and Dispatch, Ballard Mail and Dispatch and Alki Mail and Dispatch," said Wahl, "We're all separate but we're all buddies and cohorts."

The company can do any kind of packing, shipping, mailing, faxing, black and white and color laser prints, copies, plus, "We have awesome coffee, Batdorf and Bronsons all organic fair trade and we have a selection of fine letter press cards and gifts," Wahl said.

It's a great place to buy and ship Christmas gifts. "The big thing about us," explained Wahl," is that we bring all the shippers together in one location. So we do U.S. Mail, UPS, FedEx and DHL in one spot.

Depending on the packaging you're sending how fast you need it there, how much you need to insure it for, we'll choose the shipper that offers the best deal for what you need." Alki Mail & Dispatch are the packing and shipping experts for West Seattle. Having survived and thrived for 20 years is pretty good proof that they are doing something right.