Downtown close but not quite the shopping mecca it aspires to be

By SUSAN PHINNEY
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

Some equate a great city with great shopping. Period.

They don't need gorgeous views, dozens of high-rise banks or the Statue of Liberty. They just want really, really fabulous stores.

On a scale of one to 10, Seattle is a decent competitor, but it's still several rungs from the top.

Burton Nudelman, a former retail executive who's now a certified management consultant, was asked to rank Seattle's downtown as a shopping hub. He gave it a six.

Portland, where his business is based, is a five.

His tens in this country: Only New York and Los Angeles.

Nudelman says Seattle lacks another department store to compete with The Bon Marche.

To step up, it also needs a minimum of two big fashion specialty stores to compete with Nordstrom. "The Pacific Northwest is really the last frontier for a lot of retailers, Nudelman says.

But Seattle has the advantage of being one of the leading tourist destinations in the country. "That's great for shopping,'' Nudelman says, because tourists are shoppers. It's no coincidence that Seattle welcomed a downtown convention center and more hotels. They're good for business.

Nudelman says tony Pacific Place (scheduled to open at Sixth Avenue and Pine Street in October) will give another boost to downtown. It will bring in Tiffany, the prestigious New York jeweler, and what Nudelman calls "an updated atmosphere to downtown shopping that's sorely needed.''

Downtown may be getting more upscale, but don't expect it to blossom with free-standing designer boutique stores such as Calvin Klein or Ralph Lauren.

Nudelman says it takes a major metropolitan area for such outlets to survive, and greater Seattle isn't as populated as a New York, Tokyo, London or Rio de Janeiro.

Designer boutiques may be scarce, and downtown Seattle may lack the allure of New York's Fifth Avenue or Rodeo Drive in Los Angeles, but for those who lust for the best, or simply must have prestigious labels, downtown can deliver.

From Giorgio Armani to Calvin Klein, Bally to Mont Blanc, shopping here can be a satisfying experience for those who like to really spend.

Men looking for top-of-the-line suits can head to Mario's on Sixth Avenue or Butch Blum on Fifth Avenue, where the latter can put them in a Brioni for $2,995. Butch Blum also has Zegna and Vestimenta suits from Italy and menswear from Donna Karan of New York. A Karan "black label'' suit is about $1,695.

Mario's has a Hugo Boss boutique stocked with everything from suits and ties to leather jackets -- and the suits are in the $900-to-$1,400 category. There's also a balcony level devoted to women's apparel. That's where to find labels such as Narciso Rodriguez (he created Caroline Bisset Kennedy's wedding gown), Sylvia Heisel evening gowns at $500 to $1,500, or an Armani cashmere jacket for $1,495.

Raincoats are a must in Seattle, so it seems natural to find a Burberrys store on Pike Street. This venerable British firm has been making durable rain gear for decades. Their classic trench is $775 in women's sizes, $725 for men. A silk/cashmere muffler in Burberrys signature plaid is $295.

Clothing isn't the only way to boost downtown's economy in a big way. High-end accessories, chocolate and eyewear also lure consumers.

Teuscher, the Zurich chocolatier who flies in confections weekly to stores in New York, Beverly Hills, Houston, Tokyo and Seattle, is on University Street. Chocolates are $50 per pound; a wallet-size tray of tiny cookies is $12.50, but a cup of the special cocoa is only $2.50 to $4.50, brewed on the spot.

At Optical Illusions on Sixth Avenue is found the latest eyewear from Alain Mikli, Isaac Mizrahi, Swarovski and Donna Karan. These status frames range from about $255 to $750, corrective lenses not included.

Seattle Pen on Fourth Avenue has another kind of status accessory: fountain pens with names such as Mont Blanc (Germany) or Monti Grappa (Italy). When you write with a $250 to $1,500 pen, people supposedly take note.

For paper to match these pens, try Silberman/Brown Stationers on Sixth Avenue. It's near Nancy Meyer lingerie -- a place to find panties in the $100 range and luxurious sleepwear.

The area in and around the Four Seasons Olympic Hotel is home to some of the most exclusive goods in the city. Ruth Hill has her namesake shop tucked off the lower lobby. She carries Ballantyne Cashmere twin sets (about $800) or designs from Geoffrey Beene and Carolina Herrera -- labels that come with price tags starting at about $2,000.

Laura Ashley (pram-pushers adore this shop) and Bally anchor the Fourth Avenue corner of the Four Seasons. The latter is the place to find a $2,000 woman's deerskin jacket or a man's sumptuous suede jacket for $1,575. The latest stiletto heels are $275 and a briefcase can run $695.

Around the corner on Fourth Avenue is The Mediterranean, a locally owned store stocked with colorful Italian apparel. Cotton dresses are $395, silk blouses range from $250 to $895, and double-faced wool suits and coats go for about $1,700.

At Fifth Avenue and University Street is Helen's of Course, a newly renovated store featuring shoes, accessories and apparel. Zoran, Yves Saint Laurent, Rena Lange, Claude Montana and Jackie Rogers are a few of the international labels found here.

Around the block on Union Street, Totally Michaels caters to some of the city's best-dressed working women and right next door is Best of All Worlds, a store renowned for its home accessories and fantastic array of collectible nutcrackers. Both shops are owned and run by Seattle women.

Barneys New York on Fifth Avenue is a branch store that features the company's private-label clothing, plus labels such as Jil Sander of Germany or Prada of Italy. A tiny slip dress with an obscure label can have a $1,480 price tag. This store also has some of the trendiest accessories in the city -- from jewelry to hats.

The new Nordstrom store at Fifth Avenue and Pine Street will have two Chanel boutiques, plus its collectors and couture departments featuring national and international labels.