An historic opportunity rejuvenates local economy

By MARK HIGGINS
SEATTLE POST-INTELLIGENCER REPORTER

From adversity comes opportunity. And Snohomish has seized on its historic roots as a selling point. It promotes itself as the "antique capital of the Northwest." It has more than 450 dealers selling furniture and collectibles.

But some residents say they seldom shop in town, in part, because prices are high.

John Regan, who opened the Star Center antique mall in 1982, said such criticism is unfounded. He tells the story of the time he opened a shop in Centralia. Some of the stock, including an oak table, came from Star Center mall. During the grand opening of the Centralia store, a woman from Snohomish came in and bought the oak table. She said she didn't shop in Snohomish because the prices were high. Of course, her oak table was the same price as it was in Snohomish, Regan said.

"Antique stores are a place you go on a special occasion," Regan said. "There has to be a feeling of adventure. You don't have that in your own back yard."

Snohomish's shops have done wonders to restore downtown, he said. They attract people who buy meals, gas and other services. That has fortified the city's tax base and filled once-empty storefronts.

Today, flower baskets hang from buildings. Flags fly on First Street. Downtown looks charming, and that sends a positive message, Regan said.

"When you think of a town, you think of its main street, and if it's boarded up and empty that sends a (bad) message," Regan said.

Part of Snohomish's rustic charm comes from its second-largest employer -- the Seattle Snohomish Mill Co., which is across the river from downtown.

For about 100 years, the mill has survived fire, flood and the spotted owl. Bob Waltz Jr., who runs the mill, said it has been in his family for three generations.

At 51, Waltz said he is thinking about the mill's future. He and his wife have two daughters, but he's not sure they'll want to work at the mill. "It's like the family farm," he said. "You want it to carry on after you're gone."

The mill employs about 150 people, said Waltz, though some may lose their jobs as a result of a $2.5 million plant renovation, which includes new, laser-guided machinery. The upgrade should reduce the noise that spills from the mill.

The racket may bother some, but for others -- especially tourists -- it's a magnet. Retirees who tire of antique shopping often cross the bridge for a closer look.

The mill does not give tours, yet, "sometimes I feel a little sorry for them, and I say, 'I have a little extra time. I'll give you a tour,'" Waltz said.