Watson Kennedy Fine Home — Local services in Seattle

I stopped by out of curiosity after work last week, thinking it was nice to have a shop like this so close. I had been meaning to check this place out, but hadn't had the opportunity until that afternoon. I had high hopes of midday shopping excursions, and cute bags full of great gifts.

I walked in and immediately encountered an employee as I opened the front door. He looked me straight in the eye as I greeted him with a cheerful "Hi!" and a big smile. He promptly did an about face, and walked all the way to the back of the store, completely ignoring me.

I gave him the benefit of the doubt, thinking maybe he was just an awkward man, and began browsing. I browsed the entire store over the course of several minutes. During those minutes, I saw and heard the man who had ignored me chatting it up with another male employee in the back of the store. It was impossible for either of them not to notice I was there, as I was the only person in the whole place, and it's very small. They were clearly going out of their way to ignore my presence.

The items I found were not in any way stunning, or different from anything I could find at any other little gift shop that fancies itself as a "fine home" retailer. You'd find more unique items at any shopping mall. The store was organized and clean, but the selection of items didn't lend itself to the store name. The closest thing to "fine home" was the sign hanging out front, which was what lured me in. The rest is just trinkets and gifts - notepads, candles, etc. Nothing unique or exciting.

Overall, I give this place one star for the nice sign. The staff is deliberately rude, the selection is minimal, and the merchandise is blah. Too bad, seeing how it's so close to where I work.

Cone and Steiner (next door) has some locally produced (and other non-local, I believe) food items (brandied cherries, raw honey, etc.) that are much more interesting and unique anyway, and would make great gifts too. They're also extremely professional and friendly, which impressed for a shop in Seattle, where that's not a cultural norm. So next time I feel like browsing, I'll skip the first door on the block and just head to Cone and...

I’ve been visiting Seattle with our 2 youngest daughters and checking everything off of their to-do list….saving my wants for last. I saved the last hour of our day on a Saturday to stop in at Watson Kennedy while the girls hit the shops in Westlake. My bad. I arrived at Kennedy Watson a little more than 1 hour before their posted closing time (which is supposedly 6p.m.) and buzzed for entrance - per the signage. A handsome man opened the door and promptly turned around to lock it front he outside while informing me that they were closing early. Never mind what is/was posted on the website or the front door, I wasn’t gaining entrance even though I was a potentially paying customer. Upon investigating their website I can see why I didn’t matter. Perhaps the “made for Watson Kennedy in France” and a few currently existent loyal and/or wealthy clientele assuage the proprietors enough to feel comfortable turning away anyone at any time. Never mind. Anyway, upon perusing their offerings online, I realized that very few of the items in their store are very unique or interesting. What had drawn my eye in the first place was the Cornish Ware- since I have an small collection. As a business owner the Bottom line is this: every...

We stopped by Watson Kennedy Fine Home after being drawn in by its beautifully curated window display, and it did not disappoint! From the moment we walked in, we were warmly welcomed by the wonderful staff. The store is a dream—everything is thoughtfully color-coordinated, making it a feast for the eyes.

There’s truly something for everyone, and it’s the perfect one-stop shop for creating a thoughtful gift basket. I could have easily spent hours browsing the unique selection, but my husband was eager to get to our next destination.

We’re visiting from out of town, and I’m already looking to see if we have anything similar back home. If you’re in Seattle, this store is an...