Pop-up shops bring new gift ideas to Pacific Place for the holidays

From November through the end of the year, four new temporary shops will be open at Pacific Place, including one of four Washington State Liquor Control Board (WSLCB) Spirit Holiday Gift Stores; Greenwood's Top Ten Toys; Casa Oliver, a gourmet Spanish food shop; and gift-wrapper's paradise PS Store.

Occupying the former J. Jill space, the Spirit Holiday Gift Store represents a "trial run for us to see if this added convenience is something the public wants to see more of," explains WSLCB's Brian Smith. "Plus," he continues, "it provides added revenue for the state."

Customers can expect to find gift boxes, top sellers and a section on Northwest craft distillers. An added bonus for shoppers is that this temporary shop is open mall hours, including Sundays, unlike many other WSLCB locations.

Another temporary addition to Pacific Place is Greenwood's Top Ten Toys, a store popular with kids and parents for its selection of nonviolent, imagination-inspiring and eco-friendly toys and games.

The Top Ten Toys staff has chosen their most popular toys, representing about "one-quarter of the number of items in our other location," says manager Brent Williamson. "Pacific Place gave us a great deal on rent, so we thought we would see what it would take to open another location without the long-term commitment." (Capitol Hill's Izilla Toys is doing a similar experiment this season at the Wallingford Center. )

I spied puzzles, dress-up clothes, model airplanes, baby toys, trains sets, dolls -- practically everything Santa needs to fill his sleigh.

Open since 2005 on the Web, Casa Oliver is a Spanish food emporium that sells gourmet treats like paella sets (complete with owner Rosaura Fabra-Jaques' personal recipe), ingredients for tapas like jamon and gift boxes ready to be shipped anywhere in the country.

This temporary location is the first attempt at a brick-and-mortar store for this delightful epicurean company.

Gift wrapping aficionados will appreciate PS Store's Downtown outpost, stocked with a great selection of holiday gift wrap, tags, tissue, ribbon and boxes. Says owner Cheryl Nishimoto, "a shop like this raises awareness about what we do." She continues: "Our motto is 'Never miss a chance to celebrate,'" which sums up the season perfectly.

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