Renton is a city of about 107,000 residents in Washington state, about 10 miles southeast of Seattle. It occupies an area of approximately 24-square-miles and is considered an “inner-ring suburb.” Renton neighborhoods quickly grew in the post-WWII era (1946-1964) and are older, more populated suburbs than those found further out from the city center.
Europeans settled in Renton in the 1860s, and its economy centered around clay production, timber exporting, and coal mining. The city was known in recent decades as the final assembly stop for Boeing 737 airplanes and video game company startups. Healthcare giants Providence Health & Services and Kaiser Permanente are based in Renton. So is Paccar, a heavy equipment manufacturer, and IKEA, the popular assemble-your-own-furniture retailer.
Houses for sale in Renton go for a median price of about $777,000, up significantly from last year’s high of about $609,500. Renton is experiencing a strong seller's market, which means that there are more buyers seeking single-family, detached homes and Renton condos for sale than there are homes available. Sellers could receive multiple offers on their homes, offers that exceed their asking prices, and even experience bidding wars from eager buyers. While new homeowners are sure to frequent local big box stores to outfit their new spaces, it's a sure thing that once they're settled, they'll yearn for more personalized, specialty goods and services.
Here are some amazing local venues to visit for some retail therapy.
Antiques 4U is in historic downtown Renton where you’ll find a 3,000-square-foot showroom that showcases rare and unique, curated antiques that will please even the most discerning collector. Its owners pride themselves on their inventory, which showcases antique furniture and lighting from the 1880s through the 1920s. Styles include Victorian, mission, art nouveau, arts and crafts, art deco, and primitive.
Among the unique furniture are handmade stacking lawyer bookcases, furniture, and music machines. Pottery and art glass by Steuben, Tiffany, and Van Briggle (to name a few) are sure to delight collectors. Your new home amongst Renton condos for sale could benefit from a new-to-you piece of distinctive furniture or at least some wall love via an original painting, lithograph, or print.
At Wyldwood Creative, not only can you shop for crafting supplies and unique goods made by local artists, but you can also take classes to learn to quilt, sew, print, and much more. Its mission is to provide these tools and classes in an inclusive community for makers, regardless of their skills or budgets. Wyldwood Creative offers a scholarship program along with a sliding scale of pricing for private lessons, so no one is excluded from being creative and expressing themselves. Here, you can buy cross stitch kits and retro paint-by-number kits; or take classes in quilting, resin painting, sewing, and even tart making! It's guaranteed fun for the whole family, even for those who've never crafted before.
Sparkle Gifts and Whatnots is a Renton boutique filled with “whatnots,” curated specialty gifts, and a mini-fridge filled to the brim with ice-cold sparkling water for thirsty customers. It’s located in historic downtown and offers customers a large variety of gifts that showcase local artists’ work—including everything from luminary lanterns to a Ruth Bader Ginsberg bath balm and glittery eye masks to trinket dishes and fuzzy sock slippers. The store stays true to its local sports teams, too, offering Seattle Seahawks gear; and keeps customers prepared for the holidays with décor, inspirational wall art, and handmade jewelry. Gift wrapping is always included with your purchases, big or small. What better way to find a housewarming gift for your new neighbors that just bought one of the houses for sale in Renton?
Modern to Vintage Furniture & Design offers antique lovers two locations as well as reasonably priced local delivery for all your furniture and home décor finds. The venue focuses primarily on higher-end, midcentury modern furniture but also welcomes customers to submit photos of their own furniture for the store to consider for purchase. The store owners pay cash for furniture at the time of sale and provide local pickup for larger/bulkier pieces.
Yearning for a four-seater Eames chair bench? Got it! Dying to recreate that Mad Men living room complete with a midcentury lowboy with louvered drawers? Done! What about gracing your walls and tabletops with original oil paintings and handmade pottery? No problem. Why buy assembly-line furniture and home goods when you can outfit your Renton home with amazing, one-of-a-kind pieces that have unique, storied histories?
Searching for the freshest meat and produce in town? Do you have a housewarming party but no time to prepare dessert? Check out the homemade baked goods at Top of the Hill Quality Produce & Meats, and you'll never have to bake again. We won’t tell anyone!
Owners Damu and his wife Jackie have more than 35 years of combined experience in the produce industry and work with local farmers and providers to bring customers the freshest products possible. You’ll find everything from Fuji apples, blackberries, and mangoes to heirloom tomatoes, fennel, and artichokes that would be perfect for an antipasto along with Genoa salami and some green peppercorn pate with water crackers. Dinner is served with any one of their quality aged meats or poultry, or you can opt for fresh farfalle pasta with olive oil and spring baby peas.
Realtors won’t only help you find your new Renton home or condo, but they’ll also happily suggest more local venues to maximize your shopping dollars within the community. If you need some advice, reach out to the local realtor Tanya Barrans.
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