8 • December 2019
BUSINESS FEATURE
COAST RIVER bUSINeSS JOUrNAL
LUKe WHITTAKer
Accent Ink NW manager David rhoadarmer said the downtown core has resisted being impacted by burgeoning big box stores outside Astoria, largely because each business caters to a different
customer base and carries unique inventory.
60s, 70s and 80s include everything from
Slinkys to My Little Ponies.
Traditional U.S.-made toys include
wagons, wood building blocks and dolls.
“The Hearts for Hearts Dolls sell
4-to-1 over the others,” Ank said.
An entire wall is dedicated to board
games, from from classics to latest
releases.
“We’ve got everything from Ticket to
Ride to Azule, which just came out,” Ank
said.
Another section is devoted to science,
technology and engineering toys.
“We’ve got a ton of robotic stuff,” Ank
said. Among the favorite is the Robot-
ikits, including one that allows hands-on
step-by-step instruction for building a
4-stroke engine.
“You can build a whole engine block,”
Ank said.
The puzzles and thinking toys are
popular with adults.
The arrival of Walmart hasn’t had
an impact, according to Ank, largely
because they carry different product lines
and can’t match the quality of service.
“You don’t walk in here and feel like
nobody isn’t going to talk to you,” Ank
said.
However, some nearby store closures
have had a ripple effect for the fami-
ly-owned toy store on the corner.
“What’s had a worse impact has been
the closure of J.C. Penny’s. It’s just deso-
late down here now. Where it used to be
hopping, with a music store and Penny’s.
People would come for the early-bird
special at Penny’s on Friday (Nov. 28),”
Ank said.
But there’s a silver lining.
“We’ve outlasted Toy R Us, which I
never thought would happen,” Ank said.
Original, one-of-kind style
Accent Ink NW
1125 Commercial St., Astoria
David Rhoadarmer, manager
503-741-3043
accentinknw.com
ASTORIA — The original Oregon
‘raindrop’ design and classic ‘Astoria,
Oregon’ emblem is screen printed on
shirts and emblazoned across hats, mugs
and stickers.
It’s these two original designs that
have remained as the backbone over the
past nearly five years for Accent Ink NW,
a screen printing and embroidery busi-
ness at 1125 Commercial St.
“Those are the staples,” said manager
David Rhoadarmer.
“We’ll always carry those designs.”
In spite of seasonal store sales, busi-
ness has never been better, according to
Rhoadarmer.
“It’s going amazing,” Rhoadarmer
said.
“This is our second location. Our first
location is in Longview and it’s just a pro-
duction shop, where we have the printing
presses. Astoria is home now. I found a