The founder of Red Light Vintage wants to buy back her store to save the Seattle institution from closing. She’s raising money to secure a new lease.
SEATTLE — Another Seattle institution is up for sale. This time, it’s a vintage clothing store in the city’s University District.
Tacee Webb is in the business of memories — creating them and bringing them back.
“Red Light is really part of my heart,” Webb said.
Webb founded Red Light Vintage on Seattle’s University Way, known as “The Ave,” 30 years ago. Since then, it has been a magnet for thrift shoppers and hipsters alike. The store was even featured in Macklemore’s “Thrift Shop” video.
“I think people love their institutions,” Webb said.
Webb sold the store a few years later to open another Red Light in Portland. Two decades later, she saw a social media post announcing the beloved store was up for sale once again.
“I looked through the comments and I started getting teary-eyed. So many people were saying Red Light is their favorite store,” Webb said.
Unwilling to let this piece of Seattle’s fabric turn to dust, Webb decided to try to buy the place back.
“I think a very nostalgic thing for people is to return to their old places that feel familiar, especially since so many great Seattle institutions have closed,” she said.
The current owner plans to close Jan. 31. Webb applied for a small business loan, but that won’t be available for a few months. So she is asking supporters to help keep the place open in the interim — about $20,000 to get a new lease signed. Without it, the space could go to someone else.
Part of the planned revival of Red Light is the return of Seattle’s legendary “naked shopping spree.”
“The naked shopping spree is where six contestants jump out of these dressing rooms buck naked or scantily clad and they put on as many clothing items as they can in three minutes,” Webb said. “Whoever puts on the most clothes wins fabulous prizes and gets to keep the clothes.”
Webb also plans to bring back bands, design classes and fashion shows to “The Ave” — and restore some shimmer to the old University District building.
Thirty years later, Red Light is still all about memories. More than ever, it’s about making more of them.
“I’ll get people coming in, like moms with their daughters saying they used to shop here when they were in college in the ’90s. Now they’re taking their daughter to get her homecoming dress,” said Ursula Drake, a Red Light employee. “It’s really sweet.”
“I think we could make it another 30 years,” Webb added. “And I think that would be magic.”
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