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Aztecas closes two restaurants

Azteca, a Mexican food restaurant chain, recently closed two North Seattle locations: its Shilshole restaurant at 6017 Seaview Ave NW and its restaurant at 543 NE Northgate Way. At the same time, Azteca also added a new location: a restaurant located inside Northgate Mall, near the shopping center's north entrance. (

Dondero Northgate Florist closes

Dondero Northgate Florist, a shop that served customers in the Northgate area for 41 years, closed its doors on Oct. 31. Owner Nanette Proctor announced that her shop's accounts will now be served by nearby Lake City Florist, which is located along 15th Avenue NE. Dondero Northgate Florist opened in 1960 by Proctor's father, the late Fred J. Dondero, and was originally located in the Northgate Mall. Proctor and her husband bought the business when her parents retired in 1978. Eight years later, Dondero Northgate Florist moved to Northgate Station, a retail center located two blocks south of the mall along 1st Avenue NE. In a letter sent to customers announcing the shop's closing, Proctor wrote: "We appreciate your many years of business and feel confident Lake City Florist will continue to service your account professionally." (

Flourish opens in Wallingford

Flourish, a greeting card store, opened in Wallingford on Sept. 29. The shop replaced Delphinium, a clothing store, which closed earlier this year. Flourish is a first retail business for co-owners Bob Lynch and Kristine Weber. Both have a background in graphic design and they hope to eventually design their own cards for sale in addition to carrying those made by other companies. Flourish is located at 1705 N 45th St. (

Tully's hopes for return to Green Lake

In early September, the Green Lake Tully's Coffee, located at 7900 E Green Lake Dr. N, closed its doors. Kim Novak, marketing manager for Tully's, said the Green Lake store wasn't profitable enough for the company. She said parking was difficult for that particular location and that it didn't get as much pedestrian traffic as other parts of the neighborhood. But that's not to say Tully's has given up on the area. To the contrary: "We are looking for another retail space in Green Lake," Novak said. "We definitely need to be there." (

Nothing New opens in Wallingford

On Nov. 15 Robin Worley, a Fremont resident, opened Nothing New, a store in Wallingford that carries products she describes as "the art and fashion of recycling." Worley is a fine artist and fashion designer who is perhaps best known in Seattle for leading the "Trash Angels" ensemble at the 2001 Fremont Solstice Parade. Nothing New is located at 1717 N 45th St. (

Zestos eatery sold

On Dec. 1, Zesto's restaurant in Ballard at 6416 15th Ave NW will be under new management. The Seattle Post-Intelligencer recently reported that Zesto's owner Charlie Pattok has agreed to sell the restaurant to Anne Marie Kreideler and Robert Seronko. The two will continue to operate the eatery as a Zesto's for the time being, but will be adding some new items to the menu such as gourmet burgers. Pattok's family has owned the Zesto's chain since 1952. (

Lake City Chamber annual auction

December in Lake City means one thing: spaghetti. For the last four years, the Lake City Chamber of Commerce has held an annual spaghetti dinner and auction during this month. It is the chamber's most important fund-raiser of the year.

This year's auction items include two used cars to be provided by local auto dealers Alley Chevrolet and Bill Pierre Ford/Dodge, an electric organ, and numerous ways to get out and about including a gift certificate to Rosario Resort & Spa on Orcas Island, two passes to the Spirit of Washington Dinner Train and tickets to the Empty Space Theatre.

The event will also include a special auction, both silent and live, that is open only to kids. Parents must be present in order for kids to make bids.

"We like to make it a real family event," says Deborah Harris, executive director of the Lake City Chamber.

This year's event will be MC'd by auctioneer Kevin Benedict, a professional entertainer who has added one of his own singing telegrams to the list of items available to bid on. (