Mort's Cabin

Mort’s Cabin is a small force of nature on Eastlake Avenue East. When the small store is open, it spills onto the sidewalk—rain or shine—tempting in curious customers with stacks of old wooden craftsman chairs, Pendleton blankets, collectible signs, George Nelson 50s-style sunburst clocks.

At least, those customers who weren’t already tempted looking in the store window at the ever changing display of lamps, vintage pottery, rustic snowshoes, retro linens, well-loved lace, rusty band saws and local art. Mort's Cabin is part antique shop, part jumble sale, and part solid education in Pacific Northwest culture and design.

Eight years ago, local Metro bus driver and Washington native, Darold Andersen, opened Mort’s Cabin a few blocks north of its current location, as a place to share his passion for collectibles and to showcase the lamps and lampshades he creates in a unique lodge/cabin style. He quickly outgrew the tiny original shop, and moved to the new, bigger digs in 2008, but not before having local architect Christopher Day design the shop interior as a cabin, complete with log walls and a hearth.

But even these bigger digs cannot hope to contain the overwhelming amount of interesting, one-of-a-kind finds Andersen has in stock.

The real treasure, however, may be Andersen himself. The tall, snowy haired proprietor loves to chat and tell the stories behind the things in the shop. He also seems to know, by heart, each and every item in the shop--a boon if you are looking for something in particular, as the inventory, while lovingly displayed, is chock-a-block and, in places, several items deep.

Operating hours seem to be regular, but it's a smart idea to call ahead and make sure Mort's Cabin doors are open.

HelloSeattle Tip: If you are from out-of-town and find an item you simply can't live without, Eastlake Mail and Business Center is two blocks north at 2226 Eastlake Ave. E. Jules, the owner, will happily pack and mail anything with love and care.

- by Caren Gussoff Sumption, Seattle Reporter for HelloMetro  (Click to leave a message)

Caren Gussoff Sumption

Caren Gussoff Sumption is a freelance writer and editor from Seattle, WA. She's written for USA Today, the Seattle Times/NW Source, MSN and AOL, and her fiction has been published worldwide. She received her MFA in writing from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago.