Hawaii General Store owner seeks buyer to prevent closure

Gail Stringer is actively searching for a new owner for the Hawaii General Store in Seattle’s Wallingford neighborhood. This move comes after she announced earlier this month that she intended to permanently close the business. The change in plans allows the shop to remain open if a suitable buyer is found, preserving a resource for local residents who identify with Hawaiian and Pacific Islander cultures.

The decision to seek a buyer followed an influx of support from customers after Stringer first announced the closure. She stated that many patrons told her the store had become vital to their lives. The shop carries specific items that are difficult to find elsewhere, including traditional Hawaiian snacks like crack seed and fresh lei, which are flower necklaces used for celebrations.

“That’s when I realized, like, who am I to shut this down?” Stringer said. “I have employees who poured their heart and soul into this place, and, you know, there's got to be a way to keep it going for everybody.” She noted that the store has served as an extension of home for these communities in the Northwest for nearly three decades.

Stringer opened the store in 1998, a time when it was one of the few locations in Seattle stocking the Northwest Hawai'i Times newspaper. The publication served the Native Hawaiian and Pacific Islander population in the region. For Stringer, who grew up on Oʻahu before moving to Seattle for college, the business was never just a retail operation. “It wasn't about a retail space,” she said. “It was just about trying to create a space where people who were missing Hawaii could come and connect.”

The store has become a focal point for family milestones, with customers using the lei to mark births, deaths, and weddings over generations. Stringer described the customer base as friends and family, noting that 30 years of community energy are embedded in the location. Her late father, an artist and architect, painted the Koʻolau Mountains on the back wall, adding a personal layer to the store's history.

Rising costs and a shift in consumer behavior toward online shopping have made it difficult to maintain the business financially. Stringer turned 60 this year and evaluated her retirement income, realizing she had not saved enough to work until age 85. “Anyone who's owned a small business knows you really don't pay yourself very much, and I haven't over the years,” she said. She explained that she skipped paychecks while raising her children and running the store, meaning she now needs to take a job that allows for proper savings.