NEW BUSINESSES OPENING IN FORKS

By Chris Cook - Forks Forum editor

Downtown Forks is seeing an uptick in new business openings.

Business owners are cleaning up and remodeling existing retail spaces, adding activity and interest to the center of town. The downtown area has faced a long-term downturn due to the decline in the local logging industry due to the Northern

Spotted Owl environmental regulations.

New mini-spa owner Staci Chastain is splitting her days between an administrative position with Rayonier’s Forks operation and Staci’s Aesthetics, her brand new business. Her job is being cutback at Rayonier, she said, and she will soon be working full-time at her new business.

“So far, I have a strong, but small, following,” Chastain said of her services, which focus on skin care.
She sees a market for what she calls her mini-spa among both local residents and visitors at her business, which is located on Sol Duc Way.

“I’m the only one doing this in Forks,” she added.

Her list of services includes facials, ultra sound treatments and body wraps. The mini-spa is open weekdays from 1-7 p.m. and on Saturday from 11 a.m.-7 p.m. She also is available evenings.

Local artists and artisans are finding a ready market at the new Twilight fan-focused Dazzled by Twilight store on North Forks Avenue. The store is located in the former Lloyd George Jewelers store. Dazzled by Twilight co-owner Tim Root said Saturday that the Twilight fans are attracted by locally-made Twilight items. Their shelves feature locally-made jewelry, greeting cards, clothing and other Twilight-themed items.

He said fans made a return visit to the store on Saturday morning to meet local jewelry maker Willow Roundtree, who makes custom bracelets and other pieces with what’s become known as a “Twilight-inspired” theme.

Root said he and his family who operate the store also refer customers to other stores in Forks that sell Twilight items. He said each store has its own take on what fans would like to buy.

His main business problem since opening in early November is keeping Twilight items in stock, he said.
The national and international Twilight craze is likely to continue for several more years, according to Olympic Peninsula tourism marketers.

The Hollywood version of the Forks-set teenage vampire love story opened in the United States on Nov. 21. Last weekend the film dropped to third in national box office rankings, but easily passed the $100 million ticket sales mark, with a grand total of just under $120 million.

A second Twilight film is in the works and likely will be released at Christmastime 2009. The DVD release of the first film is likely to be scheduled for summer 2009, and should give another jolt to the Twilight tourism arrivals in Forks.
On Saturday, Nov. 29, the local Twilight store was seen to be wall-to-wall with customers at times.

Other activity in Forks includes the opening of a store catering to the Hispanic community in the former Forks Boot ’n Shoe building on the corner of Spartan Way and Division Street.

On the south end of Forks, Mill Creek Bar and Grill, a new sports bar and dining establishment, is open for business adjacent to Java Joe’s.