Oct 22, 2010

Repair, gift shop hybrid evolves on BroadwayBy Angela WebberBeavertonValleyTimes.com

There’s a fight happening at the A&P at Southwest Broadway Street and Watson Avenue in downtown Beaverton. In one corner, Mike LeClaire, an expert appliance repairman and successful owner of the appliance parts and repair shop. In the other corner, Linda LeClaire, his wife of 18 years, a newly self-discovered connoisseur of local foods and products, who just wants to have fun.

Both are working to make their business a successful part of the evolving downtown Beaverton. And really, despite the forces pulling the store two ways, it’s likely that they will both win.

For Linda, it started on a trip to Astoria, and one shop full of local goods.

“It was just such an enjoyable place to be in,” she said. After talking with the shop’s owner, Linda was convinced. “People like to go to a store that’s a little different.”

The store was an inspiration for the LeClaires, who had been looking for something to replace the washers and dryers they no longer wanted to sell on the main floor. A&P’s main business has always been appliance parts and repair – they can’t compete with big box stores for selling the appliances themselves.

After the Astoria trip, Linda went to the Beaverton Farmers Market. In one day, she got five vendors to agree to sell their products in her store.

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