Don't worry about City Vacuum

Open for business!
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

By Diane Hettrick

Long-time customers of City Vacuum and Sewing Center were alarmed to read about the accident which sent a car through the front windows and half-way into the store.

But owner George Daher says he wasn't hurt and the driver wasn't hurt. He claims he is just fine now, but was mightily shaken up on Wednesday morning around 10:30am when a car driven by an elderly woman hopped the sidewalk, curb and low masonry to plow through two eight foot high plates of glass on his storefront. (See previous story)

The car was in his shop up to the windshield and his merchandise was moved 10 feet west and jammed against him and all of his fixtures.

This is the third time this has happened to the shop since George took it over from his father twenty years ago. He knows the drill.

George Daher, at work in his damaged shop
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

Things were still falling off the shelves when George grabbed his cell phone and called the carpenter to come board up the windows. A friend quickly made him an Open for Business sign, and he was open within a couple of days.

Good thing. Where else would people get vacuum cleaner bags for their older vacuum, and get their sewing machines repaired?

The store, at 20001 Aurora Ave N, 206-365-9999, was opened by George's father in 1971 and has been at the same location ever since.

He is right in the heart of the Aurora Corridor construction project, but he says it has made no difference to his business. In fact, when N 200th was closed in September of last year, he had his most successful month. Even December was more productive than previous years.

Still work to be done to get back to normal
Photo by Steven H. Robinson

He has some work to complete with the building and storage racks that were damaged by the car before he is completely back to normal.