Mar. 27, 2008 at 3:16pm

Aladdin Bail Bonds Moves in Downtown on Market & 9th

Just in case you thought that the Pierce County jail issues and felon dumping ground issue did not have some sort of beneficial economic effect on the city.

New business: Aladdin Bail Bonds has moved in on 9th and Market.

Buy Local bail bonds!

comments [32]  |  posted under tacoma

Comments

by Jake on 3/27/2008 @ 3:32pm	Thanks Pioneer! (Seattle based) Human service providers working hard to improve our city! Give Pioneer Human Services a call and tell them thank your for providing for our city: Pioneer Human Services 7440 West Marginal Way S Seattle, WA 98108 Phone: 206-768-1990 Fax: 206-768-8910 housing@p-h-s.com
by Erik on 3/27/2008 @ 3:50pm	What's the connection, if any, between Aladdin and Pioneer?
by Jake on 3/27/2008 @ 3:54pm	Pioneer owns the building along with the other 2 that front 9th between St. Helens and Market Street.
by Erik on 3/27/2008 @ 3:55pm	Pioneer owns the building along with the other 2 that front 9th between St. Helens and Market Street. I see. So they leased to Aladdin. Obviously, they believe there is a market for selling bail bonds here and they are probably right. How else do they use the buildings?
by NineInchNachos on 3/27/2008 @ 4:00pm	whatever happened to the psychic shop?
by Jake on 3/27/2008 @ 4:02pm	They can rent to however they want but it is definitely not an improvement for the neighborhood. 2 steps forward 1 step back.
by thriceallamerican on 3/27/2008 @ 4:03pm	That's the space that Victory Music used to be in, for what it's worth.
by Erik on 3/27/2008 @ 4:06pm	That's the space that Victory Music used to be in, for what it's worth. I saw that for years. What exactly did "Victory Music" do? They can rent to however they want but it is definitely not an improvement for the neighborhood. 2 steps forward 1 step back. Yes, it makes it look as if jail industry is apparently pushing down the hill into the Theater District.
by CA on 3/27/2008 @ 4:13pm	Oh my god you gotta be kiddin me! Someone please tell me this is another RR Anderson photo shop.
by NineInchNachos on 3/27/2008 @ 4:35pm	this vinyl awning sticks out like a cockroach on a wedding cake. damn shame! but happy to see business move in. Maybe they can afford to hire a designer in a couple of years. Liberty Bailbonds atleast has good signage
by drizell on 3/27/2008 @ 4:46pm	I like the bottom photo. With the exception of the slope, you'd think you were in Brooklyn on a rainy March day. All the picture needs is a couple people. That's the problem with almost every official photo out there promoting Tacoma: no people. Who wants to be somewhere that is deserted?
by Erik on 3/27/2008 @ 4:52pm	The business name Aladdin Bail Bonds is actually pretty funny. One gets three wishes from Aladdin right? Apparently fulfilling a wish to get bonded out of jail until sentencing, trial or resolution of the case. That's the problem with almost every official photo out there promoting Tacoma: no people. Who wants to be somewhere that is deserted? Actually, once a week or month, this corner is jammed with people. There is some sort of pay day station adjacent to the Bail Bond place.
by CA on 3/27/2008 @ 4:53pm	If the city can restrict strip clubs to a specific section of town, can they do the same thing for payday loaners and bailbondsmen?
by Nick on 3/27/2008 @ 4:58pm	Classy! Between "Payee Services" which results in a monthly "ghetto party" on that sidewalk, I can now enjoy living across the street from mini "potential-felon parties" every day! I'm all for supporting local businesses, and can acknowledge the need for bail bond services this close to a county jail and courthouse, but I don't know . . . am I a jerk for not wanting this place here (for reasons beyond it just being ugly)? It just seems so . . . tacky for a neighborhood that's trying to pull itself out of the gutter.
by CA on 3/27/2008 @ 5:00pm	"It just seems so . . . tacky for a neighborhood that's trying to pull itself out of the gutter." Understatement of the day.
by Nick on 3/27/2008 @ 5:05pm	Is it legitimate to complain to the city about this, maybe even petition? I don't want to be one of those snobby jerks that says 'sure this is ok, just not in MY neighborhood' like so many say to low-income housing. But COME ON, bail bonds? Ewwww!
by andrew.austin on 3/27/2008 @ 7:03pm	I would take sheet music over bail bonds in my neighorhood anyday...aren't there enough bail bond joints up by the jail to fill the need?
by Jake on 3/27/2008 @ 7:38pm	I think it is time the city take a look at purchasing this property for a new city hall site.
by justagirl on 3/27/2008 @ 7:47pm	Jake: I wouldn't think that would be a serious option, seeing as how city hall is already the next building over ...
by justagirl on 3/27/2008 @ 7:54pm	Oh, but for the record, I should say that my reaction to the new business on the corner: WTF!?!?!?
by Jake on 3/27/2008 @ 8:13pm	I don't see why that site wouldn't work. If the city wants a new building, which they do, would it really matter if it was next to the current city hall or not? The site is almost 20,000 sqft (all 3 buildings), You can build up to 400', and location location location. And it beats a "campus (suburb) style" city hall they have talked about.
by justagirl on 3/27/2008 @ 8:20pm	And I'm totally not saying "campus style" is the way to go ... just guessing that the site would have similar issues to the current one as far as age and cost-prohibitive need for rehab. But it really is just a guess. I would love to see City Hall stay downtown somewhere for a long time to come.
by Jake on 3/27/2008 @ 8:24pm	Oh I am not saying keep the buildings, they would need to be torn down to make way for a new building. With one organization holding onto that land it is only a matter of time before they get sold and torn down.
by justagirl on 3/27/2008 @ 8:46pm	Ok, that makes a little more sense. What to do with folks while things are getting rebuilt, and how much fuss tearing old, cool-looking buildings down would actually fly is always a question ... but that makes more sense. Question ... when you say "that land" ... are you referring to current city hall, the lovely bond building, or all? (I read that as this Seattle co. owns the city building too, which I don't think is true ...)
by Nick on 3/27/2008 @ 8:53pm	Actually, the one on the conrer is probably the only one that has any potential for restoration. The next two on the block that they own are hideous. One is a small apartment building that looks like a small house and the other is the Downtown Vision Center that looks like it would collapse if you looked at it the wrong way.
by morgan on 3/27/2008 @ 9:34pm	Jake, you haven't been hanging out with drizell have you? According to the library's historic buildings database, the building at 309 South 9th Street, is one of the oldest in the city - c1879. If it is not a registered landmark, it needs to be. Tacoma trivia: It used face St Helens but was moved to its current site on South 9th in 1904. More trivia: The brick apartment building at the corner of 9th and Market was built by a Mr. Rhodes (notice the large R). He was also the guy behind building the Winthrop. Lot's of history there. It's a shame to see such a mockery of a travesty being made of its current state. It shouldn't be torn down though.
by Erik on 3/27/2008 @ 9:46pm	And it beats a "campus (suburb) style" city hall they have talked about. That idea should be DOA. Pulling city hall out of the Theater District to a semi suburban campus would be a disaster. The technical term is "bloodletting." The city needs to set an example of how to restore and inhabit existing buildings in the downtown, not abandon them so everyone can have a parking space in a surface level parking lot on the edge of the city. I think it is time the city take a look at purchasing this property for a new city hall site. Agreed. City Hall needs more space. They should try purchasing buildings in the immediate vicinity and expand as they encourage businesses to do.
by justagirl on 3/27/2008 @ 10:01pm	Nicely said, Morgan! I rather wince at tearing buildings down ... from the historical standpoint as well as the resources standpoint. The ditching of the King Dome still makes me want to vomit. How old was it again? Buildings aren't supposed to be THAT recyclable. It still boggles my mind that Europe has buildings that are centuries old, and we struggle with the thought of something turning even 50 ... and yet stock our homes with antiques. My head spinneth.
by CA on 3/27/2008 @ 10:03pm	I think you guys should move your "taking back the parks" event to the sidewalk in front of this place and scare away the would-be convicted felons lookin for loans. Thus driving this business, well, out of business.
by justagirl on 3/27/2008 @ 10:14pm	The Fight for Frost Park just got a new hurdle. But it hasn't been thwarted ... yet. Now, snow might be a demon to reckon with ...
by Jake on 4/14/2009 @ 2:57pm	And another: www.tacomauntapped.com/2009/04/another-b... just in case you missed it.
by Erik on 4/14/2009 @ 4:30pm	Thanks for completing the thread on the latest economic developments in Tacoma.