This Charleston is a distinctive neighborhood nestled in the center of the City and at the crossroads of the major routes of entry. After years of stagnation and disinvestment, Charleston is showing signs of reinvestment and beginning to reemerge as an economically vibrant, mixed-use district rooted in artisan trades, entertainment, and neighborhood oriented businesses that serve residents, day-time employees, and visitors alike. Charleston’s primary corridor, Callow Avenue, is a compact walkable urban environment and is lined with heritage buildings arranged to form a traditional main street. Its business clusters include a mix of retail, restaurant, and service enterprises, as well as light manufacturing and artisan businesses that have been a part of Charleston’s commercial legacy since its beginning. Artist murals are scattered throughout the neighborhood. Artisan food makers, service operations, and repair centers demonstrate the presence of a skilled working class.
Charleston was once a bustling retail core that could service most daily household needs including food, dining, and clothing. Today, Charleston’s commercial character can be described as a collection of specialty service businesses including antique sales, repair, service, printing, and building materials – and to a lesser extent, entertainment and restaurants. However, the District does not function as a thriving “main street” that is commonly associated with other neighborhood business districts in the Puget Sound region