Here’s some information on what to expect accessibility-wise when you visit Outsider in person:
Mobility (In Store): There are no steps or stairs to climb to enter the store from the main entrance on 36th St N. The inside of the store has aisles at least 3 ft wide (generally wider if space allows). If more space is needed for access, all shelving units on the shop floor can be moved by the staff to create extra room. Please don’t hesitate to ask us to move something if it’s in your way! Most adults in wheelchairs can access all but the top two shelves of our wall-mounted bookshelves without standing, and our staff is happy to help you access any item that may be out of your reach.
Mobility (Meeting Room): The back room which is used for events has narrower aisles since it is also used for storage and other back-end store needs. There is a small bump in the doorway between the front of the store and the meeting room. There is room for 2 wheelchairs at the central table where events generally happen. If accessibility is an issue we can usually move events to the shop floor by setting up folding tables, and we can always help you navigate the space by moving furniture.
Mobility (Back Porch): We have a porch space in the back of the store that is open for larger events or when an outdoor area is needed for pandemic precaution reasons. The porch can be reached without steps via the meeting room, or can be reached via 3 steps from the parking lot.
Mobility (Parking Lot): The parking lot behind the store is a gravel lot and the direct path from it to the store is also covered in gravel and has two steps. The shortest path without steps from the store parking to the entrance of the store would be going east along the back alley, north on Phinney, and west on N 36th St, and is approximately 750 feet.
Animals: We allow dry, well-behaved pets (mammals and birds) that are leashed or in a container in store. As much as we love them, we will always prioritize the safety of humans over pets so in the case of allergies or other issues where a person cannot be in the store as an animal, we will ask that animal (and their owner) wait outside of the store.
Sensory: Currently we have a small number of candles and wax melts in stock. They are in closed containers and should not cause discomfort to most folks. There are directed lights overhead and some spots in the store are brighter than others. We generally play some background music in the store and there is white noise from our HVAC units, our heaters, and our air purifier. Feel free to wear headphones and/or a hoodie in the shop if you feel overwhelmed! We can also turn down the music by request, though for health and safety we need to keep the HVAC, heaters, and air purifier on at all times.
Communication: If you do not want to communicate with our staff verbally for any reason, we have a clipboard with non-verbal communication sheets and pens by the door. The sheets include ways to ask for the location of an item and recommendations. It also includes check-out questions such as “would you like a bag?” so you can prepare for / pre-answer them before checkout. If you’d like to take a look at the sheets before coming in, you can find them here.
COVID and Other Pandemic Precautions
Masking: We currently require masks to be worn by all staff and customers above the age of 3 to wear masks in the store. Masks are provided (included kid sized ones!) but we appreciate it if you bring your own—partially because out budget only allows us to provide low cost surgical masks and KN95s that may not be well fitting.
Air Filters: We have a HEPA air purifier running at our entrance (where people are least likely to be masked) during open hours. We also have a HEPA air purifier in our meeting room / event space that is on whenever an event is happening in the room. Both air purifiers are rated for spaces larger than the ones they are in.
CO2 Levels: our staff actively monitors the CO2 level in the store to activate additional ventilation (also known as “open some doors and windows”) when needed.
Sanitizing: Hand sanitizer is available at the door, at the counter by our loose dice bowl, and in the meeting room / event space. As of November 2024, we have begun to sanitize common surfaces (register, counter, payment terminal) a fee times a day due to H5 bird flu prevention. For logistics and staffing reasons we are currently not sanitizing surfaces after every customer used them.
Special Event Masking Requirements: Some events, marked COVID-Safer, will have heightened masking requirements by request of the organizer and/or community. During these clearly indicated events KN95 masks (or better, such as Flomasks and p99 respirators) will be required and we ask that masks are not removed for any reason while indoors. We will provide covered outdoor spaces for water/snack breaks during these special COVID-Safer events.