It's Food, Fun and Lots of Furniture Over at Old Cannery's Labor Day Celebration

By mid-day Sunday, the in Sumner was lighter by a few beds, a bunch of couches – and 6,400 hot dogs.

The Cannery’s annual Labor Day extravaganza, featuring a tent sale, balloon animals, games and a visit by the Seafair Pirates, had been deemed, once again, a success. It continues through 8 p.m. today, with free hot dogs, soda and bottled water until 2 p.m.

“This has been a tremendous weekend,” said CEO Dave Radcliff as he manned the grill, flipping over rows of sizzling hot dogs with a pair of large metal tongs. “With the weather, we thought people would want to go the beach, but unexpectedly, it’s going very good.”

Radcliff said his favorite thing about these events – they hold similar ones over the Memorial Day and Fourth of July weekends – is getting to interact with customers. He has been the Cannery’s hot-dog guru for 10 years, serving 3,200 a day over this weekend, and, to one young man alone, at least 10, which he announced proudly as he crossed the parking lot.

“It’s a way to touch people,” Radcliff said. “You can’t just be cooped up in an office.”

One of the most popular attractions in the Cannery parking lot was the prize wheel, where customers could spin for a chance to win everything from BBQ sets and Cannery fudge to rubber ducks and fancy dessert stands.

 “It’s really fun to see how excited the kids get over all the events,” said Cannery employee Ashley Carter, who, like the rest of the employees working outside was dressed in pirate gear. “The families really appreciate all of the stuff the Cannery does for free.”

Carter watched a young customer spin the wheel before excitedly announcing her prize: “A Cannery cup!”

Customers also had the chance to enter a drawing for a $500 Cannery gift certificate and visit with a clown.

The two-hour visit by the Seafair Pirates was also popular, and they capped off the trip with shooting off a cannon as they headed off down Valley Avenue on their black pirate ship.

The tent sale outside featured deep discounts on everything from kitchen tables to couches -- and a giant cooler shaped like a barrel -- and inside, more prices were slashed throughout the 10 acres of furniture. A special deal offered no interest for 12 months if the items purchased were paid in full by then.

As one customer stopped to study the eccentric décor, she declared, “I love this place!”

That is the kind of enthusiasm that manager Debbie Gursley appreciates.

“We have good deals and fun,” she said. “People want to come because of the history. This is a destination store – it’s more than just a furniture store.”

As he munched on a hot dog, Lance Huntington perused a selection of beds with his kids, Hannah, 10, and Brody, 8, who gave their critiques, ranging from a “soft” bed to an “uncomfortable” bench.

A Sumner native, Huntington recently moved his family back from Florida – but sold most of their furniture beforehand.

Now that he has been back for almost a month, some new furniture was a must.

“I love it here,” he said of coming back to the area. “There is a sense of community here, and all of our family is here. They have cousins to play with and my sister-in-law just had (a child).

“It’s nice to be home.”