Congrats, you forced a small business to change a meaningless name that offended nobody outside of the Orwellian knitting circle (jerk) that has become a the so-called SJW movement. Are the idiots who called for the name change even aware that plantations still exist sans slavery?

Also for those who found this TLDR, just read this one quote from the OP that says it all:

"Largent, the Seattle store’s sole employee, said she wrote the email to critics last September after receiving written and verbal threats “that the store would be vandalized and that I wouldn't be safe if I kept this name.”

These people are neither liberal nor progressive but emotional infants with authoritarian tendencies.

"just a short bus away from the Central District,"

Wow, just because the folks in the CD don't live in CH there's no reason to imply they would have any type of handicap. I demand an apology for this micro aggression, and that the story be updated with a less offensive phrase.

I have some tea called Plantation Mint...should I burn the box and then protest the tea company that makes it?

I guess I should now demand that my bananas not come from plantations anymore, but rather, Socially Non-Offensive Agricultural Centers

Largent said the term "plantation" is used to describe a style of furniture, which includes “imported wood furniture pieces, big oversized ceiling fans, four poster beds, bamboo, rattan, and a world-travel resort vibe.”

yes and its called that because its inspired by furniture during the plantation era in the west indies, this guy is a doofus.

"The store opened its first branch in Los Angeles, California in 1998."
Maybe the King county NAACP should call the LA NAACP to see what they did.

Plantations existed before Europeans colonized the Americas, and they still exist today.

Visit Plimoth Plantation, SJW dipshits.

http://www.plimoth.org/

You know, there's still a store called "Banana Republic" downtown, too.

I guess that name doesn't conjure up any thoughts of racism or oppression?

I hear they're going in a different direction: furniture made out of wooden pallets, plastic beverage crates, and derelict car seats - they're going to call it "White Trash Design"...

Tell you what, NAACP, as soon as you change your name from something less offense the National Associates for the Advancement of COLORED People, we can talk. Someone might want to take a look at the United NEGRO College Fund as well.

As a native of Hawai’i I find it amusing that this person thinks that “pineapple plantations” are a modern and innocuous business.

Just who do you think works on these plantations? There’s a reason that Del Monte pulled out completely from the islands and Dole only has one pineapple plantation left on Oahu. They have been using slaves from islands in Micronesia. Yes..slaves!

If you fruitcakes didn’t think that the slave trade wasn’t alive and well you are just as uneducated as Trump’s base of supporters. I have examined people in the slave industry from 10 year old boys and girls caught up in the sex slavery trade to adult plantation workers. These plantations are isolated, no place for the men and women to go to. They are all promised great jobs working in Hawai’i, then come over, have their passports taken, then threatened with death to their families if they leave. Picking pines is terribly hard..scars up the hands, arms, legs..and the enzymes from the pines destroy fingerprints.

I’m surprised at the incredible depth of ignorance of the readers of this paper.

"Seattle activists have fired off at the store's name, which for some locals conjures painful reminders of American slavery."

This name is incredibly insensitive and triggering. Nobody should be forced to relive their own memories of their enslavement here in America. Thank you for bringing attention to this Very Important Matter.

We have the motherfucking "President" of the United States giving classified information to the fucking Russians, and THIS is what Seattle's infantile SJWs get up in arms about? Get some fucking perspective people.

It's pathetic that the name "Plantation" of a furniture store can be offensive! This article reminds me that we are walking on eggshells and anything we say or think might be misinterpreted negative or offensive. SERIOUSLY? I have been to this beautiful store and felt nothing but welcomed and kindness from the girl that works there... I suggest that you go to the store and experience it yourself. Don't take it from this article that's try to run a small business out of this vibrant neighborhood.

Oh good grief. I know I'm white, so I don't have any right to an opinion here, but beyond the fact that there are lots of types of agricultural plantations even now, post slavery, the simple fact is that the business name is a corporate decision, and I don't know what good it can do to harass employees of the local branch. It's counter-productive for the cause of civil rights to make other working people feel threatened. Trump is in office, Sessions is threatening to bring back the war on drugs, cops are still shooting people of color with impunity--these are really dark times. I totally believe in full equality and opportunity for all, but we have to pick our battles.

ROTFL--- Im so glad I keep up with Seattle via The Stranger. Now That I live in a red state where nazi-like ignorance is minor, its good to know the the deer-in-the-headlights residences of Seattle keep me and my new associates in stitches while your homeless and cost of living increases exponentially along with the lurid, tabloid-worthy political sex scandals. I guess that tax money for the arts and public transportation can go to pay sex abuse settlements now! Believe it or not, Seattle (and Portland now) are almost as popular here in the news as Trump. (Laughing) keep up the great storylines! We'll be reading about you during lunch - at the SouPlantation!

The word plantation as we know it today is expressly linked with colonialism. Sure there are/were plantations outside of the American south, but who cares? If the name is offensive to the local black community, don't give the same old "here is what it isn't offensive" white guy explanation. Just say you understand and do your best to make it right.

Having said that, people should be more upset about this store's existence in the neighborhood than the name.

Shorter White People: "Hey, I had ancestors who grew up on a plantation too! What's the big deal?"

Here's a fun and educational thing to do! Google "plantation" and read all the definitions! Or read the Wickipedia entry that explains at length what a plantation is--while slavery on southern plantations is listed, the majority of the article delineates the many other types of plantations that existed in the past and still exist today.

@28:

Right. And "redskin" is just another name for " Native American", so obviously, any alternative use of the term automatically negates all negative connotations attached to it.

@28:

OK.

"Plantation agriculture grew rapidly with the increase in international trade and the development of a worldwide economy that followed the expansion of European colonial empires. Like every economic activity, it has changed over time. Earlier forms of plantation agriculture were associated with large disparities of wealth and income, foreign ownership and political influence, and exploitative social systems such as indentured labour and slavery."

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Plantation

So the name sucks. You don't like it. Move on. Keep walking down the street and spend your money someplace else. Spend your money to fight business that are actually trying to exploit people. Sticks and stones.