By Jenna Walden
SE Seattle Retail: Is a Trader Joe’s the silver bullet for Rainier Valley’s retail woes?
The Rainier Valley has long had a dearth of recognizable brand retail stores and been a haven for small businesses and entrepreneurs. The bad news is that many of us drive to other Seattle neighborhoods, Tukwila or Mercer Island for shopping. The good news is that many self-starters have had an opportunity to make a living by owning their own business and offering unique and localized products and services.
When we complain about retail in Rainier Valley, the first name that comes to our lips is Trader Joe’s (whispered). Trader Joe’s is apparently the ‘Holy Grail’ of retail for Seattlites, if it comes, the rest will follow.
Over the years through the boom (and now the bust), we’ve scored a couple times: Ross Dress for Less has opened in Genesse, and Safeway is remodeling their store in Othello. Columbia City is thriving. But greater hopes and dreams for keeping our spending dollars here in the SE, generally speaking, have fled with the appearance of more Pay Day stores, and little else.
What do we do?
The Rainier Valley has financial resources such as the Rainier Valley Community Development Fund (RVCDF), technical resources such as the Office of Economic Development (city of Seattle) and political momentum behind our backs due to the arrival of the light rail. How do we create a framework for a thriving retail community that forces local residents to say, “Hey we don’t need to drive to Tukwila!”
It can only start here, folks. If we don’t support our own local retail community, then we can’t expect others to. And if we don’t like what we have, then we need to educate ourselves to find out what needs to happen.
Let me phrase it this way: What needs to be done for our neighborhood to be appealing to Trader Joe’s?
Tonight at the New Holly Gathering Hall (7054 34th Avenue South) from 5:30 – 7:00 p.m., retail expert Kennedy Smith will be on hand to answer questions about how the community and the City can lay the groundwork for a strong retail community which increases the diversity of goods and services here. Kennedy Smith has spent the last six months studying the Rainier Valley and interviewing many, many stakeholders. Her face-to-face perspective is available tonight only, before she flies off to DC for good.
Before she finalizes the study, the broader community gets this one chance at documenting our perceptions and support for her preliminary recommendations. The final study will be use as an executable document as to what the City and other partners will do to develop growth. I hope you will come.
Coffee and refreshments are provided. If you need an interpreter, please call 206-684-8090.
Related:
Who to know, where to eat & what to do in one of America’s most diverse zip codes!
{ 47 comments }
Not sure how Ross Dress for Less is a good thing. The shoppers are disrespectful of merchandise, are not considerate,loud, etc. We are getting a second Pawn Xchange on MLK. Given the gangs and shootings, I doubt Trader Joes would ever look at the area.
Would be great if someone could report on the highlights of this meeting on RVP tomorrow – can’t go myself.
Well, one of TJ’s first stores in the Northwest was in Burien. Crime in that area has got to at least rival that of anywhere in the Rainier Valley (save perhaps Rainier and Henderson).
I think interesting locations for them that shouldn’t be scary are:
1. Columbia City – Rainier Plaza, or maybe they could get into that pool hall space next to Full Tilt.
2. Seward Park – Replace the overpriced PCC (would probably require a new building with garage parking)
3. The old Safeway location on Genesee and Rainier. That place is a shithole and was already a grocery store once.
4. Beacon Ave -The old Van Asselt school or near the light rail station
5. Somewhere in/near Othello and MLK – this one is interesting because Burien has shown that TJ’s and a traditional grocery store can co-exist in a location quite nicely and maybe even enhance each other’s business – see Burien TJ’s and Albertson’s.
I don’t know if this is true, but I often heard that Safeway used to have so many locations in the South End because they got some kind of tax-credit or something for providing jobs in the ghetto. Could that be (re)visited?
I’d vote for an eminent domain move on numbers 2 or 3, I hate what is there now
The vacant Grocery Outlet location at the Mt. Baker light rail station would also be a good place for a Trader Joe’s.
PCC does very well at that site and is planning to expand their store. I also believe their prices are high, but the parking lot is generally full and it is popular with many people. They are not going to be leaving.
When Safeway sold the Rainier Genessee site after taking over their present location further north they put a Deed Restriction on the Title prohibiting any other grocery store at that location. They do that a lot. The Restriction can be removed, but will require some heavy lifting. It would probably require the City to find that the area is underserved by grocery stores and that removing the Restriction is a matter of Public Necessity. That is not easy to do and at a minimum would require litigation and related costs.
What about the vacant American St.Gobain site in Columbia City? I think it is for sale and the size of the site would be about right for a TJ.
What other businesses are needed in the area? Anyone have ideas?
I wanted to attend the meeting but have to go to a fundraising meeting for my kids’ under-funded public school instead….
A heavy-duty PR push for Columbia City has to be instigated. I was reading, The Stranger, I believe Sat night in Wallingford and there was a Seattle Neighborhoods shopping guide…write-ups, pictures, and guess who was completely ignored…yep.
Not many, except from this area know anything about Columbia City. An old lady on the bus quipped once, “this was the old wild west”. Reps aren’t easy to change.
Any ideas???
Do people here really drive to Tukwila to shop?! I think people who are dedicated to big corporate stores are going to drive to them no matter what. Bringing a few more into our neighborhood isn’t going to keep those people here; they’ll still feel it necessary to drive to some store they like better.
I do think a grocery store would be a good fit in the Columbia City business district, but I’d prefer something with more fresh produce not the plastic wrapped, chemically infused stuff at TJ’s. Personally, I wish the PCC would move into the Columbia Plaza location. I don’t like the high prices any more than anyone else, but, you know, that’s what healthy and sustainable food actually costs. Better we pay for it now than defer the long-term costs to our grandchildren.
I couldn’t think of a better retail establishment than Trader Joe’s to bring up the neighborhood especially if it was open later like the Capitol Hill location. The typical TJ shopper tends to be younger with a varying income and with community oriented attitudes. Considering the people of the Rainier Valley and surrounding areas are composed of dichotomous socio-economic backgrounds, we need to infuse a younger crowd to help develop and grow South Seattle.
I drive from Beacon Hill to Burien to shop for chemically-infused produce at TJ’s, but would happily shop at a Columbia City location instead if it wasn’t too difficult to deal with. I’ll choose whichever big corporate TJ’s that’s most convenient for me.
How about the Citadel at the corner of ML King and Othello? That is a perfect size for a Trader Joe store or another store that could attract a bunch of customers. If not Trader Joe’s, how about a Bartell Drug Store? That corner really needs some help.
I drive to Tukwilla to shop. I also go to Metropolitan Market. The option of grocery stores in SE seattle is underwhelming. I’m tired of seeing the cars get stolen and the drug deals going down at the Safeways.
I also was surprised to see no mention of Columbia City in The Strangers Neighborhood Shopping Guide. But I realize that it was an advertising supplement and perhaps The Stranger did not approach the stores. I mentioned it to a number of the store workers today (RetroKids, Andaluz, KC FLowers), and none knew about it, so I don’t think they all turned down the chance to advertise.
A Trader Joe’s would be great, I tend to drive to the Fred Meyer in Renton for groceries and clothes, but also shop at the PCC for certain things. I drive out of the neighborhood for camping gear (REI), yarn (West Seattle), fabric (Tukwila), gardening supplies (McClendon’s in Renton), hardware (McClendon’s), office supplies (Office Depot in Tukwila). Any and all of the aforementioned would be welcome by me in the neighborhood.
I make it a point to at least check out the retail shops in Columbia City first when I need to buy a gift, etc. They might not always have what I’m looking for, but I give them the first shot.
@Susan
“Do people here really drive to Tukwila to shop?”
Yes but I would more than gladly shop here in the the Rainier Valley if what I wanted was here. Believe me if I can I support the locals I always will.
I have never been to TJ’s so I do not feel the whole TJ’s is going to be some panacea for the Valley mentality.
@Ratcity
What’s up with the PCC expansion?
Susan, my wife and I tend to do most of our grocery shopping at Whole Foods and TJ’s in the U District (it’s easier to hit both of these together there than the downtown WF and cap hill TJ’s) because local stores like Safeway just don’t offer the same quality/variety of food (organic or otherwise). The rest we supplement with the Columbia City farmer’s market (love local produce) and Amazon Fresh now that it delivers to our end of 98118 (although we’ve been unimpressed with their produce, emergency diaper delivery is awesome).
A local TJ’s would definitely get our business, and we’d happily choose a nearby Town & Country owned market for the rest if they’d open up something down here (we both really miss living near the Shoreline Central Market).
Columbia City is great, don’t get me wrong. But it doesn’t really fit our needs on a day to day basis. It’s great for going out to eat, but that’s about it. Another grocery store would be fantastic down here! Safeway and QFC do not have the produce/products for that we like (vegetarian/organic). Also, how about another coffee shop (not Starbucks, etc) ?
Note: I worry that too many big chains would really spoil the uniqueness of CC, though. So be very careful!
Mark @14 I don’t know, but suspect that in this economy all plans are on indefinite hold. It has been all quiet for a few months after much talk. The recession has to be a big hurdle trying to woo any new business into the valley. Even if a new store makes sense and is viable every investor or entrepreneur has to be skittish about actually committing to any new project.
Like SolvayGirl, I drive to Renton to McClendon’s for gardening supplies and hardware I can’t find at Stewart Lumber. (Swore off Lowe’s a year ago after one too many experiences with rude customer service.) I would like to see a good hardware store/garden center in the old Safeway store at Genessee, it could even be called Chubby & Tubby, but that is probably dreaming.
I know that this is not a popular opinion, but do we really need a Trader Joe’s? There are many neighborhoods around Seattle that have Trader Joe’s, if you really want that then why don’t you move there? Personally I will take a Viet Wah Super Foods over Trader Joe’s any day. I love the funky mix of ethnic food (broccoli ice cream!) and even housewares and I would never want to risk that by inviting some generic grocery store chain like TJ’s to our neighborhood.
Speaking as a small business owner I know that South Seattle could use an economic shot in the arm. But if you look around there are not many neighborhoods left without big box stores. Why can’t we recognize that as a strength of our neighborhood rather than a weakness and build from that?
Based on how I see the local teens dressing, a good haberdasher specializing in belts would be a great public service.
A good grocery store is what is needed to bring people into the retail districts—basically a reason to “drop by” on a weekly or semi-monthly basis. I don’t “shop” a lot, but when I do, I try to support my local retailers first. Yesterday I bought a number of holiday gifts and a new baby gift all in Columbia City. I, and I think this applies to many people, am more likely to browse a specialty shop when I have another reason to be in the neighborhood. Reliable hours would help too. I know that small, mom & pop-run shops can’t afford a lot of staff to stay open longer hours or 7 days a week, but closing on Sundays/Mondays/Tuesdays can hurt business. I know Gather lost a potential sale yesterday because it was closed. I’m not sure when I’ll have the time to get back to the CC strip for shopping.
I mean TJ’s is great and all but it’s not like I’m super upset if they don’t come.
A Metropolitan Market at Columbia Plaza would make me so happy. Then I can finally have the food that I want and not be so limited.
“Based on how I see the local teens dressing, a good haberdasher specializing in belts would be a great public service.”
Funny, and true.
@BeHi – Move to a neighborhood because they have a TJs? Is that a “love it or leave it” argument? I think most of us would agree that we have a number of problems in this area that would be improved by new jobs and affordable, high-quality food. The South End is commercially underdeveloped, locally owned businesses or not.
Incidentally, I’ve been to Viet-Wah and well, it may have “interesting” food but not a whole lot of what I want to eat on a regular basis. Broccoli Ice Cream sounds grody.
@MarkB – The attraction with TJs is that most of the (packaged) food is relatively healthy when compared to what Safeway/QFC has to offer. More importantly, it is very competitively priced when compared to PCC, Whole Foods, and other luxury food stores. That’s what makes it a good fit for a lot of folks in the neighborhood, including myself.
If there was one here I would check it out.
Hmmm the snobbish tones of some residents is worrisome. Trader Joes is not a bad idea so why not focus on that without sliding into judging people who shop at Ross or teens who still where their jeans low ? Do you want a Trader Joes ? Yes? then work for it. Do you want to relases potentionally ( obviously?) racist, prejudice vibes into a mulit-cultural ( that means different strokes for different folks) neighborhood …..Remember this is about groceries not staging an Occupation. I doubt that Trader Joes would feel comfortable with this snobbishness and judging of others and it may even keep them away.
Is Viet-Wah the place on the corner of Columbian and Beacon, where they used to (and maybe still?) instruct shoppers to park blocking the sidewalk, forcing mothers with strollers to walk their babies out into traffic, and sell the worst banh mi I’ve ever had in the whole city? Or is it the place with the big, cool produce selection down on 12th a block north of Jackson whose loading vehicles often block traffic on 12th during rush hour?
Viet-Wah is on MLK and Graham.
There is one on 12th also.
JvA that’s Seattle Supermarket. they sell subgrade meat, but sometimes their veggies and fruit are nice.
I am still mourning the loss of the QFC on Rainier and Henderson, that store was our lifeline. and yes, we drive to many distant locations to buy things like clothing and hardware. It’s too far for me to go to the U district for food though. I’ve taken to depending on the Red Apple on Beacon for a lot of stuff.
I couldn’t make it to the presentation so it would be nice to see if the event actually got covered by the press.
TJ would do well near a ST station, and probably will end up at Othello Station if it comes to RV. Replacing Amazon above Lowes would work, but the old Grocery Outlet has too limited parking and access to be viable.
An alternative is to create a district or zone like the International District which has no chains/big box stores and has a great community organization that helps maintain its cultural, social, historical and economic vitality.
Oh, I’ve been to the Viet-Wah location in the 12th and Jackson strip mall. I don’t think I’ve tried their banh mi. I love, love, love Thanh Vi, around the corner.
Mercifully I live on the fringe of south seattle and ooze into Renton for shopping. Renton has issues as well but I have never been panhandled and witnessed blatant thuggery antics at the Safeway there. Hell I would love to see any type of non-pho restaurant spring up in the valley – god forbide even a chain like Olive Garden. I think we should raze many of the decomposing storefronts and sprinkle some grass seed.
“JvA that’s Seattle Supermarket. they sell subgrade meat, but sometimes their veggies and fruit are nice.”
Or maybe it’s Fou Lee with the sidewalk problem (still). That place is always packed. Poor (and cheap) bahn mi, but lovely spring rolls and a good deli.
I love the meat at Seattle Supermarket (across the street), so I like to think of it as ungraded rather than subgrade. Only place besides Angie’s you can get a reasonably-priced tongue…
Do people really go to Mercer Island to shop? I thought all they had was a grocery store, Starbucks and a thrift store? Am I missing out on some shopping??
Bien — Yep, it’s Fou Lee where they used to have customers park their cars on the sidewalk. Seattle Supermarket seems to have an adequate parking area in the back. I went in there once to pick up a couple of cold six-packs for a barbecue, but they don’t sell beer. Too bad.
I don’t care what grocery store goes into Columbia City, but one is needed. Definitely an office supply store also. I’ve said this before but why can’t we get a single Korean restaurant anywhere is the Seattle city limits let alone South Seattle? We have every other variety of asian food.
@ Graham St, I’m not saying love it or leave it, I’m just pointing out that a huge chunk of America is nothing more than strip malls with chain stores like TJ’s. If you would like to live and shop in one of those neighborhoods then you have lots and lots of choices.
However if you want a good taco truck, a good locally owned lumber yard or even a funky used mattress store, then the south end is for you. I would love to see an economic plan built on what we have rather than trying to attract what already exists elsewhere.
p.s. broccoli ice cream is awesome, you should branch out more.
Well there is a definitely a breed of hardy pioneer shoppers that run the trapline all the way from Rainier Beach to Renton. Renton has a Uwajimaya which is a neat little store. I think the only thing I’ve bought at Trader Joes is deodorant. Man, I must be stupid–you can buy deodorant anywhere! That was a truly squandered TJ shopping trip! But I know savvy shoppers that really like Trader Joes. In fact, I know one who recently said something like “I wonder if Trader Joes still sells vanilla beans?” We need a place in the Rainier Valley that sells vanilla beans so great chefs can make their own vanilla and save lots of dough.
I haven’t tried broccoli ice cream. It sounds like it contains all the food groups in the “pyramid” though–veggies, dairy, bread (the cone), and meat, that is if you order it with a McRib.
One place I really miss is the Patchwork Deli which used to be at the big bend of Rainier Ave across from the RB library. That place had tasty sandwiches (roastbeef, ruben, turkey…), and good ice cream cones and malts.
@Fern
There used to be an office supply store in CC, I believe it was Rainier office supply but I think they moved to Kent.
@ahow
Fern is calling for Korean food, it is spreading, maybe there is a chance.
Yo, my Mama is in town for a month during the holidays. Maybe should set up a truck? Put her to work?
Bul-Gho-Ghi breakfast wrap anyone?
JUST KIDDING!!
I would love it if we had a good Indian restaurant, as it is you pretty much have to go to West Seattle or the U district.
Maybe one of those indoor golf places, you can play 18 holes in an hour or so and it would be nice in the winter.
Who is in favor of a 24 hour diner?
*raises hand*
Having just moved to Columbia City with my husband this summer (we’re both in our late twenties), from downtown/Capitol Hill, we both feel the lack of a nearby Trader Joe’s. We can’t afford PCC on a regular basis, and he refuses to shop at Safeway, so we typically drive to the TJ’s on Madison once a week and stock up. We’ve tried the Viet Wah but it didn’t quite meet our needs. I would LOVE to see a TJ’s open on Rainier. I’d also love a locally-owned fabric and yarn store (I go to Tukwila for those), but the need for groceries is of course much greater. So what do we do to bring TJ’s to the RV? Has anyone summarized the Dec. 1 meeting?
Mary, have you been to Pacific Fabrics in SODO? I think it’s the bee’s knees.
It’s on fourth, across the street (approximately) from the KFC/Taco Bell mashup.
Must be on rail line. I vote Othello at Citadel bldg. For good restaurant eat at Cafe Vignole on Ranier Ave S.
In regard to Korean, the Marination Truck is always parked behind Caffe Vita across from PCC. My impression is that they actually cook the food in a commercial kitchen in that building. The sad fact is that they don’t currently set up anywhere in the valley. Perhaps if we lobby them they will setup in Columbia City or elsewhere. Here’s the link to their site:
http://www.marinationmobile.com/
I have to chuckle at anonymous and his less than helpful comments. I grew up in the NJ/NY retail market and learned to shop there, always looking for the best quality for the least price. So when he mentioned shoppers throwing merchandise on floor, ths is is quite typical of discount shopping, it is a contact sport. This person would have been appalled at Macy’s Basement, Fillene’s Basement and the original Nordstrom Rack. As to noisy customers, noise and human voices are adding positively to this region where people are so afraid of their own voice they comment under “anonymous”
I like Trader Joe’s and again chuckle at the fervor that occurs when a national chain is mentioned relative to our existence. People come to Rainier Valley for many things: Mutual Fish is and has been a draw for decades, Borochini Bakery and Italian Market another, and when traveling to Kenya we are asked to bring Oberto’s beef jerky. Our diversity has produced many voices and yes it likewise produces fear in the hearts of those not used to diverse living, but they will survive unharmed as most have. The markets such as Viet Wah serve a major role in retail needs of many residents of SE Seattle and beyond a need that Safeway and Trader Joes does not. Remember these are real families, real neighbors, real residents of this region. The Urban Retail Clothing shops is not where I shop, but they fill a need for customers who like what they sell. The little boutique in Columbia City that sells little clothes serves a need but not mine, but I would not think they should not exist, I just drive a bit further to Two Big Blonds; they know how to dress women with hips. We have two bookstores well stocked, we need to support both and the Car Manuals Book store is known throughout the country.
As to SE Seattle being left out of and off of things, again this has been going on forever. It is good to have those who are new and fresh stepping up picking up the baton. Believe it or not there has always been activists and organized forces in SE Seattle. It is this work that has made this a place that people want to move to and invest in. I believe some never thought they were going to stay, but they did whether by personal choice or economic realities that that house could not be flipped in this market.
So for those who think there is not enough here, you make me smile. I remember when we thought, if we could just have an ice cream parlor besides just Baskin and Robins, and now we have one. It is nice that we now have residents with more lofty needs. Welcome we are happy to have you, please be nice.
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