About the OTHER new grocery store: QFC “ahead of schedule”

After our update Thursday on the stalled Whole Foods project, we got a note asking what’s new with The Junction area’s other new grocery store – the one where construction is almost done, the QFC at Capco Plaza along Alaska between 41st and 42nd. Just talked with Kristin Maas at QFC HQ, and she tells us that while there’s no exact grand-opening date set yet, it’s looking like “early fall” – which she describes as “ahead of schedule,” because they’d previously expected to open in “late fall.” This will be the second QFC in a mixed-use (commercial and residential) development, she notes, after the Uptown store at 5th/Mercer, which opened two-plus years ago; she says, “We’ve been learning ever since” and that the special features of the West Seattle store will include hot “bistro”-style food for takeout (though there will be some limited seating) – and pizza ovens. The other major retail tenant announced for the building was Office Depot; we’ll check with them next week. Meantime, we just noticed the website for the residential section of the building, Altamira Luxury Apartments, has been upgraded – the building features it lists include a “chic Internet cafe.” When they open later this year, it’ll be the second new set of apartments to open in The Junction this year – after Mural Apartments (WSB sponsor), now renting barely two blocks away.

21 Replies to "About the OTHER new grocery store: QFC "ahead of schedule""

  • wsam June 20, 2009 (9:13 pm)

    What ever happened to the West Seattle Trader Joe’s? Is it just an urban legend?

  • Hoxley June 20, 2009 (9:57 pm)

    I heard it from the inside that Trader Joe’s is going in to the old Huling Bros. site at 39th and Fauntleroy…

  • WSB June 20, 2009 (10:21 pm)

    That’s one of many, many, many rumors that have crossed our path in the two and a half years we have been doing West Seattle news on this site. Apparently even before that time period, it seemed possible, maybe even likely, that TJ’s was bound for a then-planned development at 42nd/Admiral, immediately west of Metropolitan Market, which was shown in city records as having a space for a small “grocery store.” That development plan’s been long shelved, and the old building on the site’s being leased to new tenants (the CF gym, Muttley Crew Cuts’ new location, for starters) who say they have five-year leases, so nothing’s happening there any time soon … TR

  • Christopher Boffoli June 20, 2009 (11:19 pm)

    Altamira LUXURY Apartments, eh? That word luxury has become quite a devalued currency these days. If I recall correctly the West Water marketing website had that word plastered all over it. I wonder how many residents of this beige palace will consider it a luxury to watch people come and go from Payday Loans just below.

  • Alvis June 21, 2009 (1:11 am)

    For what it’s worth, if TJ’s were actually scouting a best location in West Seattle, I wager that its preferred choice in terms of location and parking space and an existing building with modest rent (compared to the center of the Junction!) would be the Rite-Aid building and parking lot on California Ave. at SW Dawson, only about a half mile south of the large chain supermarkets that will be fighting it out in the Junction proper.

  • WSB June 21, 2009 (1:28 am)

    That seems a wise observation. Although my bet for that site’s eventual fate is view residences, since as you know it has a killer westward view which is totally wasted on the current use.

  • Jeannie June 21, 2009 (1:39 am)

    Christopher, I was thinking the same thing about “luxury,” along with the “chic” Internet cafe. Gotta love that marketing language!

  • rw June 21, 2009 (6:23 am)

    As a frequent PCC and Metro shopper, I actually prefer QFC coming into the ‘hood over Whole Foods. Although Trader Joe would be my top choice, QFC usually has some very appealing values, moreso than Safeway. West Seattle Fish is still tops for seafood, but QFC will be a solid second choice (if I’m not going to be in the vicinity of Uwajimaya or Mutual). I hope the parking won’t be too difficult.

  • Bender June 21, 2009 (6:59 am)

    I’ve been to the QFX in Bellevue and it’s very bice. If this new one is like that, and it probably will be, we’re in for a nice store. Of course anything compared to the Jefferson Square Safeway would be better.

  • cheeky June 21, 2009 (7:16 am)

    To all you Trader Joe Followers-you crack me up! I like the store too but some of you sound like old KGB agents..”Meet me in the alley on 42nd st behind the group of large dumpsters..I’ll be dressed in black carrying a small bag of groceries from Trader Joes. Come by yourself…seven o’clock sharp. I’ve got the latest info about when and where the next Trader Joe’s will be.” Can you picture it? Someone should act out some skits about all the current blogs at the summer fest… Anyway,I hope the new QFC will live up to it’s projected image.. guess we have to live with it now. Toot a looh!

  • Iggy June 21, 2009 (7:52 am)

    The Rite Aid is moving ??? I know the store is run down and it’s on prime real estate, but it’s convenient to shop there.

  • rnl June 21, 2009 (8:09 am)

    Trader Joe’s rocks! Also a nice Brown Bear Car wash would be a nice addition to the neighborhood, along with a West Seattle Dicks! Happy Fathers Day!

  • Sue June 21, 2009 (9:35 am)

    I’m excited about the QFC because we’d be able to walk there with a cart. I don’t walk to Safeway because I just don’t like Safeway. The one in Admiral is okay, but the one at Jefferson Square, no. We currently go to Thriftway, which we love, but we used to go to QFC when we lived on Delridge and I wouldn’t mind shopping there again, especially if I can leave the car home.
    .
    I’ll be curious to see how well the luxury apartments go in both Mural and there. Is there really a market for high-priced apartments here? Sure, they seem really nice and new with great amenities, but their top price 2 bedroom apt. on Craigslist costs TWICE what I’m paying to rent a house that has 800 more square feet! And, the apt. only has 1 bathroom.

  • vmd June 21, 2009 (11:07 am)

    About a year ago my sister and I were driving by the vacant Huling Bros lot (the one on the south east corner and there were three guys in Hawaiian shirts and a guy in a suit in the parking lot. The Hawaiian shirt guys looked a lot like the folks at TJs. I had high hopes that I’d read something about a deal on that site, but alas, nothing.

  • J June 21, 2009 (11:20 am)

    The Office Depot is out of this development. They scrapped this site and the site in Northgate that were both supposed to open this year. From what I hear the developer is looking for a new tenant and that they are in deep talks with PETCO to take it.

  • JBL June 21, 2009 (6:21 pm)

    PETCO?! If they get a spot along side QFC they’ll be vacating a very large space on California. Wonder what could go in there? All this TJ talk is kinda hilarious. I don’t think they’re all that great. The WS Junctions are already bursting at the seams with grocery store choices. One thing to consider is that ALL TJs have parking lot issues and if the new QFC does well (and it should) maybe it will force Safeway to close its doors and a TJs can move in there – it will fit well with that horrible parking lot.

  • WSB June 21, 2009 (7:45 pm)

    Petco was actually supposed to be leaving that space a while back – perhaps you missed that entire controversy – they were going to build a new location on the site of the Charlestown Cafe – the proposal got bogged down in Design Review and finally the developer pulled out (days before the fire that closed the Charlestown Cafe for months, ironically):
    https://westseattleblog.com/blog/?p=5451
    .
    While we did not have this confirmed directly from Petco (which talked to us only in short general bursts during the Charlestown/California situation), sources told us they extended their Junction lease but not necessarily for a long period. They also had been reported as a possibility for another Triangle development that has not advanced in quite some months – TR

  • sarelly June 22, 2009 (2:55 pm)

    I wish they’d put a grocery store up by High Point. We’ve got the commercial strip near the library and up by the water tower – but no local food shopping. It is nice to be able to shop on foot.

  • wutwut99 June 22, 2009 (11:55 pm)

    Is it just me or is this the fugliest new building to go up in a while? Vinyl siding — what is this 1990? Very nasty looking building.

  • pickey June 23, 2009 (5:47 am)

    yeah really..white vinyl siding. Come on. For all that money they’ll be asking there should be something more attractive covering it don’t ya think? A nice stucco perhaps.

  • eightuforbreakfast June 23, 2009 (6:07 am)

    I HATE JEFFERSON SQUARE SAFEWAY!!! Okay, i feel better now..i guess at one time it was a new store and quite nice but those days are gone!! In fact the entire jefferson square should be redone. Those apartments are so outdated and depressing looking. If qfc turns out to be successful, i dont think js safeway will last to much longer. And the rite-aid should move to petco and petco should downsize and move to where-ever they find a spot.

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