West Seattle businesses: 2 updates on Huling-owned properties

| Development | Triangle | West Seattle news | West Seattle Trader Joe's

EX-REDLINE SITE: Just a month after Redline Music and Sports closed at 4439 35th SW, we got reports of work at the site, and we wondered if perhaps it was related to the development proposal that was reviewed last year. Nothing on the city docket – but perusing the liquor-license applications, we discovered we’d missed something last week: A new establishment seeking the license under the name The Bridge. We’ve got an inquiry out to one of the prospective owners in hopes of finding out more.

FUTURE TRADER JOE’S: At the end of September, we contacted site spokesperson John Wunder of Associates West Real Estate to ask why nothing had happened yet with the plan announced in June to remodel the old Huling Buick showroom at 4545 Fauntleroy Way into a new Trader Joe’s. He in turn checked with Trader Joe’s development department – which has been fairly impenetrable from the media front – and reported back that they expected to apply for a permit “within a month.” Now that the month’s come and gone, and because someone asked us about a rumor of trouble, we checked back with Wunder. He says Trader Joe’s is expecting to file the official application next week: “It’s taking a little longer than we thought, but it’s still going to happen.”

Baba November 5, 2010 (4:07 pm)

I sense trouble with Trader Joe’s opening in WS. I’ve heard rumors too. So my money is on the not gonna happen side.
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But I was sure Rossi will win too! In case anyone is interested I just donated those old tennis shoes back to Goodwill.

Li November 5, 2010 (4:13 pm)

On TJs, please, please, please, please let this go smoothly.

ADub November 5, 2010 (4:13 pm)

Can’t wait for The Bridge to open. Finally an establishment in that area that is going to be classy and worth visiting. It is surely going to be a must-stop when making the rounds in W. Seattle. I CANT WAIT!

KBear November 5, 2010 (4:17 pm)

If they start by tearing down the existing building and digging a huge hole in the ground, it will be a very bad sign…

Carson November 5, 2010 (4:18 pm)

Whats amazing is the new Safeway, every day I walk by that site and they are building like every day is lost revenue, and it is!!!

WSB November 5, 2010 (4:29 pm)

KB, if you mean TJ’s, the existing building is not scheduled to be torn down so any sign of that WOULD be bad. As for Redline/Bridge, the proposal last seen in “early design guidance” a year ago does call for the current building to go away, but I’d say a new business is a sign that’s probably just as much on hold as some other projects ’round here. Carson – both Safeway and Link (Harbor, in The Triangle) have indeed proceeded quickly, and they’re probably among the few such proceeding projects of their kind in the entire city! – TR

smash the state November 5, 2010 (4:32 pm)

trader joes = yuppie TV dinners.

i don’t get it, especially considering we have amazing ethnic markets in white center. but whatever. different strokes, i guess. enjoy that flash frozen lasagna!

ellenater November 5, 2010 (4:34 pm)

ahhhh, but they have pine nuts, too. ;)

JanS November 5, 2010 (5:10 pm)

Carson…I’m amazed at how quickly they’re working to get this thing up. I talked with one of the workers, and he said that they are trying to get as much done as they can before the really nasty weather sets in. Must be no fun at all building a building in the fall, winter.

JanS November 5, 2010 (5:11 pm)

Baba…always love your positive attitude :)

Baba November 5, 2010 (5:43 pm)

JanS, I did try to apologize to you on the “Hole” thread, but for some reason it was not posted…
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JanS, I’m sorry for being ” so acrimonious “!
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I’m not a dreamer, just a realist, and this approach made me quite well to do so far…

Carson November 5, 2010 (5:51 pm)

ellenater,

Yes, they have Pine Nuts, but did you see the price? Yowzaa, super expensive! I wish Costco would get them back in.

B November 5, 2010 (8:37 pm)

Baba, Hey I think we are soul mates!

B November 5, 2010 (8:40 pm)

And, have you gone by the Safeway in Jefferson Square. They are really trying! And, I have purchased very good quality products there in the last month.

wsgolfer November 5, 2010 (10:02 pm)

I thought the Redline building was condemned? If it isn’t, it should be. That place is falling apart.

NotMe November 5, 2010 (11:07 pm)

Maybe we will get a new hole to go along with the “old one.”
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I checked on the Safeway hole… it’s still there. It’s been over 5 years now, right? Lol…

Uunder_Achiever November 6, 2010 (7:51 am)

Costco has pine nuts back in stock Carson. $29.99 for 24 ounces! We like pine nuts a lot but not at that price….

redblack November 6, 2010 (8:14 am)

took the words right out of my mouth, wsgolfer. the only thing i would save is that awesome and huge gas fireplace.

Eaglewatch November 6, 2010 (8:47 am)

I read that there is a pest problem in Italy that is causing a problem with the pine nut industry. That has driven up the price considerably. As a result China is taking a larger share of the market with cheaper but low quality product. I don’t know about others but when I see “China” on a food product, I pass. I want my food grown someplace where we stand a better chance that it won’t be contaminated with pesticides or toxic materials (remember the melamine in the milk?).

Umm November 6, 2010 (4:32 pm)

TJ’s, classy? I cannot really think of any grocery store that is classy? Met Market may be the closest to a “classy experience”. TJ’s is for the bargain hunters. I welcome TJ’s, just because I believe choice is good, but not for me.

W.S. mavrick November 7, 2010 (3:46 pm)

gross thats all we need is another store right on the bussiest road of west seattle.

lenguamor November 7, 2010 (6:31 pm)

Too bad they’ve waited this long to even apply for permits, since the process in Seattle is so cumbersome and onerous.
Spoke to staff at the Burien store today and they said a target date was as soon as early Spring, with late Spring more likely.

ellenater November 8, 2010 (10:20 pm)

We need better priced pine nuts in West Seattle now!

R2tC November 15, 2010 (4:31 pm)

The Bridge had the right idea with gutting the old Redline and starting from scratch. The concept should make this one of the more comfortable places in West Seattle to enjoy a proper cocktail.

Dano November 30, 2010 (12:06 am)

Can we get an update on the opening of our much anticipated Trader Joe’s?…… Sadly, its starting to feel a bit like it did a couple months after Whole Foods said they were coming to West Seattle!!!….. Please “Joe”, say something to us!!!

WSB November 30, 2010 (12:09 am)

Coming up tomorrow. I have to check on one small component of the newest minidevelopment.
- WSB November 30, 2010 (10:56 pm)
  
  Darn. Wasn’t as easy as I thought. Still in the works, though.

Dano December 1, 2010 (11:50 pm)

Thanks! Keep us posted, please!!!

Ahow December 9, 2010 (9:38 pm)

I will say, the TJ’s website has a “coming soon” announcement of where they are opening up new stores. And Seattle/W Seattle ain’t on the list. Maybe it’s just a list for cities that don’t currently have a TJ’s presence? Anyway.. more food for the conspiracy theories.

WSB December 9, 2010 (9:56 pm)

Ahow, we have had an update in the pipeline for a few days … stand by. They don’t tend to put projects on that list until they’re close to done, in my experience watching it. The project is progressing. – TR

Dano December 13, 2010 (1:30 am)

… Hey folks…… Any news on Trader Joes yet?… It seems that everything keeps getting postponed or just forgotten…. Is it possible that this WHOLE thing is just crumbling?… Why is it that a Safeway can be rocketing up, and neither Whole Foods or Trader Joes can get the projects moving like they said they would? Did Safeway plan better?….Did they have more ethical finance partners?…. Did they sell more cilantro?…. What is it????!!!!!

WSB December 13, 2010 (1:46 am)

A. Safeway owns the land it’s building on. Nonetheless, if you recall the coverage, it took a long time to get the project approved.
B. Whole Foods was caught up in what appears to be a nightmarish mess of a case involving the Fauntleroy Place project. By all accounts including the court cases I’ve covered so far, no fault of theirs. When they finally said “look, we’re out of this, our deal was to move into a store that was to have been built for us by now,” they said they still had interest in WS.
C. Trader Joe’s permitting has made a bit of progress in the past week. But the second I told somebody in e-mail that I was almost done with the story, one big story hit and things haven’t stopped since. It’s not a big deal. Merely that the permit has shown signs of advancing – after no action for a few months. Hasn’t been finalized yet. But there have been actual bureaucratic actions.

Dano December 13, 2010 (10:05 pm)

Thanks for the update….. I am just a guy with little to no experience in such things…….. But it still seems somehow wrong that a business annonces to the public that they will be in place by a particular date…. And so often it seems that a year or more passes, and there is little (if any) evidence of an actual opening…. Your coverage is always great, and I so appreciate you telling the community when there is movement in these arenas. I guess I am just getting so jaded by business of ANY kind these days…. Small, business, big business, politicians, school districts……. Is there an HONEST person out there!!!????…..Gasp…… drowning in image spinning….. gasp….. plunk. (grin)

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