Story and photos by Deanie Schwarz
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Highland Park’s Seamart convenience store will reopen at 16th/Holden Friday, with new property owners, more than a year after the former building and convenience store’s owner was foreclosed on (as reported here in December 2010), which led not only to the store’s closure but also to the shutdown of JoJo’s Fine Espresso and the relocation of Zippy’s Giant Burgers.
The new owners, partners Saejin Lee and Yungie Sun [above], say they saw a “unique” opportunity in the Highland Park business property. Lee’s family sold their previous Central District store on Jackson (Seven Star) to purchase here in West Seattle. They expect to attract both new and previous customers to their store, and to the new neighboring tenants, Athena’s Gyros (their plan to take over the ex-Zippy’s space was first reported here in mid-February), and an as-yet-to-be-determined coffee stand vendor.
Lee says the shelves are still being stocked, but his goal is to eventually bring in as many choices for his customers as possible. Lee mentioned that a new parking lot will be installed during the summer and possibly some new exterior lighting will be added.
Meanwhile, Athena’s owner Nick Parisi (with the help of artist Glenn Case, at left in photo below, with Parisi) installed his new sign last week.
Parisi says that, permitting process pending, he still hopes to open the sit-down gyro and gelato shop by mid-April, as the buildout continues which will transform the former teriyaki joint-then-hamburger mecca into a Greek-fare/gelato sit-down and Athena food truck commissary.
The Seamart owners, meantime, tell WSB that parties/vendors interested in the exterior space for an espresso stand are welcome to stop by the store for more details. The store hours are currently Sunday-Thursday 7-11 and Friday-Saturday 7-12 – and that starts tomorrow (Friday, March 30th), with the doors scheduled to reopen for the first time at 7 am.
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9:08 AM FRIDAY, EDITOR’S NOTE: Thanks to the commenter who pointed out the store did NOT open first thing this morning; Deanie called to check and the owners are now planning to be there around noon.
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