BIZNOTES: Ulta Beauty, Whole Foods, more

Five biznotes today:

ULTA TO WESTWOOD? The big Westwood Village space vacated by Pier 1 Imports has a new tenant on the way, according to city permit files: Ulta Beauty. The beauty-products retailer has almost 900 stores, according to its recent first-quarter-earnings report, including not-so-far-away Southcenter. We have a message out to their corporate HQ. (Update: Corporate response – “I don’t have anything to share with you at this time.”)

WONDERING ABOUT WHOLE FOODS? We’ve been asked recently about the latest timeline for Whole Foods Market to open in The Whittaker, the big mixed-use project under construction at 4755 Fauntleroy Way SW. So we asked a company spokesperson. Reply: “Second half of 2017.” (The apartments are opening sooner.)

KIZUKI, THE SAGA CONTINUES: Elsewhere in The Junction, the #1 “when is it opening?” question continues to involve Kizuki Ramen and Izakaya in Junction 47. The newest public answer: “Near the end of this month.”

TALARICO’S REMODEL: Several people asked what’s going on at covered-up Talarico’s Pizzeria in The Junction. Back in mid-May when we reported on the old Schuck’s sign uncovered out front, we mentioned that the restaurant explained this was all part of a front-end remodel including the windows. (Update: They’re reopening at 5 pm today.)

WHITE CENTER NOTES: In case you hadn’t seen our coverage on White Center Now – a county permit-application sign says the recently sold Chevron at 15th/16th/100th is set for a Starbucks and Popeye’s. In our followup attempts, the former has no comment aside from a generic “we’re always looking for new locations”; we haven’t reached media relations at the latter yet. … And if you are following the White Center Dairy Queen saga, which started with an abrupt shutdown blamed on “register failure” and has included allegations that the franchisee didn’t pay employees for their final two weeks, two tipsters spotted equipment being hauled out yesterday. We have a message out to DQ corporate. (Added 11:36 am – Just got a call back from DQ corporate, which is checking with the “territory operator” to find out the location’s fate. … Added 3:12 pm: The corporate spokesperson says this will NOT be reopening as a DQ.)

trickycoolj June 8, 2016 (11:01 am)

ULTA!! OMG. YES!! Shut up and take my money! I’m so sick of having to haul down to Southcenter to visit Sephora and Ulta, this fills a huge void in my regular errands. Hopefully they’ll do a better job than Target and our south end drugstores that can’t seem to keep kids/teens from opening all the makeup products.

ACG June 8, 2016 (11:13 am)

Yeah!! Ulta!!

Buttercup June 8, 2016 (11:20 am)

Whoopee! I can get my makeup then go get my chicken!! Life is great!!

AG June 8, 2016 (11:21 am)

HELL YEAH ULTA!

Oh god my poor bank account

trickycoolj June 8, 2016 (11:40 am)

Oh hey, question on Talarico’s now that I’ve calmed down over Ulta (yay!) Talarico’s had recently added lunch hours on weekdays. My friend that was enjoying those weekday lunches for being a better value than most fast food options noted that they are now only doing lunch Fri and not every day. Is that related to the remodel or did they decide after a month to give up on the work lunch crowd?

John June 8, 2016 (12:03 pm)

Is this place like a Home Depot to men? (Not saying women don’t shop at Home Depot.) :-)

Qbert June 8, 2016 (12:04 pm)

The original whole foods opening, when it was going to be where la fitness is now, was January 2010.

WSB June 8, 2016 (9:13 pm)

Oh, we remember it well. It’s been almost exactly eight years since the groundbreaking for the original project (which after years as “The Hole” then became Spruce, switched retail tenants to a gym, and was completed and opened) …

waikikigirl June 8, 2016 (1:23 pm)

John…..why yes it is! :>)

RYANC June 8, 2016 (1:29 pm)

Any update of when The Lodge is opening in Junction 47?

WSB June 8, 2016 (1:57 pm)

No. Their permits apparently were held up for a long time.

Wes C. Addle June 8, 2016 (2:05 pm)

Since we’re talking Biz. I noticed that Zatz has paper covering all of their windows where recently there was nothing. I wonder if something is in the works. Also noticed some people coming in and out of the Cask too.

WSB June 8, 2016 (2:23 pm)

The Zatz space would be since our Irashai report on Friday, so thanks, we’ll check that out. … Just checked, nothing in permit files. Will look further. – TR

Leslie June 8, 2016 (2:20 pm)

Too bad for the beauty supply next to Taco Del Mar (if they are still there), they certainly won’t be able to compete with Ulta.

jason June 8, 2016 (3:38 pm)

If I’m not mistaken, Sally Beauty (next to TDM) is much more targeted to hair care. I think they’ll be alright.

Beckyjo June 8, 2016 (3:25 pm)

I hope they hire security.. That area is bad news..

Peeb June 8, 2016 (4:49 pm)

Anyone who thinks Westwood Village is “bad news” should try visiting an actual bad area in an actual big city.

A.W. June 8, 2016 (5:26 pm)

TrickyCoolJ– For the summer our hours at Talarico’s will be 11am-2am Fri-Sun and 3pm-2am Mon-Thurs. There may be a change in hours once the Seahawks season begins!

Heather June 8, 2016 (5:49 pm)

Oh Beckyjo, I just went to Sephora in the University Village where they had 4, yes 4, sales people standing against the wall, right next to the exit. I asked one a question and was redirected towards a roving sales person after being told that they were there to monitor “basket usage”.

AMD June 8, 2016 (6:54 pm)

Why does White Center getting a Starbucks feel like a sign of end times? I mean, it’s just a coffee shop.

Hopeful that something new and exciting will be going into the DQ spot. The reports of financial issues are a little surprising; I’d assumed they were shut down by the health department. There are better burgers, better chicken, and better ice cream a stone’s throw from there.

Maybe it’s time for White Center to get a good Persian restaurant…