VIDEO: Grand-(re)opening celebration at PCC Community Markets’ West Seattle store

Ten minutes after the doors opened at the new PCC Community Markets (WSB sponsor) West Seattle store this morning, 200 shoppers had already entered.

The line had stretched down the block across the California SW side of the new 24,000-square-foot store – twice the size of its predecessor:

And then – at two minutes till 9 – this celebratory cake was cut:

As explained in our comprehensive preview look inside the new store on Monday, this is an anniversary party, since PCC opened in West Seattle – on the same site – in 1989. That’s part of what CEO Cate Hardy told the crowd in the moments before opening:

The Super-Krewe played outside the sun-splashed California/Stevens entrance before and during the first shoppers’ entry:

The freebies – including bags of PCC’s custom coffee – went fast. But if you’re headed over to shop, the store is stocked and ready, including the expanded area where you can pick up something for lunch, dinner, snacks, etc., either self-serve or at the deli case.

As noted in our preview, the produce tables are made of cedar reclaimed from the old store, which was demolished in early 2018, eight months after it closed. The new store was built for Living Building Challenge Petal Certification, designed by architect Graham Baba in collaboration with architect of record MG2 (added: with Hewitt designing the building), and is led by store director Nate Rundle:

If you want to say you were there on Day One, you have until 11 pm (regular hours will be 6 am-11 pm every day).

More festivities ahead, too – the West Seattle High School Band (from across the street) is scheduled to play this afternoon.

lowmanbeachdrive October 2, 2019 (12:36 pm)

Welcome back! So missed you!

On Board October 2, 2019 (12:46 pm)

Love the store, love the food, and absolutely love the hard working staff. I don’t love the entrance to the parking garage and I imagine there will be many, many, many fender benders experienced here. They are currently staffing the garage entrance with 2-3 people just to prevent accidents. Sadly once its built, there is very little that can now be done to make this safer. Major Fail.

Meagan October 2, 2019 (2:15 pm)

why will it cause fender benders? Is it because it’s steep coming out and you can’t see car in front until too late? Just curious so I can prepare. LOL
- KM October 2, 2019 (3:39 pm)
  
  It’s fine (for a bunch of Seattle drivers in giant cars can be!) There are people directing because it’s crowded for opening day, you can turn multiple ways in the garage, so it’s a bit confusing which ways you can go to park. But’s it’s everyone’s first time parking there too! It’s bigger and has much better lightning that the Columbia City PCC parking garage, if that’s any help for comparison. I wouldn’t have known where to enter the garage unless I saw someone directing me right away. Once you do it, you’ll know. I doubt it will be a magnet for crashes unless people speed down the alleyway or don’t know how to park their car properly. And luckily, it doesn’t have the awful above ground parking design that Columbia City does either. We’ll all be just fine.
- sw October 2, 2019 (4:22 pm)
  
  Print the T-shirts – “I flipped my car at the new PCC.”

KBear October 2, 2019 (1:31 pm)

“don’t love the entrance to the parking garage”Gotta compete with QFC, Jefferson Square, and Trader Joe’s!

Glenda October 2, 2019 (1:44 pm)

Does anyone know if they still be honoring the free tote bags coupon if I go back this evening?

Kadoo October 2, 2019 (4:27 pm)

The card didn’t have a time limit so I’d guess so. You get them at the check out stand.

Kadoo October 2, 2019 (4:28 pm)

Very happy PCC is back!

Peter October 2, 2019 (5:00 pm)

Mmmmm cheeeese! 😍

anonyme October 2, 2019 (5:13 pm)

And there’s Dennis right in the thick of things!

West Seattle Guy October 2, 2019 (5:49 pm)

I would avoid around lunch for the next few days was an impassible madhouse in the store when high schoolers came over to check it out (+ plenty of adults on lunch, but a noticable swarm of kids). Couldn’t even get in or out without elbowing your way through til the back half the store. Don’t even want to think about how long the lines took.Maybe in a few weeks when the crowds die down I’ll be back to try lunch!

WSB October 2, 2019 (6:33 pm)

Today was early-dismissal day for SPS so the rush time today will likely be different other days of the week.
- West Seattle Guy October 2, 2019 (11:53 pm)
  
  Good to know. It was a total mad house

Bus rider October 2, 2019 (6:02 pm)

Glad to see the sidewalk is open but is the bus stop back at the corner?

Scott October 2, 2019 (6:54 pm)

Welcome back, PCC!

Mariem October 2, 2019 (7:34 pm)

Since pcc closed I’ve found met market and I absolutely love the people there and the warmth of the store. I’ll do most shopping at MM but will check out the new PCC. No interest in whole foods.

Mj October 2, 2019 (7:42 pm)

More grocery options is great to have.

Diane October 2, 2019 (11:28 pm)

I went tonight at 9:30, no crowds

Kathy October 2, 2019 (11:59 pm)

What is great about PCC compared to other stores is the sustainability focus on reducing excessive packaging, especially plastics. Instead of a single use plastic container you can bring one from home to refill. I refilled an empty epsom salts bag originally purchased from Bartells. You can also get household and person soap, shampoo, conditioner to refill into your own container. I was hoping PCC would have a yogurt stand that you could fill from a container from home as well, but no such luck. Ellenos Greek Yogurt stands will sell you yogurt in a glass container you bring from home, but unfortunately they don’t have plain unsweetened yogurt at the stand in the West Seattle Farmer’s Market. After seeing a few documentaries on recycling I don’t have a lot of confidence that filling your recycle bin with plastic every week is a practice that is sustainable.

JenFin October 3, 2019 (5:44 am)

I am beyond thrilled to have pcc back! I can’t believe it was 2.5 years without. I explored all the other options WS has in the interim, and while there are many great stores to shop at, I will be shopping at pcc primarily. Hooray! And during the rebuild we moved even closer to its location. The new store is beautiful. I look forward to the crowds dying down a bit and eating lunch outside!

Jennifer October 3, 2019 (7:39 am)

I am thrilled to have our PCC back in WS. Although I appreciate that I could to go the Columbia City location it will be nice to be able to walk to PCC again. The store is amazing and it was a little overwhelming at first because it’s so big. It’s fantastic though and I’ll enjoy shopping there. My only disappointment is that there is not classroom. So if I want to take any of the PCC classes I’ll still have to go to Columbia City or Burien. That is a big bummer and means I probably won’t take as many as if I could just go to the WS location.

Seattlite October 3, 2019 (8:50 am)

The new PCC store is beautiful! And, I was happy to see familiar employees and great new employees. Thanks PCC for staying in WS!

alkistu October 3, 2019 (11:00 am)

Having more bulk foods and product options than the previous stores is the best improvement from the old store. Please support PCC;s effort to offer zero waste options. Bring your own containers, tare them at the cashier, walk past all of the plastic and the consumer dynamics will continue to trend toward less packaging. The reason there is so much plastic packaging is because to a point, consumers demand it. Let’s show them consumer demands have changed, as they must and less packaging brings more customers. Kudos for the increased amount of compostable packaging.

PCC customer October 3, 2019 (1:37 pm)

Real talk about the store:1) It is good, well organized and (for now at least) incredibly well staffed. 2) It is a faraday cage. Not a single bar of T-Mobile. While you are there, don’t expect to get a text message from your spouse with a last minute request for almond milk. 3) The entrance to the parking garage is a horror show. If that dude directing traffic doesn’t stay there full time, expect a lot of collisions. 4) Someone over 6 feet tall is going to get a concussion going down the stairs. The low head clearance from the staircase above is completely baffling. It has to be a mistake that someone decided was too expensive (or delaying) to fix.

Gina October 3, 2019 (2:40 pm)

This week and next week with the Whole Foods opening –good time to stock up at Trader Joe’s!

anonyme October 4, 2019 (7:34 am)

Kathy & AlkiStu, thank you for your thoughtful reminders about plastics. PCC is the only store in the region actively trying to reduce packaging and the use of plastics. Our oceans are now more than 10% plastic; it is estimated that by 2050 plastic waste will outweigh fish in the oceans. Plastics in our soil inhibit or toxify organic matter. Anyone who knows anything about plants should be terrified by this. Thank you PCC for addressing this important issue.

Lina October 4, 2019 (10:53 am)

Went in today- LOVE IT! Awesome deli section, expanded prepared meats, grain bowl bar, tons of light. So psyched!

Jesse October 5, 2019 (12:16 am)

Pros:Big store with excellent selectionFocus on sustainabilityGreat array of organic produceFriendly, helpful staff——————————-Minuses:No convenient place to fill your Kleen Kanteen water bottle if you’re thirsty after a long walk. At most other forward-thinking stores, you can place your reusable water bottle right on a stand by the water fountain, and it will fill with water. There’s a water faucet upstairs, but that uses paper cups. Wasteful!Seems expensive, even taking into account the extra cost for organic foods.

Laura October 5, 2019 (4:04 pm)

Met Market has added some bulk “bag your own” dry goods as well. Not at the same level obviously but they heard our pleas? The store is nice enough, but I will echo what others have said… the parking lot (both behind the store and downstairs) is very tight. you can readily get stuck in a corner slot and have to do a 20 point turn to get out if someone else has a slightly big-ish car parked beside or opposite of you. I get that they think only people with tiny electric smart cars are are gonna show up but in reality there are all sizes of electric and hybrid, which makes for less than ideal parking. If you have to have multiple people manning your parking lot, its kind of the parking lot equivalent to a Norman door… (yes i am guessing the parking guys were just there for the masses at the opening but still…)

anonyme October 7, 2019 (12:04 pm)

I’ve posted lots of raves for PCC over the years, and was thrilled at their return. I wanted to love it, but my first visit to the new store this morning was not just disappointing, it was unpleasant. First, the cashier was a sourpuss from Columbia City, the only PCC employee I have ever had a problem with. Rude, sarcastic, rolled her eyes and made sounds of disgust because I dared to ask a question. Store cons: first, the only seating area is upstairs, which means if you want to consume a hot meal you have to first check out, then climb the stairs – or, in the case of those of us who are mobility-impaired, go into the cold vestibule and wait for an elevator to go upstairs. So, forget about hot food. It would also be very difficult to take a cart with you upstairs. I was under the impression that there would be a large seating area in the front of the store, but not so. Next, the layout of the bulk section is bizarre. It is on two different aisles that don’t face one another, so you have to circle around to find what you need, then circle back to get to the bags, pens, tags. Very poor planning on both those areas. Prices have increased dramatically. Didn’t see a single old staff member. Also, the bus stop has NOT returned as I read here somewhere. This is a huge problem for those of us who shop using the bus, as the only stop is quite a hike away. The pros: they have bulk Picholine olives. Whole Foods used to be the only store to carry them, but no more.

CanDo October 8, 2019 (2:38 pm)

Oct. 8th… finally ventured into the newly reopened PCC for a deli lunch and it was delicious. There were lots of WS High School kids there, but they were polite and I was happy to see so many eating healthy. Salmon patty, salad bar and oatmeal cookie… all perfect. Even found a parking space in the outside lo, the rain stopped for a moment and the staff was friendly, so I have nothing but good to say about the experience. Great to have PCC back!!!

carolei October 14, 2019 (11:29 am)

I am shocked by how inaccessible the new PCC is for people with mobility disabilities. The only way to get into the store is using stairs or an elevator. Even if you are coming in from the sidewalk or the street level parking lot, you have to either navigate stairs or wait for an elevator in order to shop in the store. Who designed this? This is the least accessible modern grocery store I have ever seen.

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