BIZNOTE: Pet Pros closing in Jefferson Square

| Pets | West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news

Thanks for the tips. The Pet Pros store in Jefferson Square is closing. That was confirmed by Nina, who we talked to by phone; she told us she’s worked for PP for 14 years and just got word of the closure. She told us she didn’t have details – such as the last day – yet. Pet Pros moved to J-Square two years ago, after 15 years at Westwood Village, a run that ended when national chain Pet Supplies Plus moved to that center. The J-Square space isn’t yet listed for lease on the center’s website yet, but it’s next to two others that are – the temp See’s Candies shop and the former U-Frame It space – plus it’s just a few doors down from the vacant ex-Supercuts. The center is likely to face the wrecking ball if West Seattle light rail stays on the path that Sound Transit‘s board voted to support earlier this year, but construction is at least three years out.

KD December 11, 2024 (9:11 pm)

Including the apartments (condos?) above the Jefferson Square shops? If Light Rail goes through there, are those folks being ousted too?

AJ December 11, 2024 (9:46 pm)

Yes…..the entire block.
- Jason December 12, 2024 (9:11 am)
  
  Those people are on one-year leases and don’t own their units… they are not entitled to the space forever. They will have a tremendous heads up and time.
WSR December 11, 2024 (11:05 pm)

Yes. Review the latest Sound Transit plans in old posts. The whole block will make way for the new station and facilities. I always wonder if Bartells is partly stocked the way it is because of these plans and not 100% due to its previous bankruptcy status and supply issues.
- Jen December 12, 2024 (8:21 am)
  
  No the Admiral Bartells is the same way. It’s a joke to go in and shop. So sad. It used to such a great store until Rite Aid bought the chain and destroyed it.
- k December 12, 2024 (9:05 am)
  
  No, the Bartell’s looks the same way the Rite Aid at Westwood does. They’re not going to leave shelves empty three years before construction, especially when coming out of bankruptcy.
Erithan December 12, 2024 (4:23 pm)

It’s crazy, and what doesn’t make sense to me is why they want to do it how it’s planned. People like to live in the area for the convenience and walkability, but if they demolish the area they remove the reason for people to live there. Dentist’s office, drugstores (not everyone can use qfc), grocery, vet clinic etc.
- JustSarah December 12, 2024 (4:39 pm)
  
  And then it comes back stronger with improved transit access. Light rail has improved the local business climate around each of its stations.
  - Scarlett December 13, 2024 (8:52 am)
    
    JustSarah: The benefits to local businesses around stations is vastly oversold. But yes, finally, some are finally admitting that light rail is primarily a – very, very expensive – urban revitalization tool, nowhere near a transformative mode of public transportation as it was peddled to the public.
- K December 12, 2024 (4:48 pm)
  
  There are other dentists in the Junction, and Rite Aid is walking distance as well. That Safeway is an abomination anyway. It’s really not a huge loss…
  - nonni December 13, 2024 (11:02 am)
    
    Dr. Iverson is my fourth dentist in 35 years in Seattle. He has the best hygienist, ever! (Dentists retire, die, fail to maintain hygienists on staff or, simply suck. Not so easy to just pick another one.) Rite Aid? WS Animal Hospital is my fourth vet in 35 years, also superlative. They’re not just gonna say “oh, well” and pack it in because it’s really not a huge loss to you. I’ll follow them to their new location, if it comes to that.

D-Mom December 11, 2024 (10:59 pm)

That makes me sad. They were such a great store in Westwood Village. I loved the staff! So unfair that WV management chose to end their lease for a national chain vs respecting a long-time, successful tenant. I will never use that national chain as a result.

CooperJCW December 12, 2024 (7:01 am)

@D-mom those people who run the “national-chain” in WWV are very nice people, all of them, and they go out of their way to help and get what you need/looking for. And if I’m not mistaken, this may be a national chain retailer but the managers of this store are long-time local West Seattleites and this is a franchise. And its WWV property management to blame for the loss of Pet Pro’s not them.
- DH December 13, 2024 (5:04 am)
  
  I don’t shop at pet stores that sell animals which the new chain does. I don’t shop there for that reason alone.

KT December 12, 2024 (6:21 am)

I believe the “national chain” store in Westwood is a franchise that is owened locally. (Our neighbor’s family are the owners/managers.) They have a great dog wash facility and are a much bigger store so it makes sense financially that the mall would go with a tenant with a bigger footprint. The bed bath and beyond space has been empty for a long time so hard to attract new tenants in this Amazon economy.

Amy December 12, 2024 (8:30 am)

Sad news. Great store and very kind staff. They are the only place that carry the food my cats eat.

Mel December 12, 2024 (11:55 am)

Hi Amy! If you would want to come to the Morgan Junction to get your cats food…we can probably get it in for you. Just let us know…we’re happy to help you if we can. Mel at Pet Elements. Call to set up an order if you like. 2069320457
- DH December 13, 2024 (5:06 am)
  
  I switched to Pet Elements when Pet Pros moved. I’ve had a great experience with Pet Elements.

Jay December 12, 2024 (10:59 am)

I wonder if Jefferson Square is hiking rents to leverage a bigger payout from Sound Transit.

Rejeferson! December 12, 2024 (4:15 pm)

Can’t go back.
- SlimJim December 14, 2024 (9:25 am)
  
  What’s that photo of? Predates my tenure here.

Scarlett December 13, 2024 (2:39 pm)

True, you can’t go back but we shouldn’t abandon complete transparency and straight talk as we go foward. LIght rail is all about urban revitalization, and it’s value as a mode of public transportation is seondary. Some will say, fine, that even if it doesn’t fulfill its ballyhooed promise as public transportation, it is the “carrot” that brings more housing to West Seattle. The problem is this expensive “carrot” costs an insane $7 billion, on top of displacing many of our neighbors. Good god, the irony.

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