West Seattle biznotes: Bank branch closing; fitness name change

ADMIRAL SAFEWAY BECU BRANCH CLOSING: Thanks to Diane for the tip – she got a letter saying the Admiral Safeway BECU branch is closing as of 1 pm December 5. The letter says, “The Safeway building is being reconstructed so we must close this location.” The most recent estimate given by Safeway for when they hope to start construction is next summer (and late summer at that), so we’ll be checking with BECU regarding why they’re closing this far in advance. The letter does say the BECU ATM at the store will remain open as long as the store does.

PILATES NAME CHANGE: Thanks to Mike for the tip – Pilates Westside in Morgan Junction, which opened 6 months ago, is changing its name to Pilates al Dente. Mike spotted the notice posted on the storefront that also mentions a change in ownership. Online records show that name registered to one of the original owners we interviewed last spring. No website for Pilates al Dente yet.

THERAPEUTIC ASSOCIATES/WEST SEATTLE PHYSICAL THERAPY: Earlier this week, we briefly mentioned this firm’s new digs in Capco Plaza, the building with the new QFC, on the 41st SW side. We’ve since received an official announcement from them, including the benefits of their new location: “designed with their patient’s needs in mind and includes free parking, an easily accessible elevator and upgrades to state of the art equipment.”

angelescrest November 7, 2009 (5:26 pm)

And-shock of shocks–the BECU ATM on Alki (next to Starbucks) has been removed.

WSB November 7, 2009 (5:40 pm)

Not likely to be able to get down there tonight to see for myself – has anything replaced it, or just gone & space covered up?

angelescrest November 7, 2009 (5:55 pm)

A wooden board! Wah!

sam November 7, 2009 (6:38 pm)

NO !! not the BECU atm at Alki ! I always have to go there before a spontaneous stop at Sunfish. now, I’ll have to plan ahead or go some where else.

MargL November 7, 2009 (6:54 pm)

As a BECU member that’s quite annoying ’cause I don’t remember seeing any sort of warning in the BECU newsletters. I’ve sent a note to BECU asking about the ATM on Alki – letcha know if it’s just under repair or scheduled for removal (which would be really dumb.)

Forest November 7, 2009 (7:14 pm)

I am surprised to find no mention, not even on its website home page, that BECU is an acronym for Boeing Employees’ Credit Union. Though my dad worked at Boeing for 30+ years, I never once heard him refer to to the credit union by just its initials.

WSB November 7, 2009 (7:22 pm)

Kind of like CBS (Columbia Broadcasting System, once upon a time) … P.S. I have sent a note to their media person asking about both the early branch shutdown and Alki ATM. Not likely to hear back before Monday, of course. Also inquired whether any other West Seattle changes are ahead.

JayDee November 7, 2009 (7:31 pm)

I just signed up for a BECU account and they verified that they will be vacating the Admiral Safeway for the Lower Queen Anne Safeway. They said a BECU atm would remain at the Admiral Safeway until construction gets in the way, and after the new Safeway is built.
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We’ll see. They say you can make deposits at 7/11’s…

coffee November 7, 2009 (7:39 pm)

Not really related, but Tracy, where did Columbia Broadcasting System get its name from? Just wondering. There is still the BECU at Roxbury Safeway, its a distance, but still there.

angelescrest November 7, 2009 (7:53 pm)

Is there another ATM or cash-back availability on Alki? I’m w/Sam: Sunfish + ATM = dinner.

WSB November 7, 2009 (8:00 pm)

Coffee – looks like some history here – it started under another name but Columbia Records’ parent company rescued it and the name was changed. Fascinatin’
http://www.newworldencyclopedia.org/entry/Columbia_Broadcasting_System

west seattle steve November 7, 2009 (8:07 pm)

I think BECU is an evolutionary name change since they no longer require any affiliation with Boeing. Just like PCC Natural Markets used to be Puget Consumers Co-op. Anyone else remember International Business Machines?

P.S. according to wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/CBS), CBS was owned by Columbia Phonographic Company, parent of Columbia Records, for a short time in 1927 when they were a radio network and that’s where the Columbia came from.

? November 7, 2009 (8:33 pm)

The Alki BECU change does not sit well unless it was broken into. Considering finding another credit union – this is fishy.

WSB November 7, 2009 (8:34 pm)

WS Steve – that’s the other “no longer stands for what it stood for” name I was trying to remember, PCC. Thanks. We became members when we first moved here in 1991 and it WAS indeed Puget Consumers Coop … TR

ArborHeightsMom November 8, 2009 (8:25 am)

Does anyone know anything more about the Pilates al Dente shift? I guess I waited too long to sign up for classes. I’m confused about the pasta analogy.

WSB November 8, 2009 (8:28 am)

The note on the door mentioned a few class schedule changes in addition to the name change and ownership change, but that’s it. I’ve been looking for the e-mail address I had back when I interviewed the duo who opened it but haven’t found it yet – however, I don’t believe they’ve had any interruption in operation, so you could certainly try calling to ask – there was nobody there when we stopped by to check out Mike’s tip – TR

luvwseattle November 8, 2009 (11:00 am)

There was a BECU ATM on Alki? I was told that 7-11 machines are surcharge fee for BECU members and there are so many of them in West Seattle.

Alvis November 8, 2009 (4:08 pm)

The CBS mentions remind me of the Columbia School of Broadcasting, which always ended its broadcast (mostly TV) ads with a legal disclaimer: “Not affiliated with the Columbia Broadcasting System.” :)

KateMcA November 8, 2009 (5:36 pm)

We got a letter within the last week from BECU that said the Admiral Safeway financial center would be closing, but it did not mention the ATM on Alki… bummer!

rykrite November 8, 2009 (8:06 pm)

Arghhhh. I just recently opened a BECU account and that location and the Alki ATM were part of my decision making process to help me choose BECU. I’m disappointed and unhappy about it.

rick November 8, 2009 (10:22 pm)

Aaaaaaaauuuuggghhhhh! Jimmy’s gonna be pissed!

WSB November 8, 2009 (10:39 pm)

Jimmy? Anyway, re: the ATM, as I noted yesterday, I’ve got an inquiry out to the BECU media person asking about the ATM as well as the Safeway closure and hope to hear something tomorrow – as others have pointed out, there’s a chance the ATM is not permanently gone, but instead removed for repair or replacement. It’s still listed on the BECU website. Will publish a separate update once we get official word – TR

J November 9, 2009 (7:43 am)

Is BECU opening up an actual stand alone branch somewhere in WS? That would be my guess since that is what they did in Ballard. They may not have a site picked out yet, but I bet that they will be looking for their own instead of waiting to go back in after construction. They seem to be opening a lot of new stand alone branches in the city.

rlv November 9, 2009 (1:32 pm)

Hmm. Well, I was going to switch to BECU from Chase (was a happy WAMU customer previously) next month, but I guess that I’ll look elsewhere, if they’re vacating my neighborhood in both locations (store and Alki ATM).

jw November 9, 2009 (1:54 pm)

RLV-An ATM will remain in the Admiral Safeway until the store is torn down. There is also one near Thriftway on California and two more at the BECU branch in Roxbury Safeway.

WSB November 9, 2009 (7:49 pm)

For anyone checking back who hasn’t seen this in the forums, I did get the official statement from BECU late in the day. Will publish an item on the main page a little later but you can read it now in the forums:
https://westseattleblog.com/blog/forum/topic.php?id=7129

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