Comments on: Crown Hill QFC to close

By: Teamster

Teamster — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 03:03:52 +0000

Seriously, then there's always http://www.i-booze.com for late night cravings! What do we need supermarkets for anymore?

By: SeaSpider

SeaSpider — Mon, 01 Jun 2009 02:08:07 +0000

"They're local, they're not part of some huge mega-corporation. "

You're a moron!

QFC are Kroger. Kroger is the second largest grocer in country after Wal-Mart!! Kroger are a publicly traded company. You don't think a company with 320,000 employees isn't a "huge mega-corporation"?? Wow, you really are stupid!!

They are no longer a local company and QFC is nothing more than a name these days. They're now run out of Cincinnati and it's the people in Ohio who call the shots. I've talked to these people so I do know what I'm talking about.

By: Melissa

Melissa — Sun, 31 May 2009 14:09:51 +0000

since when is Safeway anti-union? I worked at a Safeway for 3 days (in 2005) and quit because I didn't want to deal with Teamsters Union dues… and even after I quit, the Teamsters kept sending me emails trying to get me to pay dues.

By: AndreaL

AndreaL — Sun, 31 May 2009 07:03:07 +0000

Yeah, it's a shame that the area looks so shady because it's really close to me and I'd love to be able to just walk up and do my grocery shopping, pick up some pastries at the Scandinavian Bakery etc.

Maybe if they got rid of the disgusting pubs populated by lung cancer patients and moved the strip club, 85th & 15th could be as nice as some other busy Ballard intersections.

By: Ballard_Sucks_Now

Ballard_Sucks_Now — Sun, 31 May 2009 01:41:52 +0000

I've shopped at Ballard Market for over 20 years. I'll continue to do so. They're local, they're not part of some huge mega-corporation. And they're unionized – their employees are paid decently (and might even be able to afford to live in the neighborhood where they work).

I know Safeway is anti-union, I assume QFC is, too – anybody know for sure?

By: Catherine

Catherine — Sat, 30 May 2009 20:17:28 +0000

Retail consultant has “been around” asking questions regarding the QFC site. No idea who hired him, but somebody has enough interest to hire a consulting firm from back east.

The idea of a coffee shop by the bakery was tried about 3 years ago – city shut it down in about 10 days because there was no dedicated off street parking as required by city codes (which a group is working on changing). The existing bakery and restaurant are grandfathered in.

The Crown Hill Business Association has reached out to the property owner (not Kroger or QFC) to try and minimize the negative impacts of having a large vacant space in our midst. Still working that issue and talking about the ideas with a few of the neighbors. More discussions to come, but the goals so far are to not become an RV lot, and not be a hangout. And… not be a graffiti and litter mess. Also seeing what we could do about using that reader board for community events while the store is vacant.

By: Jon

Jon — Sat, 30 May 2009 07:14:30 +0000

It'd be nice to have a PCC, Metropolitan Market, or relocated Greenwood Market at this site. Okay with me if they add apartments or condos to the top of it too.

By: pants

pants — Sat, 30 May 2009 04:03:27 +0000

Well yeah, after the remodel. The original QFC was open years before the Safeway was built.

By: ballard sucka#4

ballard sucka#4 — Sat, 30 May 2009 03:05:19 +0000

shelby ROOOOOOOAAAAAAAASTED by the seaspider!!!

By: 4corners

4corners — Sat, 30 May 2009 02:19:55 +0000

Is that true? Is the Fred Meyer on 85th actually going to sell FOOD after the remodel? That makes me very excited!

By: AndreaL

AndreaL — Sat, 30 May 2009 00:38:58 +0000

I agree that this QFC is somewhat useless, considering that there's a bigger store a short walk away, and I'm not a big fan of QFC since Kroger bought it out (there's been a definite decrease in product quality, and I hate the concept of “Advantage Cards”)… still, I'll be sad to see it go, since it's still the closest decent (non-Safeway) grocery store within walking distance.

Any ideas what'll replace the QFC?

By: Born right the first time

Born right the first time — Fri, 29 May 2009 23:16:51 +0000

Yea, that area can't tolerate being empty for too long…there is awful crime right around there, I know a few people that have been jumped around that QFC, Bank, Value Village area…

By: waverly

waverly — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:39:58 +0000

I cannot wait until QFC returns to 24th Ave! Yep, I'm one of the evil non-car driving condo owners in Ballard and I used to be able to walk to QFC. It was so convenient! Hooray for walking to the grocery store!

By: SeaSpider

SeaSpider — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:13:50 +0000

That would be awesome! Of course then they'd tear it down to make way for condos! ;)

By: SeaSpider

SeaSpider — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:12:51 +0000

Check your facts. Kroger is MUCH larger than Safeway and QFC is nothing more than one of Kroger's many brands. The only reason they keep the QFC brand alive is regional name recognition. They're no more local than Safeway and haven't been for 10 years. I know because I've actually talked with people who work and manage the various Kroger brands in Cincinnati.

Also Safeway is not a Fortune 50 company. On the 2008 Fortune 500 Kroger is 87th, Safeway is 164th. You don't know what the hell you're talking about!

By: KOB

KOB — Fri, 29 May 2009 22:04:34 +0000

How about a bowling ally!

By: EA

EA — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:53:43 +0000

Somebody should turn the QFC space into a roller rink.

By: Shelby

Shelby — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:51:39 +0000

What the hell are you talking about? Safeway is a fortune 50 company. QFC is a tiny division of Kroger. It's positioning. Save your economics discussions for your dog.

By: Trix

Trix — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:35:42 +0000

Apparently. All I knew was my QFC was closing down for a new development. I heard the rumor there was going to be another QFC on the bottom, but hadn't found anyone who could confirm it for sure. It seemed to be an on again/off again kind of thing from what I was hearing.
So, there will be a QFC and they're not forcing yet another condo onto that block. I'm happy to be wrong.

By: SeaSpider

SeaSpider — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:14:30 +0000

That area really does have a horrible sense of place and lacks any cohesion. The intersection of 85th & 15th should be a prime shopping area since it's convenient for cars, pedestrians and public transit. It does have some elements such as Walgreen's and Safeway/QFC but is lacking in many others. I do hope they do something good with the QFC site - a PCC would be nice though there's already one located less than 2 miles away. Would also like to see the T-Mobile store be put to better use and the way they're going that may not be too far off.

My plan:
Replace Crown Hill Hardware with either an Ace Hardware run by the people who operate the one in Maple Leaf or a True Value run by the people who operate the one in Greenwood. I've been in Crown Hill a few times and the selection is very limited, their hours are not very convenient, and the place is filthy.

Open up a coffee shop in the strip mall containing the Scandinavian Bakery and Taki's or the strip containing the FedEx shop.

Have Scandinavian Bakery open at 6:00 or 7:00am like a real bakery should.

Bring a burrito joint or a decent sandwich shop to the area.

By: girl25

girl25 — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:13:12 +0000

on bottom i mean. about the new one on 24th

By: girl25

girl25 — Fri, 29 May 2009 21:12:26 +0000

so is it gonna be a qfc and then a bunch of apartments on top?

By: chermoni

chermoni — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:56:30 +0000

I love this store. I can find things at this store that I can't find anywhere else. Like when the whole neighborhood decides to buy up every hamburger and hot dug bun available, they forgot about this store and I was still able to please my step-son with his favorite dinner for his birthday. They are the only store that regularly stocks the chocolate/caramel creamer that my husband likes. Holman frequently runs out of it. This is also the only store where I have ever seen chocolate chips that I can eat, although I will admit that I haven't checked the Holman store to see if they have them also. The Holman store is just not convenient from where I live and it's just another big grocery store. I like the small and uncrowded stores and I will be sad to see this one go. I still miss Art's.

By: Born right the first time

Born right the first time — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:33:06 +0000

I'm not much of a high density freek, I mean, if I wanted that I would have moved to Bell Town and not Ballard. But really, it shouldn't be a surprise that there will be a QFC there, it is replacing the one that was there before and has always been in the plans.

By: jorge

jorge — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:28:54 +0000

There's a very nice QFC just up the road at Holman and 6th. I agree with some of the other posters that Safeway and the gas station have trod pretty roughly over the neighborhood desires.

This is smack in the middle of the Crown Hill Urban Village. Maybe whatever replaces it should be a pedestrian friendly business like a movie theater, or an independent grocer, or maybe PCC. Just bring in something that will be a real asset rather than enhance the strip mall feel of the area. Something that will make people want to come to Crown Hill as a destination instead of an eyesore on the way from Ballard to I5.

By: SeaSpider

SeaSpider — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:11:59 +0000

They're cheaper because they're bigger than Safeway – MUCH bigger! Same reason Wal-Mart is also cheaper and Ballard Market is more expensive. It's simple economics.

By: SeaSpider

SeaSpider — Fri, 29 May 2009 20:10:08 +0000

I split my shopping between the QFC, Safeway, and Ballard market since each has something the other doesn't. I live just 2 blocks from that store but I have to say I've always wondered why it's open when there's another, larger QFC just down the road. I don't think most people realize just how brutal the grocery store business is. Profit margins are typically around1-2% (compared to 14-15% for Apple or 7-9% for Exxon!) This is why you see so few independent grocery stores these days.

By: randi

randi — Fri, 29 May 2009 14:41:28 +0000

good riddance. that qfc is so small and the deli people are rude

By: QFC fan

QFC fan — Fri, 29 May 2009 13:04:17 +0000

The QFC was open way later than the Safeway.

By: Barney Stinson

Barney Stinson — Fri, 29 May 2009 11:30:32 +0000

Of course its not going to sell, its going to be apartments.

Apparently ignorance is bitterness, not bliss.