Our unofficial PhinneyWood photographer, Mike Veitenhans, got a tour of the new Ken’s Market space today and took a bunch of photos. The store’s soft opening is slated for Wednesday.
Here store co-owner Scott Giles lugging stuff into the new front door.
And here’s the other store co-owner, Bill Stamey, stocking shelves.
Here’s a small version pan of the new store. Click here to see a larger version.
Here’s what he had to say about it:
Ken’s Market was closed today (Tuesday) so employees could move stock from the old store to the new and workers could put the finishing touches on the new store in time for the grand opening tomorrow at 6 a.m. Building owner Ken Giles gave me a “cook’s tour” of the new store, including the new offices, employee break room and conference room at the back of the store above the retail space. According to Ken, a deck will be built on the roof next to the offices for employees to enjoy a peek-a-boo view of Green Lake during nice weather. I asked Ken when remodeling of the old remaining store would be complete. He said the contractor thinks by the end of the year. However, anticipating the surprises that always come with a remodel, Ken’s not counting on having the old space done before the middle of February 2010.
Photos include Ken’s son Scott Giles and son-in-law Bill Stamey, store owners, and a 180 degree view I stitched together from multiple photos.
Thanks, Mike!
Here’s some closer looks at the inside of the new store:
And here’s Ken inside the old store:
8 responses so far ↓
1 tw78 // Oct 6, 2009 at 5:06 pm
woohoo! I am very excited for the new improved Ken’s! yay!
2 Ruben // Oct 7, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I am really happy for them! I’ll stop by tonight and check out the new digs. Congratulations!
3 HL // Oct 7, 2009 at 7:11 pm
Great news! The new digs look very nice. Looking forward to going even more regularly than before with the expanded selections!
4 gwen // Oct 7, 2009 at 8:21 pm
I’m a fan of what’s becoming ‘old-fashioned’ small businesses…with all the intimacy of their smaller space and basically,the total retro-style and feel of a small neighborhood grocery. I know this new store is a sign of modernization, bigger profits/ expansion and bigger space to allow to stock more ‘stuff’:choices…but in visiting it today, it no longer has the cozy feel and opportunity for ‘close encounters’ with their staff that were inevitable in the smaller, original space. Do we need MORE choices inside a bigger grocery store? The new Ken’s Market has really become a smallish supermarket……leaving behind the charming, small, neighborhood convenience mart that I’ve so appreciated all these years as a Phinney neighbor.
5 SPG // Oct 8, 2009 at 3:12 pm
The new store does look very nice and clean. If only the increase in square footage would somehow allow them to bring their prices more inline with other supermarkets I’d go there much more often.
6 Dan Cory // Oct 10, 2009 at 9:16 pm
Check out the pan in Seadragon:
http://www.seadragon.com/view/czr
7 brent // Jan 30, 2010 at 6:56 pm
The owners appear to have done well. I’ve heard that Ken is a major property owner on the ridge. The idea that the store is a small business in the old fashioned sense is a bit absurd. It’s part of a small corporate franchise that’s made to look like a simple mom-and-pop. They seem nice, but I wonder how well the employees do. Non-union labor? Might be interesting to find out. The prices for most items are the highest in town.
8 Anon // Feb 12, 2010 at 9:20 am
Brent, as to your inquiry, the workers do well at Ken’s market. All of the employees are above minimum wage, many well above it. Employees generally find it a great place to work and many have taken jobs at other grocery stores and then returned once they found out how good things were at Ken’s. There is only one other store associated with Ken’s-Greenwood, and that is Marketime on Fremont. The employees are the same and their goal to be friendly and efficient with your time has not changed.
Leave a Comment