As we told you about last week, the Corner Mart at NW 85th St. and 8th Ave. NW is changing hands. The building was actually purchased last April by Cannon Commercial Real Estate Services, but the tenant had a lease through the end of 2009.
Workers are now renovating the building. A couple of days ago the exterior was painted green.
Matt Herron of Cannon Commercial said a new awning should be going up today. They’re installing new flooring, electrical and all new exterior lighting that they hope will chase away the bad elements that formerly camped out around the building.
“I like to target buildings that are kind of an eyesore on the neighborhood,” Herron explained. “I really like to just clean them up. A lot of times people think of property owners as bad people because they come in and renovate a building and increase the rent and the rent is too expensive for neighborhood tenants. But this is a local business owner, and our rent is really affordable even with the renovations.”
That new renter is Chuck Shin, who says he will operate a nicer convenience store than was there before.
“Unlike the previous store, we’re not gonna sell porn and we’re not gonna sell malt liquor,” Shin said this morning. “We’re going to fit in in the neighborhood, we’re not going to stick out like a sore thumb. I want to feel welcome in the neighborhood and not looked down upon.”
He’s also changing the name to 85th Street Market.
This is Shin’s first store, and he says it will evolve as he finds out what the neighborhood wants. “We’re going to try it out and see what direction we need to go,” he said. “Within two weeks we’re going to have a very soft opening and then gear it towards a grand opening about a month later.”
16 responses so far ↓
1 skivvies // Jan 29, 2010 at 11:21 am
I’m gonna miss the easy convenience to porn and malt liquor,
2 sezdog // Jan 29, 2010 at 12:52 pm
This is wonderful! Welcome to the neighborhood!!
3 happy-neighbor! // Jan 29, 2010 at 1:22 pm
This is great news! I like his philosophy of cleaning up. The corner market skeeved me out so much that I wouldn’t even get gas at the Shell across the street. Cleaning up the woodhood is always a good thing! Thanks for the great post.
4 Neighbor57 // Jan 29, 2010 at 1:47 pm
Sounds good to me! It may be slow for neighbors to adopt at first, we’re all so used to avoiding that mart. But man, when the Greenwood Market goes down (I know it’s still 1.5 yrs away) there will be a deluge of people looking to pick up a quick thing or two without having to go through a whole Fred Meyer!
5 RidgeDweller // Jan 29, 2010 at 2:36 pm
Wonderful! We’re sure to come by when the new market is open. We like to buy local.
6 Whopper // Jan 29, 2010 at 4:52 pm
yeah gentrification1
7 shopdog // Jan 29, 2010 at 7:57 pm
What a refreshing attitude and approach by a property owner and great successes to the new tenant! I’m twenty blocks away, but I’ll stop in now and then to buy!
8 Tiktok // Jan 29, 2010 at 8:16 pm
Geez, this is about as good a news as you could hope for at that location. Wow.
9 Iron City Mike // Jan 30, 2010 at 8:51 am
There goes that “Gentrification” word again – but in this case, great news, finally a positive story other than crime reports etc.!
10 RR // Jan 30, 2010 at 10:47 am
We’re looking forward to the new store! Thanks for making our neighborhood nicer.
11 AG // Jan 30, 2010 at 11:03 pm
Love Matt Herron’s attitude. Best of luck to him and to Chuck Shin — and if this works out, might we have a word with you two about the derelict McDonald’s on Greenwood? The neighborhood could use some help there too.
12 20feet // Jan 31, 2010 at 12:28 pm
Yay! I am particularly excited about new exterior lighting, motion sensors in the alley side please! And we could use a great place to pick up a bottle of wine or creamer on those times you don’t want to drive to the store. Just mosey over in your pj’s.
13 SPG // Feb 2, 2010 at 10:11 am
I’d suggest a nice layer of some anti graffiti coating on that west wall. Either that or keep a lot of that same color paint on hand.
14 Local guy // Feb 2, 2010 at 10:39 am
Will the new owner still sell me an 18 pack of beers after 2am like the old Asian lady did?
Because if not, I will not welcome him to MY neighborhood.
15 Nunya // Feb 4, 2010 at 3:55 pm
Come on, the old owners were sweet people. THat being said, the merchandise in that place was bizarre in the way that you only find in the South Pacific.
16 8th Dane // Feb 6, 2010 at 9:31 am
Does this change mean the Take 5 Urban Market at 8th and 70th has been a success? It’s the same story. We go there often and enjoy their quality lunches and dinners. If the Corner Mart turns out similar, I’m all for the upgrade!
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