The Greenwood Fred Meyer will close at 11 p.m. on Feb. 25 for extensive renovation and expansion. Work on the site begins March 1. The company hopes to reopen the store sometime in the late fall. Melinda Merrill, Director of Public Affairs, tells us that all Greenwood employees will work at other nearby Fred Meyers during construction.
Customers of the Fred Meyer pharmacy won’t have to drive far to get their prescriptions filled. Fred Meyer is opening a temporary pharmacy just across the street to the east, in an empty retail space in Piper Village on First Avenue, near the Mud Bay pet store. The temporary pharmacy opens on Feb. 27.
The Greenwood Market will be demolished to make way for the expansion. The Market’s tentative last day is Feb. 4, and the lease is up Feb. 29.
Fred Meyer is adding approximately 55,000 square feet to its Greenwood store, and will add groceries.
33 responses so far ↓
1 Rob // Jan 4, 2012 at 12:35 pm
at a time when road construction is going to make it harder for us to leave the ‘hood, two stores are closing. My favorite Greenwood Market and, of course, Fred Meyers – which is an okay place to get a lot of miscellaneous household stuff.
Great planning – NOT
2 bio // Jan 4, 2012 at 12:38 pm
I’m with you, Rob. Exactly what I was thinking.
3 i used to heart greenwood // Jan 4, 2012 at 12:47 pm
Ditto!
4 Ryan // Jan 4, 2012 at 1:25 pm
I’m looking forward to the new Fred Meyer!
5 Peter B. // Jan 4, 2012 at 1:34 pm
Also looking forward to the Greenwood facelift!
Can’t wait to see it.
Anyone know where we can view the architectural plans to see what we can expect in November?
6 R // Jan 4, 2012 at 2:32 pm
FYI,
(Some) additional info on the project @ (http://web1.seattle.gov/DPD/permitstatus/Project.aspx?id=3012349).
Seemingly no additional info @ (http://www.FredMeyer.com).
7 H.E.H. // Jan 4, 2012 at 2:39 pm
Just the improvement the area needs. Sorry to loose the Gr. market, it is for the better.
Maybe our honorable major can pur his weight behind the circle on 87th and 1st ave. no.
8 Al // Jan 4, 2012 at 3:14 pm
Not looking forward to Kroger groceries, but maybe the new FM won’t seem so forlorn. I kind of like the “funk” of it now, and the lack of crowds. But that can’t live forever.
Are we going to lose Pacific Lock & Key too?
9 Bushwood Beaver // Jan 4, 2012 at 5:00 pm
Fred Meyer is disgusting and I’m not sure a makeover is going to make me want to shop there. Wish we didn’t have to lose Greenwood Market in the process.
10 dfh // Jan 4, 2012 at 6:42 pm
I’m sorry to see Greenwood Market leaving, but am looking forward to the new Fred Meyer.
11 Whopper // Jan 4, 2012 at 7:49 pm
One thing about the current Greenwood Freddies, it seems to be staffed by all their worst employees.
Hopefully when they do the remodel they’ll bring in new staff and hopefully fewer of the customers will looks like crack heads and gangbangers.
12 The Norwegian // Jan 5, 2012 at 8:28 am
Nice to see a few here off their meds leaving comments. Are some really this hyper-sensitive? We’re not talking about marrying or the birth of a child here people. Hey Rob, do you have $$ invested in this project? The “planning” is due to restrictions, limitations, license fees, etc, etc. Most of all imposed by your government and it’s layers of pooh. But of course, few here run anything but their mouths and not a business, having zero experience and many feelings.
13 nater // Jan 5, 2012 at 9:29 am
So disappointed to see Greenwood Market muscled out. Our household’s 2012 resolution is to boycott Fred Meyer for their anti-neighborhood tactics.
14 Greenwood '92 // Jan 5, 2012 at 9:56 am
I’m with Nater; for many years we used to pick up *something* at least once a week at Fred Meyer, but we have not given them any business in about 2 years, ever since they announced that they had finally been able to force out the Greenwood Market. This is something they’ve been trying every few years for at least 12 years, and they finally managed to make some type of deal with the landowner.
It’s further to go, but we’ll be doing most of our shopping at Central Market or Ballard Market. Not giving a nickel to the 800-pound gorilla (Kroger).
15 Joe // Jan 5, 2012 at 11:58 am
Al:
“Land Use Application to expand the existing Fred Meyer store by 55,305 sq. ft. and demolish a 20,950 sq. ft. structure (Greenwood Market). The existing 340 sq. ft. locksmith kiosk will be relocated to the westerly portion of the site. Project includes 23,620 sq. ft. of grading. Parking to be reconfigured for a total of 449 vehicles located at and below grade.”
I’m sorta sorry to see GM go, but mostly happy for the new facelift.
16 Lk98 // Jan 5, 2012 at 12:37 pm
Greenwood Market closing??? NOOOOOOOOO!!!
17 SinceDayOne // Jan 5, 2012 at 2:21 pm
Love the Greenwood Fred Meyer – the last one locally to still maintain that “friendly, neighborhood” feel – sure, it’s a bit tired looking, but the employees have been there a long time and have been like a family to me. Hope the new store doesn’t take on the “warehouse” look and feel of the Ballard store, and hope the staff all come back!
18 Esther // Jan 5, 2012 at 3:20 pm
I will really miss all the great variety at Greenwood Market. I doubt Fred Meyer will be carrying chia seeds (I only know of a few locations that carry them- most are so out of the way!), bee pollen, so many varieties of rice or such a wide variety of spices… Guess I will be doing my shopping at the Ballard Market from now on. Too bad. I wish there was something we GM-lovers could do.
19 BallardMom // Jan 5, 2012 at 3:53 pm
I was thinking it was a good time to do this. Since 85th is all torn up, I can’t get there easily anyway.
Not going to miss GW Market, too expensive.
20 sunsetsu // Jan 5, 2012 at 11:08 pm
I’m going to miss Greenwood Market and also plan to boycott Fred Meyer and buy groceries at Ballard Market.
21 Mark // Jan 6, 2012 at 4:09 pm
Comments should be kept to the business, not about the people working there. There is a possibility that all or some of these employees at both business will be out of a job for awhile. Let alone the small businesses inside each of these: coffee shop and the hot dog stand.
Whopper, I think your comments are insensitive to the employees of Fred Meyers. I have shopped there for at least ten years and have NEVER had any problem with any employee. I have found everyone to be helpful and friendly. Nothing like what you have mentioned.
I look forward to the new Freddies and hope to see the same staff there as well plus the new faces that come in too.
22 Jeff // Jan 7, 2012 at 6:39 pm
It’s a Freddies not a Walmart… Chill out.
23 Mark // Jan 8, 2012 at 5:30 pm
Jeff, I understand it is a Freddies. I have no desire to support a Walmart, but I will support Freddies and their employees. I think you or anyone else would feel differently if you had a business or maybe a family business and someone was calling your staff (crack heads and gangbangers) something they are not.
I still stand behind what I had mentioned above.
24 Sarah // Jan 12, 2012 at 10:53 am
It’s called “change” people. Get over yourselves and your “beloved” Greenwood Market. Nobody “forced” or “bullied” them out…it’s not like the items they sell there are in direct competition with the FM next door. They obviously finally got an offer they didn’t want to say no to.
Why are you boycotting FM by the way?
25 JohnCToddJr // Jan 20, 2012 at 6:20 pm
I will miss Greenwood Market … been shopping at that location since it was Price Chopper. I already miss Phil the wine guy there. In its absence I will probably end up taking more business to Theo’s Fresh Produce at Greenwood & 83rd St.
26 KLEG // Jan 26, 2012 at 12:35 am
Sarah,
The Greenwood Shopping Center, Inc.(landowners) did not offer Greenwood Market a lease renewal. FM offered the landowenrs big $$ to take the entire site so that they could sell more retail and be the grocier at the site. Greenwood Market didn’t want to leave. And they didn’t get any “offer” they just weren’t offered a lease renewal. So actually, they are being “forced” out.
Change is great. But it sucks when the change is in the wrong direction. With the new FM development and renewed lease we will have to live with that sea of ashphalt (maybe slightly improved after the remodel) for another 60+ yrs. Yes, their new lease term is apparently something rediculous like that if they are granted extensions.
27 Bill Casso // Feb 1, 2012 at 10:56 am
I was hoping for a Grocery Outlet superstore with wilted lettuce and canned goods nearing their sell date, but this will have to do. We all need to compromise my friends!
28 KS // Feb 5, 2012 at 2:15 pm
I’m sorry that so many people will miss the GM…but I won’t. Their bulk dept was great but that was all, IMHO. Everything else was overpriced and many times I would go there and NOT find what I was looking for. Ditto the G’wood FM. I’m really glad they’re doing a reno on that old thing. I for one love the Ballard Freddie’s, and can’t wait to have this one finished! I think it’ll really rejuvinate the area.
29 KS // Feb 5, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Oh, and I know they’re “big baddies”, being Kroger…but I’m pretty familiar with many employees at the Ballard FM and there is hardly any turnover there. The employees seem relatively zen, considering they work with the public. I don’t care what business you’re talking about – happy employees that stay for years means something’s being done right.
30 Bob // Feb 8, 2012 at 2:34 pm
I want to do more to support local and sustainable businesses. Fred Meyer is anything but. The renovations will definately help, although its a shame the Freddies and the landowners have allowed it to deteriorate to the point it is at now. Fortunately for myself, I live closer to the great Ballrd Market, not to mention Trader Joe’s (and the Mega-Freddies).
31 Desslok // Feb 17, 2012 at 11:21 am
Looking forward to the new FM in the hood! This will save us time and gas money. No more trips to the Ballard FM.
32 Marge // Feb 20, 2012 at 9:18 am
I’m really sad that the GM had to go. There are plenty of Kroger-esque stores in the area, but not many like GM. I too will be shopping at Ballard Mkt. I agree that we shouldn’t be bad-mouthing Fred Meyer store employees. They are nice enough, but honestly – that place is the most poorly managed Fred Meyer that I’ve ever shopped at. It’s been poorly stocked for years, and there’s never anyone to help you if you need it. I do like their pharmacists very much, however. I will continue to use the pharmacy, during and after the remodel. Just no reason to go there for anything else.
33 MS // May 11, 2012 at 1:57 pm
what’s done is done, they are closed now and i’d rather have the new store open then just seeing this huge empty dark space every time i drive by its depressing.
Greenwood market was great but old and small, everything changes to the better.
CANT WAIT FOR THE NEW FM TO OPEN
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