Ken’s Market is working hard to get the expanded store ready for its “soft opening” on Oct. 7. Here’s their new sign they’re installing this afternoon.

Ken’s will be closing early at 8 p.m. next Monday, and will be closed all day Tuesday. They’ll reopen in their new space on Wednesday morning. Then they’ll be remodeling their current space, and they hope to have their entire store ready to go by the end of the year.

MyBallard reports that the Crown Hill QFC will close Oct. 17.

The store had been slated to close as a new one is being built on 24th Ave. NW. The QFC on Holman Road remains open. The Crown Hill QFC is discounting many items and limiting its hours. It will close at 6 p.m. Oct. 17.

The signs in the window and in front of the old Mud Bay building on the corner of 83rd and Greenwood announce that Kelly’s Fresh Produce is coming.

Workers are remodeling inside and out:

Their website says they aim to be an everyday farmer’s market, with a variety of organic and conventional produce, plus a full line of local dairy products that are free from hormones, plus other groceries and even floral.

I’ve got a message in to them to find out more details and when they hope to open, so stay tuned. And thanks to Abby and Tracy for the tips!

You may remember that Amazon Fresh recently had a voting contest to see which new neighborhood in the city would receive its grocery delivery service. Ravenna won that vote, with the 98117 zip code covering Ballard and parts of Phinney a close second.

Today, Amazon Fresh announced it would begin deliveries to the 98117 and 98107 zip codes beginning next week. You can order online as late as midnight and receive your order as early as 6 a.m. Delivery is free for orders over $75; otherwise there’s a $5 delivery fee.

MyBallard reports that the Take 5 Urban Market at 8th Ave NW and NW 70th St. is now open for business. They had a “soft opening” on Tuesday.

Take 5 has all the grocery basics, including produce, plus sandwiches, soup, coffee and wine. They plan to eventually have some prepared meals. Take 5 replaces the old Wicker Basket convenience store.

Seattle’s Department of Planning and Development has approved Ken’s Market expansion with no changes, following a Jan. 9 appeal hearing.

Several nearby residents had appealed the decision not to require Ken’s Market to provide significant additional parking spaces or traffic calming measures. The city had determined that additional traffic would be minimal.

Ken’s is expanding the grocery store into the entire building at the corner of Greenwood Ave. N. and NW 73rd St., including the spots formerly occupied by the Greenwood Bakery, Allusia gift store, and Couth Buzzard book store. Ken’s is also adding a small amount to the back and a partial second story for offices. Click here for previous reports and a design drawing.

Thanks to Trapper for the tip.

The old Phinney Market at Phinney Avenue and 60th closed in August, but now new owners have leased the spot and intend to open a similar grocery store with the same name and even the old signage.

John and Angela Siderius are finalizing a contract with the landlord, but hope to have the new store open by March 1. They’ve covered the windows with brown paper but haven’t started working inside yet. When I stopped by today they told me they were still trying to figure out what kind of remodeling to do, but that the new Phinney Market would be similar to the old one, although they didn’t plan to offer prepared meals.

John and Angela live in Sunset Hill and their son goes to St. John’s, so they’re excited to be even more involved with the neighborhood. John has worked for QFC and in commercial restaurant equipment sales; Angela works for Windermere Real Estate.

They’ve promised to keep us updated on their progress and grand opening date. Thanks to Brad and phinney chick for the tips!

If you read our sister site, MyBallard, you may have already seen this. If not, it’s worth a read for anyone who travels down 8th Avenue. According to MyBallard:

Last week we wrote about the Wicker Basket closing and the post received a lot of comments. We got an email from Michael who says he will be working at the newly remodeled store which will be called the “Take Five Market & Cafe’”. Here is what Michael says:

“We plan to change the concept from convenience store (lotto, tobacco, malt liquor etc. which we will not offer) to a neighborhood market offering fresh produce and espresso with a casual family environment. We will offer a limited dine-in menu emphasizing comfort foods and high quality fresh goods. We are currently facing a huge remodel but we are energetic and hopeful to be opening in late October. We would love to hear your thoughts as our new Ballard neighbors - what do you want to see on our shelves?”

There are more than 70 comments on MyBallard. Feel free to add more here, or there. We’ll make sure the new owners see them.

After struggling with financial troubles for some time, the four-year-old Phinney Market at 5918 Phinney Ave. N. will close its doors this Friday.

Owners Wallace and Lauretta Wright invite everyone to a farewell barbecue from 4-7 p.m. on Friday. Their farewell letter states they’ll serve meals to anyone, with only a donation requested.

After Friday, Phinney Market gift cards will be honored at the Wrights’ other store, Meridian Market, at 2201 N. 56th, on the east side of Green Lake.

The Wrights had recently presented a plan to save the market by offering “shares” to investors.