News
PCC to Reopen Downtown Seattle Store
Smaller-format store will feature prepared foods and a deli
The Seattle-based co-op grocer will return to its former location at Fourth Avenue and Union Street in the second half of next year. The new store will be smaller, occupying only a portion of its former space. The grocer says it is “contractually obligated” to its long-term lease obligation. The former store was open for two years before PCC shuttered it last January.
Starbucks CEO Vows to Reduce Wait Times, Reestablish ‘Community’ Focus
Brian Niccol writes an open letter in just his second day on the job
It’s only his second day on the job, but new Starbucks CEO Brian Niccol isn’t wasting any time as he seeks to revitalize the Seattle coffee giant. “We aren’t always delivering,” Niccol said in an open letter on the Starbucks website. “It can feel transactional, menus can feel overwhelming, product is inconsistent, the wait too…
Seattle’s Influence Grows Across the World
International Downtown Conference welcomes almost 1,400 visitors
Seattle is truly on the global stage this week. Starting Sept. 11 and running through Sept. 13, the International Downtown Association convenes in Seattle for its 70th annual conference. The event features almost 1,400 community leaders, urban planners, and elected officials from 46 states and 10 countries. “This conference is an annual highlight for urban…
Microsoft To Grant $50,000 to 50 Nonprofits For Its 50th Birthday
50 for 50 program seeks ‘community champions’
Microsoft turns 50 next April, and the software giant wants to celebrate. The company will make 50 grants of 50,000 apiece to 50 local “changemakers” across the Puget Sound region “who are making a difference in the lives of their neighbors.” In a letter titled “Thank you, Puget Sound,” Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad…
Tutta Bella To Open ‘Evolved Concept’ Restaurant
The Denny Triangle location is ‘the first in a new generation’ of restaurants
Tutta Bella’s new Denny Triangle restaurant will feature fresh seafood along with its traditional Neapolitan pizzas as it pivots from a traditional pizzeria to a “more culinary diverse” restaurant. “Although Tutta Bella has been much more than a pizzeria for a long time, the new opening will make that very clear from a positioning standpoint,…
Bellevue Launches Sea-Tac Shuttle Service
Users can depart or get dropped off at five downtown hotels
Five hotels in downtown Bellevue are now offering a shuttle service to and from Sea-Tac International Airport. Cost is $30 plus tax. The effort is a partnership involving the Port of Seattle, Visit Bellevue, and Eagle Shuttle Service. Users don’t have to stay in one of the hotels to use the service. The hotels are:…
Shrinking Starbucks
Customer visits are on the decline. What’s going on?
Been to Starbucks lately? For a company that helped put Seattle on the global map, the coffee giant sure receives a lot of criticism, whether it’s about product quality, founder Howard Schultz’s bungling of the Sonics during his ownership tenure or wait times…
Sweetgreen Expands Again with Capitol Hill Opening
The fast-casual chain now has three Seattle-area locations
Clearly, Seattle loves fast-casual salads and customizable grain bowls. With two locations already in South Lake Union and Totem Lake, Sweetgreen is opening a third spot at 11th and Pine in Capitol Hill on Oct. 22. This new Capitol Hill location will be the first in the Pacific Northwest to feature the Infinite Kitchen —…