Search found 210 matches

by Brian Lutz
08 Oct 2012 03:05
Forum: History: Miscellaneous and Not Region-Specific
Topic: Size of typical supermarket?
Replies: 8
Views: 14334

Re: Size of typical supermarket?

One data point I can add here: When the Downtown Bellevue Marina Safeway opened in 1963, it was hailed as being the largest Safeway in Western Washington at 24,000 square feet. The new Safeway store across the street that replaced it in 2008 was 55,000 square feet. You can find the news article I go...
by Brian Lutz
17 Sep 2012 01:10
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Similarities Between Texaco and Shell Signage
Replies: 9
Views: 10887

Re: Similarities Between Texaco and Shell Signage

It's not unheard of to have multiple Texaco stations very close to each other. For quite a while at the corner of 148th and Main in Bellevue there were two Texacos right next to each other, and a Chevron directly across the street. Eventually as the Texaco brand started being phased out (although no...
by Brian Lutz
21 Aug 2012 00:21
Forum: History: Restaurant Chains
Topic: Former Boston Market locations in your area
Replies: 37
Views: 36891

Re: Former Boston Market locations in your area

I was down in California for a few days last week, and I did see a Boston Market still operating in Laguna Niguel, but didn't get a chance to stop in. I do think I may have seen one or two others, but don't recall exactly where.
by Brian Lutz
20 Aug 2012 21:30
Forum: History: USA Northwest/Rockies/Alaska
Topic: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed
Replies: 10
Views: 11957

Re: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed

http://www.downtownbellevue.com/2012/08/20/kemper-development-moves-forward-lincoln-square-expansion/ It appears that this store's second lease on life may prove to be short lived, as Kemper Freeman appears to be moving forward with the second phase of Lincoln Square that will eventually occupy this...
by Brian Lutz
05 May 2012 16:17
Forum: History: Drugstore Chains
Topic: Rite Aids with Pay 'n Save interiors
Replies: 7
Views: 9751

Re: Rite Aids with Pay 'n Save interiors

There's a former Rite Aid store at Totem Lake Mall in Kirkland (later turned into a fly-by-night furniture place) that still seems to have the blue and green stripes from the original Pay N Save decor on the walls.
by Brian Lutz
28 Mar 2012 00:26
Forum: History: Department Store Chains
Topic: Fedco
Replies: 16
Views: 21017

Re: Fedco

I know up here in the Pacific Northwest there was a similar chain known as Gov-Mart Bazaar. Any relation?
by Brian Lutz
11 Mar 2012 18:29
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Bookstores
Replies: 9
Views: 10624

Re: Bookstores

I know that here in Downtown Bellevue there was a combination Tower Books and Records store that opened up around 1999, and closed when the chain went out of business.
by Brian Lutz
19 Dec 2011 17:05
Forum: History: Restaurant Chains
Topic: skippers
Replies: 12
Views: 14735

Re: skippers

I do still make occasional trips to a surviving Skippers in Renton, and it still seems to have the original decor (including one of the "tilted anchor" signs), although it's definitely worn at this point. The food seems to be as usual, and they are still serving coleslaw with their meals b...
by Brian Lutz
11 Nov 2011 17:31
Forum: History: USA Northwest/Rockies/Alaska
Topic: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed
Replies: 10
Views: 11957

Re: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed

The new Your Local Market store just opened for business this morning. I haven't been over there yet (I'll probably walk over and check it out a bit later on since I only work a couple of blocks away) but you can find a few photos here: http://bellevue.komonews.com/photo-gallery/business/688971-your...
by Brian Lutz
10 Nov 2011 01:32
Forum: History: USA Northwest/Rockies/Alaska
Topic: Fred Meyer and Vista Optical
Replies: 2
Views: 2974

Re: Fred Meyer and Vista Optical

There was a Vista Optical at Southcenter Mall up until about five years ago as well. Looking at a map at their website, it shows Vista Optical at four Fred Meyers (Bellevue, Renton, Ballard and Auburn) in the Seattle metro area currently. I think Kirkland may have had one up until about two remodels...
by Brian Lutz
24 Oct 2011 01:37
Forum: History: Restaurant Chains
Topic: Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers - in Portland, OR
Replies: 2
Views: 7063

Re: Wendy's Old Fashioned Hamburgers - in Portland, OR

It is entirely possible that the greenhouse on that one could be a later addition (note that the brick colors don't quite match,) but a Wendy's that still has the yellow roof is definitely unusual, as I don't know of any in the Seattle area that still have one. In the course of some of the old newsp...
by Brian Lutz
18 Aug 2011 02:17
Forum: History: USA Northwest/Rockies/Alaska
Topic: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed
Replies: 10
Views: 11957

Re: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed

Based on my newspaper research, that Rite Aid opened as a Pay 'n Save in early 1962.
by Brian Lutz
17 Aug 2011 18:36
Forum: History: Specialty Retail Chains
Topic: Circuit City
Replies: 43
Views: 40689

Re: Circuit City

Here's a news article today showing the conversion of the old Bellevue Circuit City into a rock climbing gym. Of particular note here is the "boulder" that's been grafted onto the old plug facade (which will eventually be repainted in black, but hasn't been completed yet.) http://bellevue....
by Brian Lutz
17 Aug 2011 16:33
Forum: History: USA Northwest/Rockies/Alaska
Topic: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed
Replies: 10
Views: 11957

Re: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed

I live just a few blocks away from here, and that QFC is my regular grocery store. To throw in a bit of historical context to keep from wandeing too much, that particular store dates back to roughly the mid Sixties back when QFC was only around 5-6 stores in Bellevue and Seattle, but has apparently ...
by Brian Lutz
16 Aug 2011 11:51
Forum: History: USA Northwest/Rockies/Alaska
Topic: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed
Replies: 10
Views: 11957

Re: Downtown Bellevue marina Safeway finally closed

It looks like there's going to be a new independent grocery store moving into this former Safeway:

Story (downtownbellevue.com)
http://www.yourlocalmarket.com/