Crown Hill QFC to close

Geeky Swedes Ballard

The Crown Hill QFC on 15th Ave. near 85th St. is closing at the end of its lease.

QFC spokeswoman Kristin Maas tells us the lease is up the end of August, but they’re working to extend it for a few months.

The extension would keep a QFC in Ballard until the new 42,000 square-foot store at “Ballard on the Park” on 24th Ave. opens this fall. And for neighbors to the north, the QFC on Holman Road will remain open. Maas says that employees at the Crown Hill store will have the option to move to the new store if they’re interested, or possibly to another store closer to where they live.

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55 thoughts to “Crown Hill QFC to close”

  2. Why would that be so surprising, and what do you mean by “mess”? I'm a big fan of that development with its dense housing, a grocery store, and being right on a transit line. Something this region definitely needs more of.

  3. That store has no business even being open anymore. There is a much larger and better stocked QFC just a few blocks away on Hollman, not to mention the MegaSafeway right next door. It's a waste of resources.

    Can't wait for the new QFC on 24th. It'll trump all the others in the end.

  4. NOOOOOO! I LOVE THAT STORE! THIS ISNT FAIR!

    Now what? I'll have to go to Safeway! That's what…. and I hate Safeway. QFC, you are losing a LOYAL CUSTOMER!

  5. I really like all the check out clerks at that particular store. I'm glad to hear they're going to be given the option of working at a different location instead of just getting completely laid off.

  6. I have been shopping at that QFC for 14 years and I will miss it! The manager is great and the folks that work there are friendly. We used to call the QFC on 24th the “surly store” because everyone was so crabby there. Maybe some of the folks on 85th will go down to 24th and brighten it up a bit…
    And I would NEVER shop at Safeway. Not after they fought the neighborhood to put that gas station in. They lost me as a customer forever.

  7. I agree that the new building on 24th looks like it will be nice but I do wonder if it will have such high rents that it will remain virtually empty like LEVA. I have suspected for awhile that the Crown Hill store would be closing. The merchandise choices they offer have been shrinking for months.

  10. everyone I know thinks I'm crazy, but QFC has better prices than any other grocery store in Seattle. I love how fast they discount milk.

    I'm so sad because I dont drive and now the only storewithin walking distance is Safeway :(

  11. geez. you people are sooooo new Seattle. My grandmother would have been just thrilled to have both a QFC AND a Safeway across from each other. Add a gas station, and heaven would have been called Crown Hill.

  12. I'm really hoping that spot gets transformed into a Metropolitan Market styled after the one in Sand Point. It's a good size (not too small, not too large) and Metropolitan Market has some experience in turning around dilapidated stores.

      1. Cryptic. And the only way anyone will make that store maximize profits will be to have guard towers at the exits to fire on all the bums stealing food/beer/etc.

  15. That's what I mean. There is already a new development on every other corner. It's not going to sell. It's a mess. Glad there will be a grocery store on 24th again, though.

  16. Not to mention a better, and more discounted, wine section than Safeway. I miss my QFC on 24th. The one on 15th wasn't convenient for me to get to.

  17. that's another thing, too… what will happen to this space? Yeah, I'm gonna miss my Crown Hill QFC dearly, but gosh I HATE seeing large vacant buildings & spaces.

  20. Well, as it is now the 18 express will get you from ballard to the south end of downtown in 30 minutes during rush hour. If the BRT rapidride line goes into service, the 18 will take you to leary and 15th for a transfer adding 5 minutes to the total trip. Pretty good compared to driving downtown, fighting traffic, and paying more than $200 a month for parking.

  21. I just moved to Crown hill, a block away from that QFC, and I must confess I really liked going to that one. The employee's were always nice, and I liked going through the place. Guess I'll have to go to safeway. Just hope all the good people there get new jobs that they are happy with, they deserve a pat on the back.

    I do agree, it will be a shame to see one more empty building on the block.

  26. I split my shopping between the QFC, Safeway, and Ballard market since each has something the other doesn't. I live just 2 blocks from that store but I have to say I've always wondered why it's open when there's another, larger QFC just down the road. I don't think most people realize just how brutal the grocery store business is. Profit margins are typically around1-2% (compared to 14-15% for Apple or 7-9% for Exxon!) This is why you see so few independent grocery stores these days.

  27. They're cheaper because they're bigger than Safeway – MUCH bigger! Same reason Wal-Mart is also cheaper and Ballard Market is more expensive. It's simple economics.

  28. There's a very nice QFC just up the road at Holman and 6th. I agree with some of the other posters that Safeway and the gas station have trod pretty roughly over the neighborhood desires.

    This is smack in the middle of the Crown Hill Urban Village. Maybe whatever replaces it should be a pedestrian friendly business like a movie theater, or an independent grocer, or maybe PCC. Just bring in something that will be a real asset rather than enhance the strip mall feel of the area. Something that will make people want to come to Crown Hill as a destination instead of an eyesore on the way from Ballard to I5.

  29. I'm not much of a high density freek, I mean, if I wanted that I would have moved to Bell Town and not Ballard. But really, it shouldn't be a surprise that there will be a QFC there, it is replacing the one that was there before and has always been in the plans.

  30. I love this store. I can find things at this store that I can't find anywhere else. Like when the whole neighborhood decides to buy up every hamburger and hot dug bun available, they forgot about this store and I was still able to please my step-son with his favorite dinner for his birthday. They are the only store that regularly stocks the chocolate/caramel creamer that my husband likes. Holman frequently runs out of it. This is also the only store where I have ever seen chocolate chips that I can eat, although I will admit that I haven't checked the Holman store to see if they have them also. The Holman store is just not convenient from where I live and it's just another big grocery store. I like the small and uncrowded stores and I will be sad to see this one go. I still miss Art's.

  33. That area really does have a horrible sense of place and lacks any cohesion. The intersection of 85th & 15th should be a prime shopping area since it's convenient for cars, pedestrians and public transit. It does have some elements such as Walgreen's and Safeway/QFC but is lacking in many others. I do hope they do something good with the QFC site – a PCC would be nice though there's already one located less than 2 miles away. Would also like to see the T-Mobile store be put to better use and the way they're going that may not be too far off.

    My plan:
    Replace Crown Hill Hardware with either an Ace Hardware run by the people who operate the one in Maple Leaf or a True Value run by the people who operate the one in Greenwood. I've been in Crown Hill a few times and the selection is very limited, their hours are not very convenient, and the place is filthy.

    Open up a coffee shop in the strip mall containing the Scandinavian Bakery and Taki's or the strip containing the FedEx shop.

    Have Scandinavian Bakery open at 6:00 or 7:00am like a real bakery should.

    Bring a burrito joint or a decent sandwich shop to the area.

  34. Apparently. All I knew was my QFC was closing down for a new development. I heard the rumor there was going to be another QFC on the bottom, but hadn't found anyone who could confirm it for sure. It seemed to be an on again/off again kind of thing from what I was hearing.
    So, there will be a QFC and they're not forcing yet another condo onto that block. I'm happy to be wrong.

  35. What the hell are you talking about? Safeway is a fortune 50 company. QFC is a tiny division of Kroger. It's positioning. Save your economics discussions for your dog.

  38. Check your facts. Kroger is MUCH larger than Safeway and QFC is nothing more than one of Kroger's many brands. The only reason they keep the QFC brand alive is regional name recognition. They're no more local than Safeway and haven't been for 10 years. I know because I've actually talked with people who work and manage the various Kroger brands in Cincinnati.

    Also Safeway is not a Fortune 50 company. On the 2008 Fortune 500 Kroger is 87th, Safeway is 164th. You don't know what the hell you're talking about!

  40. I cannot wait until QFC returns to 24th Ave! Yep, I'm one of the evil non-car driving condo owners in Ballard and I used to be able to walk to QFC. It was so convenient! Hooray for walking to the grocery store!

  41. Yea, that area can't tolerate being empty for too long…there is awful crime right around there, I know a few people that have been jumped around that QFC, Bank, Value Village area…

  42. I agree that this QFC is somewhat useless, considering that there's a bigger store a short walk away, and I'm not a big fan of QFC since Kroger bought it out (there's been a definite decrease in product quality, and I hate the concept of “Advantage Cards”)… still, I'll be sad to see it go, since it's still the closest decent (non-Safeway) grocery store within walking distance.

    Any ideas what'll replace the QFC?

  46. It'd be nice to have a PCC, Metropolitan Market, or relocated Greenwood Market at this site. Okay with me if they add apartments or condos to the top of it too.

  47. Retail consultant has “been around” asking questions regarding the QFC site. No idea who hired him, but somebody has enough interest to hire a consulting firm from back east.

    The idea of a coffee shop by the bakery was tried about 3 years ago – city shut it down in about 10 days because there was no dedicated off street parking as required by city codes (which a group is working on changing). The existing bakery and restaurant are grandfathered in.

    The Crown Hill Business Association has reached out to the property owner (not Kroger or QFC) to try and minimize the negative impacts of having a large vacant space in our midst. Still working that issue and talking about the ideas with a few of the neighbors. More discussions to come, but the goals so far are to not become an RV lot, and not be a hangout. And… not be a graffiti and litter mess. Also seeing what we could do about using that reader board for community events while the store is vacant.

  48. I've shopped at Ballard Market for over 20 years. I'll continue to do so. They're local, they're not part of some huge mega-corporation. And they're unionized – their employees are paid decently (and might even be able to afford to live in the neighborhood where they work).

    I know Safeway is anti-union, I assume QFC is, too – anybody know for sure?

  49. Yeah, it's a shame that the area looks so shady because it's really close to me and I'd love to be able to just walk up and do my grocery shopping, pick up some pastries at the Scandinavian Bakery etc.

    Maybe if they got rid of the disgusting pubs populated by lung cancer patients and moved the strip club, 85th & 15th could be as nice as some other busy Ballard intersections.

  50. since when is Safeway anti-union? I worked at a Safeway for 3 days (in 2005) and quit because I didn't want to deal with Teamsters Union dues… and even after I quit, the Teamsters kept sending me emails trying to get me to pay dues.

  51. “They're local, they're not part of some huge mega-corporation. “

    You're a moron!

    QFC are Kroger. Kroger is the second largest grocer in country after Wal-Mart!! Kroger are a publicly traded company. You don't think a company with 320,000 employees isn't a “huge mega-corporation”?? Wow, you really are stupid!!

    They are no longer a local company and QFC is nothing more than a name these days. They're now run out of Cincinnati and it's the people in Ohio who call the shots. I've talked to these people so I do know what I'm talking about.

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