QFC on 24th is officially open for business

Geeky Swedes Ballard

Before dawn this morning, a group of Ballardites, QFC employees and folks who worked on the building gathered for the official ribbon cutting ceremony on NW 24th St. QFC President Donna Giordano took the podium before the ribbon cutting and said, “Our mission is very simple and very straight forward. We want to be known as the neighborhood market where the highest quality foods are sold, in the cleanest store, by the friendliest people, at surprisingly affordable prices.”

Store manager Bob Goodman comes to Ballard from the Harbor Pointe QFC in Mukilteo. “He is probably the best store manager we have at QFC,” Giordano said, “and the reason why he is the best is because he is an incredible ambassador for customer service and for coaching and training a team.”

Once the doors were opened, customers grabbed baskets and shopping carts and headed into the brand new store.

Luke Marino, shown here with Goodman, was the very first customer, and that was his goal. “I work for Absher Construction so I’ve been over here for a year plus watching the whole structure come together,” he tells us, as he slips the pack of gum that he just purchased in his pocket.

The fresh-baked pizzas and pastas were out and ready to serve. This store employees 95 associates, half of whom are new to QFC. Goodman tells us that of the new employees, 80 percent are from the Ballard area.

There were several booths handing out free samples of goodies including sushi, donuts and gelato.

At 2:30 this morning, the glass water catchment system at the front of the store was installed. “That is beautiful,” people exclaimed as they watched the water run from one leaf to the next. Rodman Gilder Miller, the artist, says the installation isn’t quite complete. There will be a big blue bowl at the bottom and a few more pieces to complete the piece. One woman tells us, “When I first saw the roof like that, it didn’t make sense. Now it does.”

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

59 thoughts to “QFC on 24th is officially open for business”

  1. It's a very pretty store; gorgeous, even. It appears they have an extensive selection of specialty items, which will come in handy when I'm in a time crunch, and don't have time to hit my preferred grocery stores.

    But I won't do my regular grocery shopping there. Their non-sale prices are (as anticipated) much too steep. $2.50 for a conventional red bell pepper – OUCH. But if I need quality, oil-packed tuna, or imported cheese, they'll probably have it.

  3. I think their prices are competetive…where are you finding cheaper red bell peppers these days? Those things are pricey all but two months a year, in the heat of the summer.

  4. I have not paid over $1.99 for any color pepper in months. Safeway, Grocery Outlet, Fred's, Albertsons and Top Food and even Greenwood Market all charge about that, sometimes cheaper.

    I will shop at this QFC for convenience of course just like I did the old one. I don't care what a store looks like since grocery shopping is not an outing for me or a pleasure destination. It's just a chore.

  5. I stopped in this morning.
    Wine: good. Beer: good. Cheese: good. (all of those not quite as good as Ballard Market, but close)
    Olives: excellent
    Produce: not so great, and jammed into a tiny space

    My only major issue: they've gone crazy with the chain-slave card — the prices without it are terrible, and about half of everything I'd want to buy there has a card discount. Time to request a card in the name of Mr. John Q. Public.

  6. I've been looking forward to this for a long time! I'll probably check it out tonight after the gym. Like I said before this store works for me, because its so close to my center of gravity.

  8. The store is really nice. It might not be much of a pull for the Ballard Market regulars, but my guess is the two 15th ave Safeways will feel the hurt of the new competition. The previous QFC incarnation at this location was sketchy and for emergency situations only, but this version is dramatically more appealing.

  9. I plugged in a random phone number once at it worked! I use it all of the time now….none of my shopper cards are in my name.

    XXOO,
    Zipper

  12. I haven't seen peppers that high-priced anywhere BUT QFC (I don't shop at Whole Foods). Fred Meyer doesn't sell them for a great deal less, but still, it's tolerable.

    So unless the stores that I frequent sell peppers for a reasonable price, I don't buy them. And if I want top quality vegetables, I'll still go to Ballard (or Central) Market, like usual. I was expecting a much larger veggie section in the new QFC. But that's okay! I didn't expect that this location would be better than the others. The vegetable quality isn't any worse (than other QFC's), there just aren't very many of them.

  13. i agree with doing the card thing anonymously, but in reality they are still getting the info they want, which is the habits of a particular shopper. they could give a rats a$$ about your name, what they want to know is that a shopper who buys A,B & C is also likely to buy X,Y & Z, and how often. This data, combined with data from thousands (or millions) of other shoppers provides them with a wealth of trend information.

  14. Oh, well, I actually don't mind their having *that* kind of information, as long as they don't know it's me and can't sell that specific info along with my name and address. But you'd think they could get a lot of that just by analyzing individual transactions, given how many people do a lot of shopping at one time. It's true they wouldn't get much info on people like me, who spend about $10-$20 each day, but then I also shop at up to four different grocery stores regularly.

  15. I was walking by today and popped-in to check it out. This is a very nice store. In few months when all the apartment construction above is done, it will be a fine destination. Ballard should be happy to have so many choices for shopping because some Seattle neighborhoods do not.

  17. Silly people…you won't sign up for a shopper card using your own name (which, by the way, provides me with at least $100 a year in rebate cash from Fred Meyer), but you WILL give your info to a website like this one in order to post inane trivialities?

    Your identity is more compromised using this website, making purchases with a debit or credit card, checking out a library book, using a bus pass, renting a car, or even driving around in your own car with visible license plates than it is with a grocery store discount card.

    Give it up. They know who we are. And ultimately, I'm sure it will be used against us. In the meantime, I'd rather pay $2.00 instead of $7.00 for a basket of strawberries.

    Laughing. Hysterically.

  19. That is FUNNY. I wonder if the person who signed up with that number at Fred Meyer, gets inordinately large cash reward coupons every quarter?

    Which reminds me that I really wish we could earn FM Rewards points at QFC. I'd reach that $500 minimum much quicker.

  20. Well, they probably close early on Christmas Eve? Maybe closed on Thanksgiving? I can't remember what hours the other local stores closed during the holidays.

  22. Trader joes:(dairy) ,Whole foods:( meat,veggies),Central market: (seafood), Ballard market,(beer,bread) Fred Meyer (wine) Sams club (TP, dog, cat,paper) QFC whats on sale.

  23. Can anybody confirm that they have a real cheese department? I'm not expecting whole foods, but would love something better than Safeway's bin of brie and blue.

  28. I haven't given any of my info to this website. My given name is not zipper (surprise!), and you don't have to give a real email address to post. And I'm not on my home or work computer. So waht's the big whoop?

    I don't avoid giving my info to a grocery store for any particular reason other than why stop to fill out one more form when I'm out the door with a random “id” number? It's just easier for me my way.

  31. I love the new QFC but was bummed that the homeless have already taken it over. I bought lunch and was going to eat it out on the front deck but all the tables were taken by the usual Ballard homeless crowd hanging out and hassling customers. Call me un PC or un Ballard (I know Ballard loves its homeless) but I consider it really sad when it takes less than a day for a nice new Ballard store to become unwelcoming. I'm hoping the manager can nip this in the bud before it becomes the norm.

  33. For seafood, check out the Fresh Fish Company on 80th and 24th NW. They also have the widest selection of Cascioppo sausage and good beef. A great business in the neighborhood!

  37. I just got back from a quick trip there and was very impressed, especially with the wine and cheese sections. The sushi area was really cool too and I had to resist the urge to go crazy there.

    I didn't really look at the prices in the produce section but I liked the layout. Though it was an after work rush it didn't feel too uncomfortably crowded like how Whole Foods can tend to be.

  38. Yes they have an extensive selection of cheese. They are on the same level of Whole foods at this location with fantastic merchandising and finishes. The produce is gorgeous and the floral is amazing for the time of year.

  41. It didn't have quite all that Ballard/Central market has (I'm picky about my blue cheeses). On par with Whole Foods. I did not check the prices, but I did see a butter from Parma (which I've never seen before!–only Irish @ the other places!). You'd be able to toss together a good cheese plate for a party.

  42. Ballard does not love its bums, especially since they're not from Ballard to begin with. The homeless? Well some of them, yes, but those are the ones you would hardly recognize as homeless. What you're running into here is the herd of drunken bums that grazes off of the dimwitted visitors and thrives in the absence of a police presence.

  44. QFC was not the developer on this project… only a tenant. Seattle Department of Transportation decides which sections are to be replaced by the developer.

  45. Nice store. Now, if we could only get some “competition” with our state/local government. Funny how people bitch about this and that but will bend over and grab their ankles for anything “D”. Lack of competition breeds complacency. Within these comments there are many options mentioned for shopping. What about the important stuff? Don't like Safeway? Don't shop there. Again, I'm pro-choice when it comes to shopping. Can't be said about schools. Nice we don't all drive freaking Subarus too!

  46. Avoid the parking garage at all costs!! It's small, congested, and the spots are so narrow it's takes most (unskilled) drivers 3 attempts to park. I drove because I came straight from work, but in the future I'm walking!

  47. I don't like the parking garage at all — surely angle parking wouldn't have lost them *that* many spots? and it would have been vastly easier and pleasanter to use. Ah, well. One more reason I ought to walk there.

    Anyone know whether the Metro stop in front is going to return, and if so, when?

  48. Problem with looking at individual transactions is that it doesn't tell you how many unique customers are making purchases. 100 transactions in a week could be the result of 100 unique customers or it could be the result of 50 unique customers each making two purchases. Being able to track unique customers and then aggregate that data can be useful.

    For example, by tracking unique customers they can see that thousands of people might be buying baby formula but not buying milk at QFC. Since milk is usually bought by people buying baby formula – though often not in the same transaction – they can then look at why people are buying their milk elsewhere, realize they're charging too much, lower prices and gain back that business. That by the way is a real world example of how this information was used by another chain. The grocery business is incredibly fierce and incredibly tough. Improving your profit margin in a given category by .1% is often considered a HUGE win.

  49. I like the new store; it's walking distance for me. I have a couple of safety concerns.
    The crosswalk on the north side of the intersection at the stop light at NW 57th & 24th NW needs to be repainted. The old paint as worn away almost completely due to the amount of heavy truck and construction vehicle traffic. There will be a lot of pedestrians using that crosswalk now that the store has opened and drivers on 24th NW will run you over and kill you while they are conducting important business with their hairdresser on the cell phone. The crosswalk at the NW 58th intersection needs touching up as well. There is a potentially dangerous situation for pedestrians at the exits from the parking garages at the sidewalk adjacent to the new building along NW 57th. White stop lines should be painted on the pavement of the driveway exits where cars and delivery trucks exiting the building should stop before proceding across the sidewalk. It would help if there were stop signs at those parking garage exits as well. People nowadays drive like a bat-out-of-hell, and won't slow down or stop based on common sense nor on the rules of the road without strong prompting.

  50. I live a block and a half west of the QFC and this is completely true. The crosswalk at 58th should have button activated flashers in the roadway, considering how fast traffic goes down 24th (I've gotten close to 40 mph just following traffic on my bike). They also need to fix the potholes the construction dug up in the northbound lane of 24th.

    It's also worth pointing out that 24th is a major bicycle route. The bike lane definitely needs to be repainted; I'm not sure what else should be done to handle the increased motor vehicle/bicycle interaction the QFC will bring, but it's at least something to be aware of.

  52. You can use your Rewards card to get the discount, but you do not accrue any points . But you would have, if you had bought the items at Fred Meyers.

  53. loved the thought of having it re-open…yes it is gorgeous, but the trip into the underground garage, and then finding a space, climbing the stairs, and finally getting a cart…shopping, waiting for the elevator to get the cart and groceries back down to the garage…too much trouble. I will only go if I happen to find street parking and can enter from the street level. I can go to Safeway, Fred Meyer and zip in and pout without allthe hassle of parking, stairs and an elevator to get the errand done!

  55. It is a HUGE dissapointment that this store does NOT have a pharmacy. Bartells is not an option for me, so I guess it's back to shopping at Safeway where I can get everything in one place. What a shame

  56. Parking, Parking, Parking. Such a mess.

    I've been going to Ballard Market for years and the only thing that lured me to QFC was the underground parking (just easier in the rain with a kiddo or two).

    Unfortunately, the garage has become the primary reason I will not shop at this QFC. It's sad because the store looks nice.

    Ballard Market – I'll stay true to you and continue to drive by the bigger stores in town.

    Sorry QFC, you were close, but you seriously underestimated the need for easy parking.

  58. I haven't been in the garage yet and based on the other comments here, it sounds pretty bad. Thank goodness I'm within walking distance!

  59. Since Kroger bought out QFC and Fred Meyer I've found QFC's prices have become fairly competitive. Of course, you do have to use their card to get the best prices, but big deal. I used a phone number from a cell phone I haven't had in years, my cat's name, and my real address. Every couple of months they mail me a stack of coupons for REALLY good prices on stuff I buy anyway (targeted marketing). And do you really save much money by going to TJ's for dairy, Safeway for canned food, Albertson's for produce, and Fred Meyer for meat? What about the gas you burn driving around? And isn't your time worth something? Personally, I'll stick with doing all my everyday shopping at QFC.

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