To many, downtown stands as an ode to progress.
But one critical spot has been left behind – until now.
Just across Bellevue Way from Bellevue Square, an empty brown storefront that has sat vacant since 2008, will soon become the first organic/mainstream hybrid store in the area.
Your Local Market will open at 410 Bellevue Way NE on Nov. 11 and feature 80 percent organic and natural foods, plus many non-organic products that are traditional shopper favorites.
“Our goal is to create a one-stop shop for the leading brands natural and organic, as well mainstream,” said the store’s founder, Bellevue resident Jason Brown.
The market is set to open Nov. 11, and Brown will hire approximately 100 employees in anticipation of the opening. Interested applicants can find information on the company website or email to apply@yourlocalmarket.com.
Brown said he chose Bellevue because of the confluence of wealth and education. These are often key factors for the success of an organic store. Having worked in the natural products industry since the 1970s, Brown has seen the industry evolve. When he began, people were either organic or they weren’t; that line has blurred in recent decades. For a family to consciously decide on organic food, they have to educate themselves about the benefits, Brown said. And they have to be able to afford the price bump that comes with grass-fed beef or non-pasteurized milk.
Additionally, he saw Bellevue as underserved by grocers, especially downtown. With thousands of people working blocks away, Brown saw an opportunity to cater to the employees heading out for lunch or on their way home from work. Online ordering for curbside pickup, or delivery within three miles serves as the centerpiece of this philosophy.
“Place your order, and then give us a call when you’re out front and we will deliver your groceries into the trunk of your car, saving time and money,” said Brown.
But it remains unclear how long the market will call the Bellevue Way location home. The spot is owned by Kemper Development Company, and it has long been planned for an expansion of Lincoln Square. Representatives of Kemper Development did not return phone calls requesting comments.
Liz Stead, Urban Planning Manager at the city, said the project passed its design review, a process that comes before the actual application, and it’s used to help shape the look of the development. The project would lead to the construction of a 31-story office tower and a 42-story residential/hotel tower. Stead said the review is good until January 2013.
“It is not uncommon for owners to take some time between Design Review approval and Building Permit application, in these interim times there are often arrangements made to occupy what would otherwise be vacant buildings,” she said.
