Country Aire Buying Gottschalks Building
The owners of Country Aire have offered $650,000 to K.O. Erickson Trust, which owns the building where Gottschalks used to be. And the offer has been accepted.
Country Aire will probably move into the former Gottschalks location by late September.
Country Aire will probably move into the former Gottschalks location by late September.
posted by Tom Harper at 12:59 PM
41 Comments:
This is great news. A wonderful store moving into a larger space and an empty building getting an owner to fill it.
awesome
And an occupied building being emptied out. I wonder how Michael (of Michael's) feels about this.
Hum, I would think that they would prefer to move to a higher location in case of an earthquake and the downtown area being washed out. Kind of hard to sell food out of a store that isn't there anymore.
Well, what ever, carry on then.
Yeah... this isn't what I was hoping for with the Gottschalks building. I just don't see the need for it. Country Aire has been in that same little space for many years and has served us fine. I don't feel they need that big of a space, I mean they even say themselves they will probably lease the downstairs part of the building.
And yeah I hate seeing that it still leaves a vacancy after Country Aire moves if they do, even if it is a much smaller space. I too kinda doubt Michael's is happy about it... or perhaps they could make some dinning space upstairs too.
In any case, I'm at least glad the Gottschalks building will get to being using again after 2 years.
Come on, do you think for a moment that Michaels has not already been the loop in the planning of this? Maybe they forgot to inform all of you about their personal development plans. Awesome move and best news in town for years. Congratulations!
Well I think that's good news. It gives Country Aire a chance to expand, which they want to do. If they become a larger grocery market they could draw people downtown. It won't be the anchor that Gottschalks was, but it's something. It's downtown growing again instead of shrinking or going over to government offices or pawn shops. And I'd trade a huge, dark elephant of a vacant building for a sliver of a vacant building any day.
If they serve food they could have an outdoor courtyard on warm days. That'd be a great thing for downtown.
I guess this gives the lie to all those far-right nutjobs who always say that "those hippies" don't know how to or care about making money. That $650,000 came from organic food and vegetarian offerings. I think this might be a wake-up call that Port Angeles has turned a corner, and is embracing a more green destiny.
Or, put another way, score a BIG VICTORY for the liberals. Country Aire (organic food, vegetarian food, fair-trade items) is expanding in a BIG way. Compare this with what happened to the local hotbed of rightwing Republican nonsense, Carroll Realty. They went under, a few employees got absorbed elsewhere, and Larry Williams ran out of town.
Had to laugh reading the article in todays' PDN about this, where Coldwell Realty head Dan Gase excitedly states that the sale to Country Aire ends " two years of a national search".
Took a "nation wide search" to find the client across the street? Typical Port Angeles.
Too funny, anon.
Hahaha, what a bunch of marroons!
Well, we know WTF won't shop there.
""That $650,000 came from organic food and vegetarian offerings. ""
I thought the NEW owners were out-of-town money.....these aren't the same people who owned the store for years and years....it's new blood.
I don't know HOW they got their money, but doubt the 650k was from vegetarian offerings.
"Had to laugh reading the article in todays' PDN about this, where Coldwell Realty head Dan Gase excitedly states that the sale to Country Aire ends " two years of a national search".
Took a "nation wide search" to find the client across the street? Typical Port Angeles."
Did you notice the "Breaking News" banner on the PDN site earlier today? "Hundreds of Open Houses this weekend". Is this another brainstorm of Dan Gase and Dick Piling? Amidst the worst economic news of months/years, with literally millions of houses being foreclosed upon, and talk of the country headed back into recession, these pillars of the business community think NOW is the RIGHT time to try to convince people to obligate themselves to MORE debt?
No wonder this place has so many problems, and doesn't move forward.
Heads up. If you can get out of Port Angeles, NOW is the time. Things are headed DOWN, big time. Schools close shortly, make your plans to move your family away, now. You'll have a few months to get your family set up in a hopeful coommunity over the summer.
I'm bailing ASAP.
Heard 44 million Americans are on food stamps now. 1/6 of all Americans on the Government food assistance program.
Oh yes! Great time to buy a storefront! Good luck leasing out the rest of that building, Country Aire. Not like there isn't a glut of retail spaces available.
IGS has the best produce!
"(AP) – Fears that the US economy is stalling sent the Dow Jones industrial average down 280 points, erasing more than a quarter of the stock market's gains for the year. A pair of reports raised new doubts about the economy's strength: A key manufacturing index fell from its April level, and private employers added just 38,000 jobs in May, according to payroll processor ADP. Analysts had expected a growth of 180,000."
That was yesterday's news. All better today?
That $650,000 came from organic food and vegetarian offerings.
Wrong! John is/was a builder developer in Clallam County for over 20 years!
And they're both very Conservative. You libs just assume they're hippies cos they sell tofu!
Well, we know WTF won't shop there.
Make that two of us, I have no idea where it is now.
IGS has the best produce!
Hey, get some better weed, the crap you have is hurting your brain.
...but do they Gotsocks?
"And they're both very Conservative." That's an understatement. But one thing you forgot to mention is that Robyn is very, very unpleasant to work for. Ever notice how they seem to run through employees quickly?
Were you born stupid, or did you eat the paint off your crib? I’ve been shopping at Country Aire longer than you’ve lived on the peninsula…
What a bunch of negative bullshit. Don’t move there because of earthquakes and tidal waves? Don’t move to a bigger place because your old place will be empty? Are you people nuts, or just so used to bitching and whining you can’t help yourselves?
This is exactly what needs to happen. Locals need to get moving on local projects instead of waiting for outside money (public or private) to magically arrive to save them.
Pretty typical stuff from Gase and Co. Secure an exclusive listing with pie in the sky promises of a high sales price, then sit on your ass for years and collect the commission when the place finally sells (no thanks to you) for 40% less. The place could have sold two years ago if it had been priced realistically.
This from the PDN article: “It was 36 years ago when Robyn Miletich and her husband, John, took a chance by opening a natural-foods grocery in downtown Port Angeles. “… Sound like new guys to you?
Actually the biggest “problem” and impediment to “moving forward” is the reflexive negativity espoused in these posts. Realtors holding open houses are some kind of evil plan to enslave the unsuspecting populace to crushing debt? Geeze get a grip. This isn’t the mayor selling the town out to the highest bidder; it’s not a collection of greasy republicans conspiring to bilk the city and port out of a million and a half dollars, it’s a freaking Health Food Store moving to larger quarters. That’s it, Captain Peepants, big conspiracy…
Incidentally, I’m more than willing to help you move (or at least drag your shit to the county line and dump it) the minute you’re ready…I mean really, who needs ya?
WTF sez:
"What a bunch of negative bullshit."
LOL! Coming from Mr. Sunshine himself!
Hey, I'm glad that Country Aire is able to take over the former Gottschalk building, but, I don't think this is a smart time to go buying real estate.
We all have seen the clips about how people now owe more on their mortgages because their properties values have diminished so much. People ARE just putting the keys to their houses on the countertops, and walking away.
So, I DO think Gase and Co. are demonstrating once again, as they did with Gottshalks, their lack of basic business smarts by wasting advertising money to get the real estate community to think NOW is the time to have a big "Open House".
I think it is unkind to raise homesellers expectations that NOW they're going to be able to sell their houses. Good luck with that.
And, I think you're too smart to think the near term future for Port Angeles is for any kind of prosperity. Perhaps you've made your money, are retired, and have enough socked away not to be affected by what happens, but guess what? There are lots of folks just barely getting by. There are families with great debt, already.
This isn't "it could happen". It is already happening all over America. Families are losing everything they've worked their lifetimes for.
"Realtors holding open houses are some kind of evil plan to enslave the unsuspecting populace to crushing debt? Geeze get a grip." Who gets that commission if they can convince someone to buy a property? The bank?
The national news showed a guy who bought a home 8 months ago for $139K; now identical properties across the street are on the market (not sold!) for $39K. Only 8 months later!
No, Mr. Sunshine, not everyone sees the current circumstances as positively as you seem to.
"I’ve been shopping at Country Aire longer than you’ve lived on the peninsula …"
A while ago you were complaining about the glacial slow lines at the store and how you thought the place was someone's vague idea of a store. Now you're a big supporter of the place, no doubt their number one customer!
At least get your story stright, Grampa McCrankypants!
Now, unless that 139 thousand dollar home that’s now supposedly valued at 39 thousand was in Port Angeles, save it. We can always pull extreme examples of whatever we want from the “National News” but what we’re talking about is the expansion of Country Aire into a larger building. Maybe you can find a “National News” item about somebody being shot in a Health Food store; it would be about as relevant.
Depressed real estate markets and tight credit situations are excellent opportunities for profit- but only if you have the money. The rest of us need to sit tight and wait for more realistic opportunities. Playing around in markets you don’t understand makes about as much sense as investing your life savings in video poker – I would feel sorry about anybody losing their life savings in ANY situation, but anybody who thought the housing bubble (or the tech bubble, or any other “bubble”) would last forever probably lost their ass. I don’t apologize for not losing mine.
Back in the 80’s, the economic situation was as least as bleak as it is now in PA. Rayonier had closed and Safeway was doing 25% of its business in food stamps. So rather than piss and moan, I moved, worked shit jobs (sometimes more than one at a time), saved my money, raised my kids in rentals (oh the shame!)clipped coupons, drove a 20 year old car, and deferred the good life until I could afford it. I’ve never trusted banks, realtors, the government, pimps, dope dealers etc... If people are so dimwitted that a realtor can “convince’ them to spend money they don’t have, well gee whiz.
I imagine the house I have in PA is “upside-down” as I write this- but since I’m not stupid enough to think of home ownership as some sort of get rich quick scheme, I’m not too worried about it right now. Being “upside-down” isn’t the issue. Not being able to make your monthly is. I bought a place where I can afford the payments, and I live here, unashamed that I don’t have granite counter tops and stainless steel appliances.
I don’t have a “sunny” outlook regarding the economics of PA, nor do I have any faith in the real estate industry here. But I do see the Country Aire move as positive, and I don’t think holding open houses is causing anyone but the incredibly stupid from getting into financial trouble. Maybe local auto dealers should be forced to hide their stock under a car cover so these morons won’t be enticed into buying a Corvette and bankrupting themselves. Better cut their cable off so they don’t see rich people on TV. The ENTIRE country has borrowed itself into this mess, and now we’re gonna have to pay our way out. Until the teabaggers and the neo libs can grasp this fairly simple concept, we’ll remain where we are, in permanent crisis, pointing fingers and whining.
Yes the lines are slow, (glacially) and I hope the expansion includes another register...I also expect it will be easier to move around in the store itself with the increased space. But best of all, I can get in and out via Cherry St. without having to be downtown at all. Isn't it fun, anonymous, that you can refer back to old post of mine, rather than having to guess because I’m too gutless to set up a screen name and stick to it?
Gee, poke Grampa McCrankypants with a figurative stick and he just about blows his porch light.
Hey, Gramps! Were you with the Abraham Lincoln Brigade in Spain during their Civil War?
Locals need to get moving on local projects instead of waiting for outside money (public or private) to magically arrive to save them.
True, but on higher turf.
I don't think this is a smart time to go buying real estate.
Actually, when prices and rates are down it's a perfect time to buy real estate.
But I wouldn't buy a property downtown even if it was half of what they are selling for now.
Well, maybe everyone down there has really good insurance that covers all sorts of things.
Carry on then...
You might check out the produce stand where Saar's was. Not likely I will cuz I steal my veggies but someone may want to support them.
WTF? Sez: " Actually the biggest “problem” and impediment to “moving forward” is the reflexive negativity espoused in these posts."
Really? Do you think Port Angeles could sidestep the near global debt crisis, if only people who post here would speak in more positive terms? By ignoring the continuing foreclosures across the country, the continuing unemployment, and state budget cutting that will shut off that flow of "outside money" to Port Angerles, and just posting on this blog with less "reflexive negativity", Port Angeles will prosper once again?
Hey, I'm just holdin' ya to your words. I don't think you really believe that.
But, ya might want to do a bit of "self checking" on that reflexive negativity.
Interesting to read that YOU moved during bad economic times in PA, so you could find work, support your family, and be financially responsible. So, why are you so reflexively negative when someone suggest others consider that, now?
"Yes the lines are slow, (glacially) and I hope the expansion includes another register."
Um ... gotta tell ya, Gramps, that there are four cash registers at that store. I'm sure you've noticed them as it's so obvious that you shop there a lot!
Oh yeah. It takes guts (and class) to set up an account and call yourself "What The F*ck". You really are brave, Gramps!
Different topic, but I was interested to see the results of effort to draw more people to Port Angeles by keeping the road to Hurricane Ridge open through the winter months.
What was the total amount spent by all involved, to keep the road open? The article says the Dept. of Interior spent $250,000. The city spent another $75,000. Was any other money spent?
So, it looks like that for the (atleast) $325,000 of tax money spent, they attracted 3,000 more "visits" over a 4 month period.
How much tax money was spent on the Juan de Fuca festival? How many "visits" did that generate over 4 days?
Anon. 7:51 yeah, I shoulda been more clear about that. What I want is check stations like Sunny Farms (and a couple of moderately bright people staffing them) feel better now? Speaking of blowing a porch light…
Now as far as the screen name there AnnonyMouse… it’s not about being classy, it’s about being able to track back to previous posts. See, you can call me on a mistake or misstatement, but for me, you’re just another troll. I understand your fear of being held accountable for your words and actions (it’s a hallmark of your generation) but still, it makes it hard to respond. You can retain as little or as much anonymity as you want, it just makes it possible to know who you’re talking to. Takes about 5 minutes, it’s not hard to do, so I can only assume you can’t back up your chatter.
Well folks, here is how it works, I've decided to be a tourist, one of those things I dislike. But don't worry, like anyone else living here I'm going somewhere else to spend my money.
That's right, a month long trip to the South East. Oh darn, I won't be spending my money here I guess.
You'll just have to find others willing to be tourists here to replace the money you spend other places.
This of course is hard on mother earth but hey, who gives a crap.
WTF? sez:
"Anon. 7:51 yeah, I shoulda been more clear about that. What I want is check stations like Sunny Farms (and a couple of moderately bright people staffing them) feel better now?"
And then sez: " AnnonyMouse… it’s not about being classy, it’s about being able to track back to previous posts. See, you can call me on a mistake or misstatement, but for me, you’re just another troll."
So, you had no trouble looking back and responding to "Anon. 7:51" specifically about something they said, but all other "Anons" are just trolls to you? That seems like an awful convenient cop-out.
I agree with you about the waste of breath trolls are. Their posts are pretty easy to identify as they offer nothing other than mindless crap.
The only person that can claim any "moral high ground" in this "identify yourself" crusade of yours is Billy. He has a picture of himself with every post. He is brave enough to stand by everything he writes, good, bad or otherwise. Everyone else, including you, are just "anonymous" by different means.
I don't understand why you are so hung up on fictious IDs, when you can (and obviously do) respond to specific points made in specfic posts. Are we here to be "someone", or to exchange thoughts and ideas?
Now if we’re talking about referring to comments within a specific thread, (which I wasn’t) you have a point, re: being able to respond. In this case, however the poster was referring to comments I made in a separate thread, which with all this anonymous stuff, I (or anyone else) am unable to do. I understand the anonymity thing as far as actual identities are concerned and yes, I keep that sort of thing on the down low for obvious reasons. In fact, I don’t really want to know who we are individually. It isn’t about moral high ground, but rather a level playing field and a more clear understanding of who we’re talking to, based on previous posts. (Not to mention derailing that weirdo that steals other monikers and posts under them) If you look back at previous posts on this subject (which again I can’t do) you’ll find that I usually bring this up in those circumstances. I think this is the only blog I’ve posted at where a screen name isn’t a requirement. But as far as PA stuff goes, it’s the only game in town
WTF? sez: "In this case, however the poster was referring to comments I made in a separate thread, which with all this anonymous stuff, I (or anyone else) am unable to do."
I don't want to drag this out any further than it needs to be, but I do want to help everyone express their views. THAT is interesting!
Anyone can look back at any threads, and posts on this blog. They are archived and listed for easy access. If anyone remembers a particular thread from, say, a year ago, they can look it up, read through it, and post a comment on that thread, or on a current thread. They can easily reference a particular post by saying, "Anon 7:22AM on June 4 2010 said: Blah, blah, blah.."
The trolls that shows up here periodically are easily identified, because they say the same thing, over and over. One is obsessed about Max Mania and is stuck in the 1950s Joe McCarthy "Red under every bed" era, another uses all kinds of womens' names to hide behind, but the rhetotic is the same. They stick out like rotten food in a 'fridge!
This blog is for the exchange of views and ideas, and it provides the ability to do that. Can we just talk like adults, and discuss things? Prove your points, and defend them if you can.
Hey! You kin alwas tell mai posts cos I use me naim "Urben Cempur JacK"! All anonymists is trols an liers and calling me stinky effer an such. Think I doan knuw?
I am what I am.
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