SEATTLE AVENUE

The residential community of downtown is growing and those urban dwellers want a full-service grocery store. In February they should find one at 1423 Third Avenue. Kress IGA Supermarket will occupy the 18,000SF basement of the building that for more than 50 years housed department store S.H. Kress & Co.This is brilliant news. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve been dawdling or working downtown and wished I could pop into a grocer for one thing or another. There are a couple small specialty grocers in the area but downtown is growing and is hungry for a full-size supermarket. Whole Foods on Westlake Avenue is an awesome full-service market but it’s closer to South Lake Union and quite a ways to walk from downtown for groceries. Pike Place Market is a keeper and remains an interesting maze of shopping delights but it doesn’t have the amenities of a full-service supermarket.

I understand the service area of Kress IGA is quite small, about 1/2 mile in diameter, but in that 1/2 mile live reportedly over 18,000 residents. At least 15 high-rise condos (3000 units) are scheduled for completion by 2009. Those numbers don’t include people who work in the area or those just strolling by.

Because of the demographics, Kress IGA is planning on offering a substantial amount of hot and prepared food items. 40% of their floor space is planned for prepared food items. And Kress IGA will reportedly be offering a good assortment of organics! Well, what kind of self-respecting urban grocery store wouldn’t offer organics? Can I get a witness? 

Be aware, there’ll be no parking. Let me tell you though, that’s a GOOD thing. The last thing any of us need is more congestion downtown. Basically, you portage your items home in your backpack, gym bag, or purse. They will offer the service of delivery in a contained radius of the waterfront to the bottom of Queen Anne Hill to Capitol Hill to Pioneer Square.

Happy shopping!