Fill This Space! Market Street Edition
We had no idea you were so interested in empty space. After last week’s look at the retail space on our block, we received questions about other retail spaces in town. Questions like, “There’s this useless empty space in our building. Wouldn’t it be great for…?” Ummm… we don’t have any sway, so we’ll ignore those emails for now.
So, what about this spot? We don’t know the owners or the folks involved, but we pass it every day. You know it. It’s in the 700 block of Market across the street from City Hall on the first floor of the Bridge Condominiums. Java Bean, the coffee shop that was never open when we needed a cup of joe, had occupied the space since the building renovation. Now, it’s empty.
What do you think should go in this space? Another coffee shop? A restaurant? It does have that courtyard. And a large audience of City employees across the street. What about someplace open past 5:00?
1966 square feet at $19 / sq ft.
Link to GVA Kidder Mathews
18 comments
J jamie from thriceallamerican January 30, 2008
Fish and chips restaurant?
D Derek staff January 30, 2008
Fish and chips restaurant?
A fine idea… except to those that live above it.
J Jake January 30, 2008
I know a 3 people who live there. I don’t know if they would want to smell fishy.
As much as is going up/in on that street it is still somewhat of a Dead Zone. What I see having to happen for anything to really make it on that street is the 2 parking lots being infilled with buildings and the Pioneer Human Services buildings being rehabbed/demolished (new city hall??)
E Erik B. January 30, 2008
This is a pretty close spot for alot of city workers and a ton of new housing.
A good restaurant could certainly make it in this location. However, a number of office workers could fill it up for awhile.
What I see having to happen for anything to really make it on that street is the 2 parking lots…
True, half of the buildings have been razed. One needs a car just to get to drive past all of the parking lots.
T tom waits January 30, 2008
i was convinced a coffee/sandwich shop was going to do amazing business across from city hall. i also thought it was the same java bean from ballard in seattle.
wrong on both accounts.
i waited in there once for 35 minutes for a ham and cheese sandwich.
P penelope January 30, 2008
What about a creative salon?
A Andrew January 30, 2008
A good resturant is a good fit with city hall right there. Was about a good lunch spot with a great vibe taking advantage of the historic features of the building. Add in a good beer lineup and it would be a multi-shifted success.
A Andrew January 30, 2008
@5:
Wow.
Tom waits, indeed.
T tom waits January 30, 2008
@8
well it was a dilemma. am i a fool for waiting? did they really forget about me (only one other customer, so is this even possible)? i’d been reading the stranger and lost track of time.
so i inquired, and yes, they’d forgotten about me.
i didn’t return.
M MG January 31, 2008
Why not a good old fashion deli corner store. Not like the usuals we have around town.
A real deli making real sandwiches. The kind you find in NYC & Boston, lots of meat, not a lettuce salad in a bun. They could also sells milk, TP, fresh fruit, wine/beer (to go), snacks, etc. Aisles so small you get to know the person passing you. Maybe a table or 2 outside when it’s nice, a counter along the front window, but otherwise, don’t use up the space for tables. Open around mid-morning, stay open late.
IF there is such a place already in existence here, please let me know. It’ll bring back fond memories of home.
J Jake January 31, 2008
MG, Sounds like MSM on 6th Ave.
W wes January 31, 2008
seriously!?!?
$19 sq/ft…
monthly?
no sandwich shop is gonna pull in that kind of dough…
C chris January 31, 2008
one time there a very nice young lady bought my coffee for me, just because she felt like doing soething nice. I certainly had the money to pay for it but she insisted, maybe she was hitting on me? either way cheers to her, made my day
J Jake January 31, 2008
$19 sqft yearly. Still looking at over $3k a month. Would have been cheaper to just buy the space.
G Gina January 31, 2008
I live in the building — was so excited when we moved in to have a coffee shop on the first floor. Unfortunately my excitement was soon deflated when I learned that the coffee was consistently bad and the service there was worse — after three tries, decided I was better off walking up the big hill to blackwater.
What to do with the now vacant space? We were recently in Chelan and they had a cool little place called, I think, the Liquid Lounge – coffee by day, wine and beer in the afternoon and evening. Easy food items out of the case and appetizers. It seemed like a good model for a downtown business – maximize traffic by attracting both the day and evening refreshment needs of area residents and workers. Serve the caffeine addicts by day and also get the business of those of us who are strong believers in cocktail hour in the evening. Could cater to both the morning and late afternoon business meeting. Also could attract some of the theater crowd for a drink and hummus plate.
Other than that, as a building resident, I would love to see any of the following in the space:
· Ice Cream Parlor!
· Dave’s Meat and Produce Market II
· Infinite Soups (the expanded version with tables!)
· Deli/Bagels/Pizza by the Slice
PLEASE no karaoke!
B Broadweezy January 31, 2008
It seems like the foreboding steel awning has a darkening affect on the storefront and shoos you away instead of inviting you in. Plus, isn’t it near that funky Y-intersection where Market and Fawcett merge, making it a pain to negotiate it traffic? At $19/sq ft, I would think a swanky restauraunt or something that attracts a consistent flow of upper-scale clientele (like a gym/law office/consulting firm/catering biz) would do well. Although, wouldn’t all the businesses on this block eventually become affected when the city reconfigures the nearby market/fawcett/broadway intersections? Just a forethought.
E Erik S January 31, 2008
I think Gina’s got a good idea. Whatever goes in there has to be able to get some sales from the daytime office crowd and also be able to offer something different to make it a destination after 5pm.
According to Broadweezy, though, it sounds like the rent might be too high. I can’t see a super-swanky restaurant opening there.
D dni February 1, 2008
Your right Broadweezy. First of all, that area will be under construction deeply, soon. At that rent, and I’m sure there’s triple net on top of that, you’ll have to sell a major amount of coffee, ice-cream, whatever….its easy to start something, but definately hard to keep it going and dreamin and wishin certainly won’t do it.
Something with a pre-existing strong customer base would be about the only thing that I think could make a go of it. A lot of change to the neighborhood is in the works, which could easily kill a start up.