Stadium's Bruce Titus Chevy Closes
The TNT is reporting on the closing of Bruce Titus Chevrolet in Tacoma’s Stadium District. The GM franchise was one of the many told last spring that it wouldn’t be renewed next year. The repair business housed in the wedge shaped building with Stadium Thriftway has been sold to his cousin and fellow car dealer Jamie Titus. The big car lots are expected to become used car dealers.
We’ve talked about these properties before. In your dreams, and dreams are good to have every once in a while, what would happen to these car lots?
Link to The News Tribune
Filed under: Tacoma Business, Neighborhoods, Stadium
35 comments
F Frank October 1, 2009
I think the Thritway should expand and take up the whole block. If Thriftway can’t afford to do that now then maybe try and bring in a Wholefoods or a Metropolitan Market.
N NSHDscott October 1, 2009
Seriously, used car dealers? That’s prime space for something better, particularly that involves residential. That space is in the middle of a neighborhood that is supposed to be pretty dense. It’s across from a grocer, near other retail and a high school, with easy access to downtown and the freeway, and someday a streetcar will run past it.
C Christy October 1, 2009
Oh, the dreaming! I think I did read somewhere that Stadium Thriftway is already planning to expand. I agree that the density in that area could handle a nice mixed use project. If Tacoma needs some examples of how to execute that idea they could just look to our neighbor to the north and the Capital Hill neighborhood. Tacoma needs places for people to spend money on clothing, homefurnishings, affordable groceries, snacks and treats all within a short walk from their home and work. We need to work on keeping the money in Tacoma. Shopping on line for all the things I use to be able to buy in Seattle is sad but Tacoma has NO Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Sephora, or a Trader Joe’s anywhere. A Trader Joe’s in U.P. doesn’t count. U.P. clearly doesn’t care to be a part of Tacoma. I have a hard time walking from my house which is centrally located on S.Sprague Ave to a decently priced full service grocery store to feed my family on a day to day basis. Why is it that Tacoma is such a car oriented city? Bit frustrated. Excuse the rambling, please.
D Donovan October 1, 2009
C crenshaw sepulveda October 1, 2009
It seems that if used car lots are going in the choice of what to do with the property has already been made. I suspect the owners will probably wait for the real estate market to improve before they sell it to developers. I’m not sure the property owners will find someone today that is willing to pay them what they believe is the future value of the land. On the other hand if the auto business gets any worse they might have to sell it regardless of the market for real estate. Sorry to see another business go Titus Up.
A Altered Chords October 1, 2009
Hey – I just had an idea. Let’s turn the Luzon vacant lot into a used car lot!
S Squid October 1, 2009
Thomas Kinkade SuperStore.
E Erik B. October 1, 2009
Nice picture Dononvan.
Unfortunately, all 95 percent of what Tacoma as built in the last 60 years has been one story boxes in the middle of multi acre parking lots.
Then, in an effort to be “green,” the city has required grass berms in the parking lots.
Here is the positive example of Troy, NY:
R Rob October 1, 2009
Erik, I thought that changing the parking regulations was magically going to change the types of developments that would occur in Tacoma.
Just because developments have been done that way in the past doesn’t mean that every future development will look like the Pearl Street/Westgate area.
C Chris K. October 1, 2009
Just a question… does anyone know what was there before the car lots?
I think it would be ironically fitting to have part of the site be a maintenance facility for streetcars rather than a parking lot that sold gas guzzlers.
I know there’ll be howling about how that’s a bad use of land, but I didn’t say the whole site had to be that way.
C captiveyak October 1, 2009
Thriftway is going to have trouble in that location if the proposed mixed-use Elks Bldg project succeeds (thought I’d read that a grocery store was part of the plan).
A casual walk-up mixed use plan would get my vote. With Sattelite and Supernova just down the street and the Park right across it, Stadium would suddenly become the place I wanted to spend most of my time. And I am a very very typical guy.
C CA October 1, 2009
It is a terrible place to have a car lot. However, in this economy, dont expect to see any mixed-use or residential projects breaking ground.
S Squid October 1, 2009
@9: would you LOOK at all that jay-walking? This could never happen in the PNW.
A Altered Chords October 1, 2009
@9 – seeing all of those people walking around outside almost makes me cry.
J Jesse October 1, 2009
I’d like to see mixed use there so when the streetcar comes up Stadium-First-and then 6th, you’d have more places to live for city dwellers. Maybe a bigger parking garage below grade for when Tacoma Baseball/Soccer moves to Stadium Bowl. The current top floor of the old car dealership would make a great gym too.
D dolly varden October 2, 2009
There’s really no reason Stadium can’t be like the 15th Avenue on Capitol Hill in Seattle, which supports five grocery stores, including two Safeways, a QFC, a Trader Joe’s, and a food coop. Or a mini-Queen Anne Hill. It’s got density, nice old buildings, good views, and close proximity to downtown and the hospitals. Even given the current economy, I’d be very surprised if those lots are still used car lots in five years.
N NSHDscott October 2, 2009
captiveyak@12, I’m hoping you’re wrong about future Stadium Thriftway troubles because I understand the grocer going into the future Elks development is going to be markedly different than Thriftway. I think it will be a PCC, or otherwise something like it such as Whole Foods or Trader Joe’s. That kind of boutique grocer doesn’t directly complete with Thriftway, although I’m sure some impact would be felt. I do like the idea of having a boutique grocer in that development but I think it’s a bit unfortunate that the long-desired downtown grocery store isn’t more centrally located.
N NSHDscott October 2, 2009
And dolly@17, I don’t know if the Stadium district is quite big enough for five grocery stores but I do agree that it could be a lot like Capitol Hill. Especially if streetcars go in and the downtown job market improves, I think that area has the highest potential for greatness of any Tacoma neighborhood, given its proximity to downtown, easy I-5 access, small retail center, hospital nearby, and excellent housing stock. The newish St. Helens apartment/condo neighborhood is helping make that case as well. If the City of Tacoma ever gets around to focusing on neighborhood improvements, I hope they start with Stadium as it has the most potential to explode into something great.
S Scott Cowan October 2, 2009
My idea for the lots (because I’m looking at them while I type this) is for the North lot to be dedicated parking for the Stadium District and the South lot to be a Farmers Market.
We do not need more cars being sold in our area (clue here if Titus lost his dealership it was because they were not selling enough cars!)
The Stadium district already has the noisy autobody shop that just moved next to Tacoma Tent and Awning and who have no common sense about how loud they are at 7am.
How about classing up the area instead of making it look more like South Tacoma Way!
E Erik S October 2, 2009
@12, 17, 18
Whatever (might) (eventually) move into the Elks building, I suspect that it will still require a longer walk than is currently required for most Stadium Thriftway customers. Yes, some new buildings have been constructed down by the Elks site, but even when they are fully occupied it won’t be a second stadium district. I think that the Thriftway should do fine as long as they don’t make a major misstep of some sort.
J Jim C October 2, 2009
It’s funny, I’m looking at these lots right now too (working from home today) and they seem to be reverting to the natural state of things for Grit City: the body shop has a bunch of wrecked cars stored there, there are several work trucks and a couple of dump trucks parked there and it appears that neighborhood workers have already figured out that they can use them for all-day parking without getting a ticket. I think the only thing that would beat used car sales as a tribute to the ‘hood would be a Leninesque 30-foot-tall bronze model of a Chevy Chevette with a dedication to “General Motors, 1908-2009”.
S Scott Cowan October 2, 2009
Well we won’t get the 30ft. tall statue but I bet we get an inflatable Gorilla or two.
Why does T-Town seem to never get it? It’s a cool place to live and would be much cooler if it would just get the act even sort of together.
E Erik S October 2, 2009
How about a giant inflatable Corvette driven by an inflatable gorilla?
J Jim C October 2, 2009
Sorry for laying it on a little thick there but you’re right, Scott, Titus did do the “inflatable neon attention-getter” thing for a while there (they weren’t gorillas, but they were close.) I only hope that whoever runs the new lots doesn’t also have the bright idea to put PAs out there blasting radio stations at high volumes during the day on the weekends…
T Thorax ''BOm-Tek'' O'Tool October 2, 2009
hmmmmm…. inflatable gorillas. Idea!
T TacomaThinker October 3, 2009
A Trolly Station
No dought shops will be built and leased but it’s the sidewalk and street design that will make or break the project as a contribution to a more livable Tacoma.
Also:
“Unfortunately, all 95 percent of what Tacoma as built in the last 60 years has been one story boxes in the middle of multi acre parking lots.”
-see Pacific Plaza, LEED Platinum
“Why does T-Town seem to never get it? It’s a cool place to live and would be much cooler if it would just get the act even sort of together.”
-Were you here 20 years ago?
“If the City of Tacoma ever gets around to focusing on neighborhood improvements”
-LID already underway
S Scott Cowan October 3, 2009
Yes I was here off and on 20 years ago. I grew up here swore I would never live here and moved away for college. I then moved to Seattle. Now I have been back for 6 years and the improvements are happening but the setbacks that in my opinion would be easily avoided are still happening.
Tacoma could have a much better quality of life for a wide range of people if it would just stop shooting itself in the foot.
Retreads are not exciting. Car lots are not exciting. Lets do something new with our vacant storefronts and lots.
C captiveyak October 5, 2009
Tacoma Thinker has excellent points. It is easier to criticize than to give credit. And there are a lot of signs that Tacoma’s government has got its finger on a couple of good pulses.
But I sympthatize with a reactionary approach to municipal activism. Development, as a rule, is always aggressive. Its critics, therefor, will always be steamrolled unless they meet aggression with distrust and checks & balances. On the other end, it can sound like a lot of whining and static, but when has criticism ever sounded like a sonata?
I’ve seen the LID’s and I’m intimately familiar with the Pt. Ruston development, etc. I’ve worked in Los Angeles long enough to know what sort of businesses and housing are intended for such projects. It’s frustrating because those are places I’m not going to go to willingly. However, maybe they’re important. I think a lot of people in Tacoma want to see a fuller blossoming of unique community-oriented, distinct and funky places. It’s easy to get discouraged when all the new stuff looks useless to the average Tacoman.
N North Ender October 6, 2009
How about another bar or burger joint!
A Altered Chords October 6, 2009
How about a reasonably priced restaurant with a french trained chef that can whip up incredible bistro style dishes?
Pete Wiekel – you ready to come back yet? Instead of white tablecloths have picnic tables so that no one is intimidated.
M Mofo from the Hood October 6, 2009
In the larger scheme of things, I don’t think it’s so great that this Chevy franchise has closed.
American car maker Chevrolet is a division of General Motors Corporation, and lately GM management has been ritually dismembering itself.
General Motors axed Oldsmobile (Oldsmobile was a pioneer U.S. car maker.) and it axed Pontiac (G.M’s division for entry level lower price buyers). Then Chevrolet dealerships were reduced in number, mainly out of commonsense—-G.M. had flooded the U.S. market with too many franchises too close to each other.
But again, I don’t think it’s so great that this Chevy franchise has closed. This was a highly visible landmark that represented more than Chevrolets. It was a landmark that also represented an American standard of business.
Isn’t it likely that passersby might have been at least somewhat inspired by what the cars inside represented?—-American ingenuity.
In large measure this Chevy dealership closure was a casualty due to decisions by General Motors businessmen; not Tacoma businessmen or consumers.
What’s done is done. So, what now?
Ingenuity. It may take some new form of American and Tacoman ingenuity to surpass the landmark that once represented an American standard of business. Ingenuity will prevail. True standards will prevail.
T Thorax O'Tool October 6, 2009
A new location for Brown and Haley?
I keep mentioning them because they are being so heavily courted by other cities… that’d be cool to emphasize all our candy that’s still left (I’m laking to you, Mars). People like chocolate, work with B&H to be a tourist attraction, and suck more people into the Stadium District.
Think about this Cashmere, WA. What are they on the map for? Hell, what’s the only thing there besides apples and old people? Applets and Cotlets. Liberty Orchards has a cool shop and a neat factory tour.
Just a suggestion….
E Erik S October 6, 2009
The 1A football title? Rusty’s Drive In?
Sorry, lived there part time for a short while back when I was a wee toddler so I’ve got a bit of a soft spot for Cashmere. But, yes, Applets and Cotlets are definitely Cashmere’s big deal.
Perhaps the B&H factory could relocate to the stadium district in building shaped as the “World’s Largest Mountain Bar”? It could be a sort of homage to the Java Jive.
P pegsterdtown October 7, 2009
re Altered Chords: Staduim Bistro’s food and the Wiekel’s Pete Sr and Pete Jr are definetly missed. Not 2 sure about the picnic tables tho.
A Altered Chords October 7, 2009
Is Brown and Haley interested in moving? I have not heard that they were interested in moving.