Local resident Paul May snapped this picture of the just-begun demolition at the old Greenwood Market spot on 85th in Greenwood. A very sorry sight – this was my favorite grocery store – but an amazing photo.
Greenwood Market’s destruction is part of the Fred Meyer expansion and remodel at that location. Demolition was held up for some time due to an appeal of the environmental review, but is now going full force.
If you’re a regular shopper at Greenwood Market on 85th in Greenwood, you will by now have already heard the news that their tentative last day is February 4th. The staff are saying their goodbyes and already being placed at other Town & Country Market stores in the area, and customers are being treated to $5 coupons good at other locations in hopes that they’ll begin shopping at Ballard Market or at Central Market in Shoreline.
The shutdown has been in the works for quite some time, as Greenwood Market leases their space from the neighboring Fred Meyer, which will be expanded into a larger store. Greenwood Market’s lease expires at the end of February, and they will not be relocating.
For those interested in starting their grocery shopping at other Town & Country Markets, you can visit the Ballard Market at 1400 NW 56th Street, or Central Market at 15505 Westminster Way N in Shoreline. Town & Country also has locations in Poulsbo, Mill Creek and Bainbridge Island.
While chatting with some of the staff on my weekly shopping trip yesterday, they said that I was not the first one to express that I probably won’t be shopping at their other locations. Both Ballard & Central Market are much bigger stores with more commotion, and I really liked the small friendly feel at the Greenwood Market (which is why I chose to go the extra distance there rather than some of the grocery stores closer to me). However, I wish all the staff success in their new locations.
You just never know what you’re going to see, even while running mundane errands in this town. Like today, for instance: I went grocery shopping at Greenwood Market, and met Camber Grant, who was climbing a treadmill outside the store. Naturally, I couldn’t pass up an opportunity to learn what he was doing, and, well, ask him if he was crazy (it IS just about freezing outside).
Camber, a U-District resident, is raising money for Climb for Clean Air hosted by the American Lung Association. This event will include about 75 people climbing to the summit of Mt Rainier in July – all the expenses to do the climb are out-of-pocket for the climbers, and anything additional they can raise after that goes to the American Lung Association. Camber’s goal is to raise at leat $5000 and he’s willing to do anything it takes to make the money.
Camber isn’t getting off that treadmill today (February 26th) until 5pm, so you still have several hours to get down to the Greenwood Market and donate to his cause. Or, he’s made it easy for you: you can donate online, too by visiting www.cambersclimb.com
People ask me from time to time how I do it. I’m a real estate broker, a corporate employee, a blogger, and wear a host of other hats throughout the week. On weekdays, I’m at my office at 7:30, work straight through lunchtime, and don’t leave until 5pm or later. I run the Green Lake Loop every morning, walk the dog for 30-45 minutes every evening, and work on several side projects before i go to bed. On the weekends I’m up early to exercise Lola, then I generally run out to one of our many condominium sites to help the team out, or hold an open house, or research for the coming week. And believe it or not, I still manage to maintain a decent social life (many thanks to the friends that put up with me when they never see me).
So I have two words for you: Protein Smoothie.
A friend, (ok, a jerky ex-boyfriend) introduced me to this recipe about a year ago, and I found that making this smoothie every morning before work really helps me get through the day. Everything in here can be found at the Greenwood Market on 85th.
In the blender (in this order):
At this point, if you have a nice quality blender you’re all set. If you’re like me and have a 10-year-old, falling apart blender I let it sit for about 10 minutes so that the fruit can thaw (just enough time to hop in and out of the shower) – otherwise the strawberries make the blender stick. Then drink up, and get ready to have some natural energy! (Maybe you’ll find yourself writing a blog post at 7 in the morning too…) 
Don’t be turned away from this blog post thinking I’ve gotten boring. Buying soap – yes, it’s a menial task, you go to the grocery store, you get what you need, you bring it home. Not much to it, right?
Well if you haven’t yet been able to tell, I am really big on supporting local businesses and keeping our neighborhoods spinning around with a local economy. So one of the products I like to use since I discovered it a year ago is Ballard Organics soap.
Ballard Organics was founded by Ben Busby-Collins, and made in his apartment in Ballard as he worked for Zenith Supplies in Ravenna. He started making soap as a hobby, and then began taking his hobby to the local farmer’s markets. Eventually, his hobby became a business and now Ballard Organics operates out of a warehouse in the Rainier Valley with 10 local employees.
Ballard Organics is certified organic, with no animal products, no synthetic fragrances, and no artificial preservatives or dyes. That’s one of the things I love about it, as I am really trying to adapt to the north Seattle lifestyle of living healthy and caring for the planet. I also love the natural scents – one of my friends really loves the peppermint soap, while I’m a fan of the tangerine.
The soap products can be found in 280 stores across five states these days. Locally, you can find it at the Roosevelt, Ballard, Greenwood and Queen Anne Bartell Drugs, Greenwood Market, Ken’s Market, View Ridge and Green Lake PCC’s, Roosevelt Whole Foods, and a bunch of other places.
Buying local products and visiting local shops and eateries means we support the people who live in our communities. We’re able to directly impact our neighbors’ well-being and boost each other up, how can you say no to that?
Yes, we in north Seattle neighborhoods do even the most mundane tasks a little differently. Buying our bread and cereal each week isn’t just a chore, its a way to participate in the community and support your local businesses. I’m new to Greenlake, but I’ve been in North Seattle about a year now, and there were a few lessons I learned quickly about buying groceries in north Seattle:
Don’t forget, when you support your neighborhood businesses, you support your neighbors!
Posted in Local Business
Tagged Greenwood Market, Ken's Market, north seattle grocery, Phinney Grocery
