New Seasons is Island’s new grocer

Published 9:00 am Wednesday, July 15, 2015

After a month of speculation, the new grocer taking over the Albertsons site has been announced. New Seasons Market, a Portland-based grocery brand, will open an Island location—its first store in the Puget Sound-area—next year.

The store will feature the company’s signature abundance of local, natural and organic produce, alongside everyday classics like Oreos and Diet Coke.

After remodeling the building and opening next fall, the company expects to launch additional Seattle-area stores in the years to come, according to a New Seasons press release.

“New Seasons is committed to cultivating good for our next generation while taking care of our customers, our staff, our environment and our communities. I believe our values and sense of community very much align with those of the Mercer Island residents and that’s why we chose to open our very first Seattle store here,” said President and CEO Wendy Collie.

New Seasons has “attracted a loyal following of customers who care about their food, where it comes from and share in like-minded community values,” the release states.

The company is “eager to create a new neighborhood store that draws on its Portland success and also reflects the unique needs of the Mercer Island community,” and will join in community events and ask locals what they’d like to see in their new store.

The Albertsons site has been the talk of the town, especially for the past week. During a discussion about the Albertsons property at the July 7 City Council meeting, City Manager Noel Treat said that a lease had been “fully executed” for the site.

The land is managed by Rabina Properties, which is based out of New York and owns one property in the state of Washington: 2755 77th Ave S.E., Mercer Island.

Of the three rumored grocers, some Islanders had a clear preference. The Facebook group “Bring PCC to Mercer Island” has more than 1,300 supporters, and group members arranged to wear their matching green T-shirts to the meeting.

Several residents addressed the Council, noting the benefits that a co-op model has for the environment and economy.

They suggested that the city support their “local food, local grocers, local workers” message by passing a grocery workers retention ordinance to keep the union-represented, former Albertsons workers employed at the new store.

They said that a non-union grocer would displace 19 Albertsons employees who are also Mercer Island residents.

Steve Williamson, community affairs director for UFCW 21 that represents workers at PCC and Metropolitan Market, said that retail workers want to serve a community and get to know their customers, and that “the banner over the door doesn’t matter.”

The Council ultimately decided not to adopt the ordinance, as it may be too late in this situation, but said it hoped employers were listening to the conversation in the community.

Mayor Bruce Bassett said the city would leave the matter to the free market and hope it does right by the workers.

Lara Sanderson, one of the “Bring PCC to Mercer Island” movement leaders, said the group is disappointed PCC will not be going into the old Albertsons space, but recognizes that a new grocer will provide relief for many Islanders.

New Seasons will hire staff locally to fill many of the store’s approximately 150 positions, according to the press release. Job openings will be posted online when recruiting efforts begin in the summer of 2016.

New Seasons has 15 stores in Portland and one in Vancouver, Wash., and opened its first store in California in March 2015.

It is the first grocer in the world to become a Certified B Corporation, which recognizes businesses that place as much value on taking care of their staff, the community and the environment as they do on growing and operating their business. The company donates 10 percent of its after-tax profits to local nonprofit organizations.

New Seasons will host a social gathering in late August to meet the community.

Those interested in learning more can connect on the New Seasons Market Mercer Island Facebook page or email mercerisland@newseasonsmarket.com for updates.

For more, see newseasonsmarket.com.

This story was updated on July 15 at 10:15 a.m.