Coffee-sipping patrons filled tables outside Starbucks in Mill Creek Town Center on a sunny morning. Central Market is bustling, and numerous customers are browsing and buying at shops nearby.
Only three years ago, this bustling new heart of Mill Creek was just a grassy field. Now, the final buildings needed to fill out Main Street are under construction.
And the four dozen or so businesses and offices that have moved into the new retail-oriented neighborhood say shoppers’ enthusiasm has made it the place to be.
“We feel there’s a good future here, nice people and a good area for our type of business,” said J.D. Haddad, owner of Haddad Jewelers, which opened less than a month ago.
His store, which specializes in custom jewelry and appraisals, is the first to open in the new Clocktower at Town Center building, across from L.A. Fitness. A sandwich shop, home furnishings store and others plan to move in soon, said Jerry Forell of First Western Properties, a commercial real estate brokerage company.
Just to the south, workers have dug a deep hole for developer G.E. “Red” Jacobsen’s new development, Creekside Village at Mill Creek Town Center. That building will host a mix of retail and office space, as well as a performing arts space and an underground parking garage.
Jacobsen also built Town Center’s second building, Park Place Center, at Main Street and 153rd Street SE. He’s had relatively little trouble attracting tenants.
That’s also been the case for Redfield Development, which has built several of the structures lining the west side of Main Street, across from Starbucks and Central Market.
“The leasing’s essentially completed, even for the buildings that aren’t open yet,” said Dani Kirkland, a senior associate with CB Richard Ellis, which has marketed the buildings for Redfield. “It just hasn’t been any problem at all.”
Boston’s Gourmet Pizza plans to open in the coming weeks, while neighboring Pier 1 Imports has been open for more than a month. Further down Main Street, Lil Lads ‘n Lasses opened two weeks ago.
Diane Kennedy, a mother of two young children who started the children’s clothing and accessories store with Karin Heusted, said she’s pleased with sales so far.
“It’s going really well, which was a bit unexpected since both our neighbors are under construction,” she said.
Across the street, at the Paddywack pet store, owner Janet Berwick recently marked her business’ first anniversary at Mill Creek Town Center.
“Definitely business has steadily increased,” she said. “It’s leveled off right now, but we’re hoping to get another boost when these new businesses open,” she said, gesturing toward the west side of Main Street.
She added she has “not one regret” about choosing the location.
In addition to the new retail and office space, a new parking garage has just opened. Residential cottages on the north end of Main Street are being built, and 36 luxury condominiums are planned for the Town Center.
Forell said he’s not surprised by the success of the Town Center in attracting businesses. The area has a sizable population, many with higher-than-average incomes.
“The demographics are probably the best in Snohomish County,” he said.
The center’s layout, as a pedestrian-friendly venue with a neighborhood feel, also helps.
“It’s a nice place to go; you feel good,” Forell said.
Marcia Madden of Bothell agreed. She started working at Main Street Yarn after shopping often at the Town Center store.
“It’s really fun here on weekends when the sun’s out. There’s lots of people walking around, which you don’t see a lot of places,” she said.
The mix of businesses, restaurants and services that have moved in have made it a magnet for the area, agreed Mistie Ove of Snohomish.
“You really don’t have to go out of the area for anything,” said Ove, who manages the new Pier 1 store. “It’s all right here.”
Eric Fetters is a reporter with The Herald in Everett.
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