Constant change: Here’s what happened in business in 2019
Published 1:30 am Wednesday, January 1, 2020
It’s been a year of big changes in Snohomish County commerce. Here are some of the most important and most popular business stories of 2019:
March 5: And we’re off! First passenger flight leaves Everett
The new commercial passenger terminal at Paine Field opened to great fanfare. The first plane took off to Portland. It was filled with dignitaries. The first opportunity for fare-paying passengers came on a trip to Las Vegas. The new service was expected to save time and money for more than 1 million travelers living in the region.
July 16: Can the little guy survive Lake Stevens Costco?
A tiny market was less than a mile from a proposed Costco in Lake Stevens. Doug Turner, 65, had owned the nearly century-old Turner’s Grocery, formerly called Rodland’s, for the past 30 years. Turner had been trying to sell his store for several years, but with Costco coming, he feared it would be impossible to get a buyer. He also worried that his customers would find it more convenient and economical to shop at Costco. Ironically, he got much of his inventory from the big-box store.
Aug. 5: Farmers Market move livens up downtown
After a controversial experiment in charging Farmers Market customers a parking fee at its tightly packed waterfront Boxcar Park locale, the Sunday operation up and moved to downtown Everett in August. Shoppers and vendors alike were pleased with the open space, free weekend parking and paved (rather than rocky) walking area. Local businesses that lined the streets along Wetmore between Wall and Hewitt seemed to enjoy the extra crowds.
Sept. 5: Everett Mall Sears to close by December
It was one of the first anchor stores at Everett Mall. Now, after a half-century, the city’s Sears has closed its doors. The once-venerable retailer filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy last fall. In the past few years, it has closed hundreds of stores, including the one at Lynnwood’s Alderwood mall in 2017. The company isn’t dead, though. People can still buy bathrobes at Sears.com, the company said.
Sept. 9: Everett business park getting a big tenant: Amazon
Amazon is expanding its footprint in Snohomish County. The Seattle-based online retail giant opened a new distribution center at the Riverside Business Park in northeast Everett, next to the FedEx Freight distribution center at the Port of Everett’s 86-acre industrial waterfront business park along the Snohomish River. Everett’s economic development director expected the new facility would employ at least 100 people. In 2017, Amazon leased a 92,000-square-foot warehouse in south Everett for its “last-mile efforts,” part of a drive to deliver packages to customers more quickly.
Sept. 10: Bev’s auto tabs: 45 years, 400 square feet
For nearly 45 years, Beverly’s Auto Licensing was the go-to place in south Everett for vehicle tabs and titles, operating in a 400-square-foot area crammed in the back of a narrow space shared by an insurance agency. Now Beverly has retired, and her granddaughter has taken over. She’s moved the business into a sleek, roomy shop, but loyal customers will always have fond memories for the old folksy one.
Oct. 17: Emergency wedding plans after venue closes
Couples who had planned to get married at the Monte Cristo Ballroom received a text message around 3:30 on a mid-October afternoon. It said the business was closing due to a decline in the owner’s health. Phone numbers listed for the business were disconnected. Emails to the owner went unanswered. Already stressed with wedding planning, many soon-to-be newlyweds were left scrambling. Some were resigned to losing their deposits. Now the ballroom’s owner is being sued for theft of wages.
Nov. 3: Port of Everett takes control of mill property
The Port of Everett finalized a $33 million purchase of the former site of Kimberly-Clark’s waterfront paper mill, which had been on the market since 2012. The 58-acre site site includes a 360,000-square-foot warehouse and has more than 2,500 linear feet of waterfront. The port expects to develop the site for maritime use, aquatic management and public access. But first it needs to be cleaned up.
Nov. 5: Orders pour in after Everett startup appears on ‘Shark Tank’
An Everett couple invented socks that won’t slip off the feet of babies and toddlers. Once their story aired on the TV show “Shark Tank,” they were slammed with sock orders, and now the whole family is pitching in to keep up with demand.
Dec. 3: Lynnwood expects an influx of shoppers — from Seattle
Northgate Mall is a mere shadow of its former retail self, and that means people who like to shop in person at stores that are real are beginning to head north to Alderwood mall in Lynnwood. Is Lynnwood ready?
