Emerald City Spirits, which occupied the old state liquor store, has gone dark. They bought the rights to the space back in 2011 for $355,000.
Doug had a fun take:
Apparently their liquor license has been purchased by the Shell station next door, and Shell will begin to sell liquor soon. We have finally become California!
There’s a rumor that the building housing Emerald City Spirits will be torn down and condos will be built there. Frankly I was hoping for a pharmacy.
It looks like Puffin Glass went dark as well.
And Wine World is looking to reduce their space. They have a listing out seeking to sublet or sell the space. It reads in part: “Current Tenant is Wine World & Spirits. They have a surplus Event Space, divisible to between 3,500 and 16,000 RSF, or will relocate to make the entire floor available. No cannibis retailers. Sublease to 2020, or renegotiate a full lease with the landlord.”
Thanks to Braden Gustafson for this info!
My husband spoke to the Emerald City folks a few weeks ago. He said the biz, including liquor, was being sold to a new owner. He put everything on sale to reduce his tax hit. That said, it will probably be condos.
Just an FYI, but I wouldn’t assume condos for the liquor store because the real estate ownership hasn’t changed. Looks like just the tenancy. It doesn’t appear to be for sale either.
Everything will probably be condos, including the drug stores.
Except when they’re apartments.
Emerald City’s prices weren’t that great and the selection was subpar. The one time I shopped there, I got carded and the clerk swiped my ID through some sort of electronic reader without my permission. Never went back.
I was hoping for a nail salon or a restaurant which would have no parking and go out of business in 4 mo.
One time I went in there – place was dark and the people unfriendly (seemed a bit startled that someone was in the store); no reason to return.
World’s biggest nail salon – sounds like a plan!
Loved Emerald City will def miss it. Great selection of local spirits. Every one was very friendly esp the one gal. Very sorry it is gone!! loved supporting a local est. Will need to figure out where to go now …
They were all right, but I’m sort of glad to see that cigarette advertising isn’t a successful way to promote your business to passersby. Want to support a local establishment? Wine World is local, too, and they have a great spirits dept.
I heard Puffin is in transition to I520 retail.
@Donn:
“I heard Puffin is in transition to I520 retail.”
If so, they probably can’t stay in that location – I would think that it’s too close to John Stanford.
(Excuse me, meant I502.) Don’t know, online map says 0.3 mile which I think is OK, even if it’s rounded up.
I don’t think i502 users would be allowed there. I know it isn’t allowed in the wine world bldg across the street. They must be moving for that I imagine
The State Liquor Control Board states “You cannot set up a store within 1000 feet of any elementary or secondary school, playground, recreation center or facility, child care center, public park, public transit center, library, or game arcade that allows minors to enter. Local authorities will also be notified and have an opportunity to object.”
I can’t think of anything that is within 1000 feet. John Stanford is about 1200 feet away.
@Brady: It doesn’t literally meet the letter of the law, but I wonder if being next door to Comics Dungeon would raise some regulatory eyebrows.
Idle speculation on my part.
A local retail i502 shop would be GREAT (and I have two kids at John Stanford)!
Apparently the Liquor Control Board is not accepting weed license applications at all.
http://www.liq.wa.gov/marijuana/faqs_i-502
Was someone going to apply for a license?
If Puffin Glass is being remodeled for I-502 retail, I would imagine they took care of that detail a long time ago. If you really care, you might be able to find out more by calling the phone number listed on their web site.
I am just curious, don’t really care. I honestly don’t think they got a license at this location or are in the process because I remember looking at who won the lottery and that location wasn’t on the list