Kenmore Village Exodus Continues

Posted by the Kenmore Crow | Filed under Business

As noted a few days ago over on Kenmore Blog.net, Kenmore’s branch of The Little Gym, currently located between the old Ostrom’s location and the Liquor Store in Kenmore Village, is leaving Kenmore for apparently greener pastures up in Lynnwood.

For those of you keeping score at home, the departure of The Little Gym in the next month or so will leave the commercial space (i.e. – not counting City Hall) in the city-owned Kenmore Village property over half empty, with five of nine storefronts vacant. By square footage, the commercial space will be just under half empty.

Businesses that have moved or gone out of business, leaving Kenmore Village in the last year or so include:

  • Ostrom’s Drugs – drugstore – moved to 6414 NE Bothell Way
  • The Little Gym – children’s gym – moving to Lynnwood
  • Hidden Treasures – thrift store – closed
  • Reign’s Realm – children’s clothing & supplies consignment store – closed
  • Taco Guyamas – fast food mexican restaurant – closed

Here’s a map of Kenmore Village in its current state (click to enlarge):

Kenmore Village Map

Eventually as I have the time, I will be expanding this map to include all of Kenmore’s business zones. Your input is welcome.

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Permalink | October 7th, 2009

2 Responses to “Kenmore Village Exodus Continues”

  1. James Lupori Says:
    October 8th, 2009 at 10:16 AM

    Hi Crow – I shall be posting an article about one of the remaining businesses at the Kenmore Village. The owner of this particular business had some strong words to say about the way in which the City of Kenmore has handled/mis-handled the development of the current Village. I’ll cover more about that in my post; however, your article raises some serious questions about the nature of the Kenmore Village process:

    1) How long will the City “hold on” to the current development plan which seems to be on permanent hold?
    2) Why is the City not making more of an effort to make the current businesses in the Village stay?
    3) If it takes years for the new Village to emerge (which is likely) what is the interim plan for this “underutilized” city asset?

    The Village was never a “pretty” place, but I have a sense that with so many vacancies and a long wait for new development, the current Kenmore Village is going to fall into disrepair or worse.

  2. Jason Says:
    October 21st, 2009 at 1:18 PM

    The insanity continues. I just found out that even City Hall is leaving. With all the vacant space OWNED by the City of Kenmore, City Hall is paying to lease space in the Schnitzelbank building. Continued fiscal irresponsibility with our city government.

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