On Friday, June 22nd “Your Local Market” announced via their Facebook page that they would temporarily close their grocery store effective last Saturday. Leading up to the closing the entire store was practically 40% off in an attempt to clear out of their inventory.
Founder, Jason Brown has recently communicated to customers via Facebook & email that their business has been struggling financially. The store will close and reevaluate the business model and products sold.
Below is the message most recently posted on their Facebook page:
“Thanks for all your support over the past 8 months and especially these weeks as we’ve been working through our game plan going into the future. We will be closing the store (our goal is TEMPORARILY) this Saturday and continuing to work towards our goal of reopening with a slightly different format based on how you’ve told us and shown us you prefer to shop. MORE fresh Foods for Breakfast, Lunch and Dinner as well as a 50% larger Fresh Produce selection. Until we have a clear game plan we will be putting our Facebook page on a hold status- again, with the goal being to emerge and come back stronger and ready to take care of you. If you have any direct questions you would like addressed, please e-mail Jason directly at jason.brown@yourlocalmarket.com
Again, thank you for all the great energy you continue to share with us.”
It will be interesting to see how this shakes out. I’m pulling for them.
I hope they pull through!!!
What happens to people who signed up for the membership program?
https://downtownbellevue.com/2012/05/02/your-local-market-introduces-founding-membership-program/
I have a feeling the individuals that bought into the founding members program, including myself, will never see that money again… The fact that they closed without a clear game plan and a date to reopen is not a promising sign.
I always thought this was a unwise idea in the 1st place. Why would you open across the street from a Safeway and only mere blocks from a Whole Foods??? I get they were trying to do the one stop shop for people who eat organic & buy non organic products, but the selection can’t compete with either of the above mentioned stores. I still go to Whole Foods for my food & Safeway for other household products and I live 3 blocks from this place.
For me, the place was just not appealing. They took the old Safeway, cleaned it up, added a few trims here and there – so the place still felt old and dingy. I don’t know why grocery shops here are not as trendily designed as those in Europe. And their inventory was not unique either (like Trader Joe’s or PCC) – the same stuff that would get in QFC, Safeway or Whole Foods. I feel sad for the employees and owner, but I hope Kemper seizes the opportunity and starts construction on Lincoln Square II.
good spot for a BevMo 🙂
I live in Normandy Park. When I discovered this grocer in January, I shared it with all of my friends and family. They have the best orange juice and we all go there to buy our OJ every week! We hope it can reopen. They also have a a great bulk section and local snacks we love.
I doubt they’ll reopen and even if they do, it won’t be in good graces. This store filed bankruptcy just this week, listing nearly 300 creditors, most of which were local vendors that went out on a limb to supply this guy with the ‘promise’ that payment would come as soon as more investors came on board and business picked up. Don’t feel badly for the owner (who has done this before with his last company as it turns out). Feel badly for the employees and the many, many small businesses in our own community that are left holding the bag for merchandise that’ll never be paid for now…
@KD: BevMo! is moving into the former downtown location of the WSLCB liquor store, in the same plaza as Panera.
A store like that, higher priced than its competitors needs to have great service… this store did not. Every time I went in there, one, maybe two checkstands and you had to wait FOREVER… Pay higher prices and wait longer… no thanks.
I never wanted to even go inside, and I don’t know why… but I do shop at the new Safeway and Qfc and Whole Foods, and Trader Joes… tihs never seemed like anything I’d even want to try. I would just drive on by… The looks from the outside didn’t strike me in a good way either.. and yeah.. I feel sorry for the employees, but hey.. that’s life!!!
@Jonka that is the best damn news I’ve heard all day. thanks!
check out Total Wine that just opened next to Uwajimaya. Amazing.
I liked the store and the employees. They always were smiling and were quick to greet me. The Friday Fests were fun to attend where you could sample the products before you purchased them. I thought they had a unique business with many more possilities and ideas. The fact that they donated money to children’s charities was neat. I do hope they reopen with a new game plan and the same friendly employees.