Met Market closed its doors for the last time on Tuesday, making room for a new retail and residential development that will span the lot along Queen Anne Ave. “We worked closely with Emerald Bay Equity for three years to try and make something work. But in the end, the redevelopment as designed was just too expensive for us,” Met Market’s Brad Halverson told us back in May. Now, the flowers are gone, the doors are locked and staffers are packing up the inventory for Met Market’s Lower Queen Anne location, at 1st and Mercer.
Last week, Met Market held a customer appreciation party, complete with Tom Douglas cooking up salmon, free for all. “Thank you doesn’t say enough,” says Met Market’s Halverson. “We started in Queen Anne in 1971 and wouldn’t be the company we are today without the loyal support of the Queen Anne community.” For several weeks, Met Market handed out special offers to encourage customers to try out the Lower Queen Anne store.
Just down the street over at Safeway, business has picked up. “It’s busier,” a clerk told us. “We’re glad you’re here.” New customers roamed the store, many of them trying to get their bearings. The parking lot is fuller than usual.
The new development planned for the lot will span the entire block on Queen Anne Ave. between West Crockett and West Howe streets with a mix of retail and luxury apartments. Emerald Bay Equity’s Joe Geivett told Queen Anne View that “major construction is anticipated to begin in August.” There’s still no official word on an anchor tenant for the new development.