With Halloween wrapped up, it appears that Santa’s Seattle village will have a Capitol Hill outpost this year. Take it away tipster Ella:
New Santa workshop in hot topic space! Sign says “fun photos with Santa”
Long the province of downtown’s big department stores, the developers of the Broadway Market shopping center have apparently invited Santa in to fill in the empty retail space left behind when Hot Topic left the shopping mall earlier this year. On Monday, we reported on news that a developer had cut back on its plans for retail space in an upcoming Capitol Hill development partly due to the neighborhood’s tepid retail prospects.
Santa’s presence on Broadway is not connected to the Broadway Improvement Association’s new program with the Storefronts Seattle group to enliven empty area retail space with art projects.
We reported this spring that new investors are working on a multi-million overhaul of the Broadway Market complex including significant “capital enhancements.” We’re thinking Santa’s village is not what they were talking about.
Another Broadway Market overhaul? They already took a perfectly good Fred Meyer and turned it into a redundant QFC and a mishmash of revolving businesses? What’s next? I have an idea. A perfectly good Fred Meyer.
Oh, and yes it is too soon for Santa.
yes, way too soon.
Please– let me finish burping turkey before you start throwing Santa at me.
Apparently Starbucks doesn’t think so either. Halloween was just last night, people!
When I walked by the other day I thought it was a spooky, artistic set up for Halloween. I don’t think I’d be willingly walking in there if I were a kid.
Uh, yeah this is way too early. I hate Christmas though so as far as I’m concerned, Santa and his little elves can go fuck themselves.
Happy Holidaze! :-)
I never say “LOL”, but in this case… LOL!
I think you have lots of company.
Did Starbucks come up with a Turkey gravy latte?
…remember when it used to be exciting to see the Christmas decorations unveiled the day AFTER Thanksgiving? YES, it’s WAY too soon. I hate the over-commercialization of Christmas. I recognize that stores are struggling to bring in sales, but pretty soon we’ll be seeing Santa in stores in August. Yuck.
Well, I love Christmas, so YOU, my friend, can just go and fuck YOURSELF :)
Well, considering both QFC and Fred Meyer are now owned by Kroger, the only real difference anymore is just the name. And frankly, the Broadway QFC is a lot closer to a Freddie’s in terms of item selection (e.g. the entire lower level) than you’ll see at just about any other QFC, with the possible exception of the old Art’s on Holman Road.
The problem with the Broadway retail district is businesses can’t afford to set up shop on Broadway. I’ve been on the hill for over 18 years and the only Broadway Market tenants that are still here from when I moved to the hill are the shoe repair place and Broadway Video. Everything else is long gone. IMO part of the reason you can’t keep businesses on Broadway is the landlords ask for too much money. You could charge less and have tenants or you could charge more and have vacancies.
Actually, one big difference between Fred Meyer stores and QFCs is in pricing. Prices are higher – on identical items – at QFC than at Fred Meyer.
any time from here until forever would be too soon for Santa’s village.
@ Gaia76
I fuck myself silly on a regular basis. It doesn’t help.