Capitol Hill’s 15th Ave E is known for its sense of community and vibrant local businesses but one store owner is facing an uncertain future. Mohammad Abid knows his building is going to be torn down.
What will come next for ShopRite and Abid’s passion for his store and the community it serves?
CHS reported here on early plans for a five-story, mixed-use development that will replace the the 1904-built Moore Family building and the former QFC grocery store on the block.
“Yeah, maybe four or six months, after finishing the project down the street, they will start here,” Abid expects. “Same contractor, same owner, same everything,” as the work up the street where Capitol Hill developer Hunters Capital’s project replacing the old Hilltop Service Station is rising.
ShopRite means a lot to Abid who has run the shop for more than 20 of its nearly 30 years of business.
Coming to the United States from Pakistan in 1984, Abid says he moved to the US for an educational opportunity. After attending Edmonds Community College and working a few small jobs, he found ShopRite. “Before this, I was not married. Then I opened a store, I got married, I bought a house, I had children. I did all this to put my children through school and I have.”
ShopRite and the busy owner have been fixtures in the community. Neighbors know him, and he knows them, serving the same people for years, learning their needs, and ordering the obscure items requested.
But the city and the neighborhood needs more housing and waves of development continue to pass through the city — especially in areas like 15th Ave E on the edges of the most densely populated areas of Seattle. Abid has seen the neighborhood grow, and now the change has arrived for ShopRite.
CHS reported here on the 2017 acquisition of the building including ShopRite after it had been gifted to the University of Washington by the family that held the property for decades.
For over 20 years, Abid said he had “no problems,” as the family ownership “had a good property management company and things worked smoothly.” Abid wonders why businesses like ShopRite don’t seem to be part of the future plans. “Why not keep the money coming in?,” he asks.
Developer Hunters Capital hasn’t addressed the situation for businesses like the Rudy’s Barbershop that also calls the building home or ShopRite but it is planning for new, street-level commercial spaces in the new development.
ShopRite might not stick around for that future. Abid says that retirement is a possibility, though not a certainty. He knows his 25-year-old son isn’t interested in the family business — “He wants a white collar job.” But Abdi loves working with the people of Capitol Hill. “That’s what I like about this job is that I get to meet people and just talk to them and get to know who they are,” he says. “And yeah, every day you learn something, you know. This is a customer, even one dollar or one penny, a customer.”
But ShopRite leaving Capitol Hill or even relocating away from 15th? Abid seemed incredulous. “No, this is my home,” he said. “I go to my house just to sleep, otherwise, I am here. This is my neighborhood.” If he finds out there will be a space for ShopRite in the new construction, Abid said he would absolutely stay, on one condition, that the rent stays the same. “I started at $2000 a month, now I’m at $10,000. I can maybe do a little bit more with a new space, but after that…” He shrugs.
Abid doesn’t want to close — that much is clear. His dedication to his store and the neighborhood continues as he organizes deliveries of new inventory on the busy store shelves.
“People still need things, and since I don’t know when, I keep making sure I have items they ask for,” he says.
He has also started to think about how ShopRite ends. “If they give us the final time, it will be a sale, 50% off, 25% off, that kind of closing sale,” he says. He has also thought about what he wants to say to the customers and the neighborhood.
“Thank you for building me up and being my community.”
ShopRite is located at 432 15th Ave E.
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Love this store. Anything you could ever think to want is here.
Glad that store is around when we need something quick, but now I understand why the prices are so crazy high — he’s paying $120k in rent every year!
What an incredible story. Thanks for sharing! Really hope we can find space in our community for his store! More pressure needs to be put on hunters Capitol.
Abid and his store are a great resource! Hope he finds a way to continue on the Hill. Thanks for the story and photo documentation, I appreciate learning more about his history and success selling to the CH community.
Thank you for profiling another wonderful local business owner.
Thanks for this interview. When I heard about these demolition and construction plans, my first thought was to wonder what would happen to this shop. Mohammad and his business are great assets to the community. I hope he can get an affordable place in the new building.
I understand the need for housing but why ruin what makes the neighborhood attractive and functional in the process? This reminds me so much of what was my family’s variety store business that got steamrolled under similar circumstances. It destroyed my father. Here’s hoping Abid is at least dealt with more respectfully.
Stabilizing and preserving businesses like this should be a NO BRAINER for the City of Seattle. The city should have already come forward years ago with property tax breaks for affordable commercial rents, just like the MFTE program for affordable living units.
ShopRight is a huge neighborhood asset. Forget to buy wrapping paper, he’s got it. Run out of packing tape for your package. He’s got it. Need something for a birthday. Take your choice. We don’t need another cute coffee store or a niche trendy place. Everyone needs a store like this in the neighborhood. The owners are always kind and helpful. Save ShopRight!!!
Thank you for this spotlight on Abid and our beloved ShopRite! This store has helped me SO many times in weird pinches, i.e. random cables for my vintage stereo, coffee grinder replacement, all the tape, batteries and sketchbook paper. Abid is essential to this neighborhood and I sincerely hope his store and legacy is somehow protected.
This place saved my ass plenty of times. When the QFC didn’t have something, ShopRite did. Amazing store even if the markups were a little wild sometimes! :) Thanks for this profile.
This part stuck out to me though:
“CHS reported here on the 2017 acquisition of the building including ShopRite after it had been gifted to the University of Washington by the family that held the property for decades.”
That’s weird to me. They gave it away to UW, which immediately sold it to developers. I suppose the whole setup was a roundabout cash gift to UW? Less taxes this way?
This store is AMAZING! They have absolutely everything you need. I’m all for sprucing up 15th but NOT at the expense of business like this which contribute so much to the neighborhood and are obviously committed to the neighborhood. 10k a month for that space??? Don’t even get me started.