Sunday, August 01, 2010

News from the neighborhood

Check out Fred Meyer's eco-friendly roof on the bottle-return outpost!
The gentrification of the neighborhood continues apace.
The Fred Meyer on SE 39th and Hawthorne has undergone extensive remodeling, both outside and inside.  Outside, Fred's has landscaped its parking lots with wetland-like areas.  They've constructed an eco-friendly roof on the bottle return building.  On the inside, they've created an open cafeteria/sushi bar/specialty bakery area that is very modern and inviting.

All of this is done, of course, with the idea of stealing some of the thunder from the New Seasons grocery store under construction a block to the east, on SE 40th and Hawthorne (right across the street from Thanh Thao Thai/Vietnamese Restaurant).

The New Seasons is scheduled to open in October and, boy, won't that change the whole dynamic in the neighborhood?  I've lived in this neighborhood for 11 years now, and I don't think I've ever managed to stay out of Fred Meyer for longer than a 3 or 4 day stretch.  But with New Seasons on its way, Old Uncle Fred might actually have to put up his dukes and fight!

 Soon to be New Seasons
I'm glad to see new business coming to the neighborhood, but I really hope it doesn't result in rents on Hawthorne become too expensive for places like The Third Eye head shop, or the Blue Butterfly Import store.  What would Hawthorne be without a head shop, for God's sake?

Hang in there, guys!

A Dragon named Zucchini


In the sea swam the dragon Zucchini
Who loved to eat shrimp with linguine
'Til one day a prawn
Avoided his yawn
And cried out "Must you be such a meanie?"

3 comments:

Mari Gold said...

Ten years ago,the scales were tipping in favor of a move to the Ptld Metro area for me. When I discovered the Daily Grind, it sealed the deal.

I have fond memories around finding good produce in the dumpster there, and taking that on a trip to a tree sit. The now-defunct Cascadia Forest Alliance would pick people up at the DG on a Sunday a.m. and take them on a tour of the forest.

Also, the bakery was great! There was a particular sprouted wheat, date, and nut bread I liked. One slice was a meal.

It was a landmark of hippie-ness in the Hawthorne area.

New Seasons? Steel condos? Upscale shoe stores and salons? Not so much.

Dan Binmore said...

The moment that convinced me to move to Portland was Willie Wonka with beer and pizza at The Bagdad.

"Shusli" Baseler said...

Ten years ago,the scales were tipping in favor of a move to the Ptld Metro area for me. When I discovered the Daily Grind, it sealed the deal.

I have fond memories around finding good produce in the dumpster there, and taking that on a trip to a tree sit. The now-defunct Cascadia Forest Alliance would pick people up at the DG on a Sunday a.m. and take them on a tour of the forest.

Also, the bakery was great! There was a particular sprouted wheat, date, and nut bread I liked. One slice was a meal.

It was a landmark of hippie-ness in the Hawthorne area.

New Seasons? Steel condos? Upscale shoe stores and salons? Not so much.