Thanks to reader Don for the picture
The days are numbered for Capitol Hill neighborhood convenience store, household goods and hardware store, and smoke shop ShopRite.
A sign has gone up on the 15th and Republican store announcing the store is closing “soon” and a closeout sale is underway. In classic ShopRite style, the sign includes multiple variations for spelling the store’s name.
“Thank you for all your support and loyalty these past years,” it begins.
CHS reported here last summer about owner Mohammad Abid’s plans as the block was lined up for eventual redevelopment that will include the demolition of the nearly 30-year-old store.
Abid has run the shop for more than 20 of its nearly 30 years of business after coming to the United States from Pakistan in 1984. He told CHS he was more likely to retire or open another store outside the city than to continue on 15th Ave E once the new redevelopment is built.
The 1904-built Moore Family building and the former QFC grocery store on the block are destined to make way for a planned 6-story, “S” design building with 170 new apartment units above 10,000 square feet of retail space and underground parking for 99 vehicles.
Across the street, developer Hunters Capital is preparing this summer to open the Capitol Hilltop Apartments building on the site of the old neighborhood service station. Its commercial mix will include moves by some of the neighborhood’s beauty community as Rudy’s and WaxOn will be part of the new development.
The project that will demolish the old QFC and ShopRite’s building won’t be ready to break ground until final design issues are worked out over the planned sixth story but with the end of construction on the Hilltop project, the clock has started.
In the meantime, the block is hosting a short-term addition to 15th Ave E as the Punk Rock Flea Market has transformed the old grocery into a space for its markets and special events like this weekend’s Seattle Zine Fest. The flea market lease runs through the end of 2024.
“Styling agency” Cuniform has also joined the ShopRite block with a temporary Seattle headquarters for its personal and interior consulting team.
For now, you still have time to stop in and bid farewell and thank you to Abid while maybe finding a few necessities and deals in the busy aisles.
ShopRite is located at 432 15th Ave E.
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A Neighborhood Treasure Lost
This store always had what you needed in an emergency. It’s unfortunate that we won’t see businesses like this anymore on 15th Street, as it’s now dominated by overpriced commercial spaces that remain unwanted.
I stopped taking my business there when he refused to replace a defective florescent bulb. There was a $10 minimum to use a card. I won’t miss it.
Same.
The owner was always super friendly, and as someone without a vehicle, it was nice to have a spot that was likely to have some random thing I needed.
Blame the $10 minimum on the credit card companies that charge small businesses fees for their transactions and then give them to their customers as perks! It’s a really terrible system and I fully support credit card minimums at small businesses!
I don’t usually carry cash. It lost its convenience when I had to run out to the ATM. Why not charge a small fee, like the smoke shop on Broadway?
There are many people that cannot get credit cards, they can be incredibly difficult and inconvenient to get for some…
So now they just aren’t using your preferred method to account for the credit card companies trickle-up campaign against small businesses? Again, your attention is on the wrong actor here I think 🤔
I don’t have a credit card, either. I use a debit card. Much more convenient.
You know you’re old when you remember Red & Black Books being in that space, and how bummed everyone was when it closed and ended up becoming a corner “random stuff” shop…
….a shop that, decades years later, we’re all sad to see go.
Damn. This place was like the Room of Requirement. Always had what you needed. Pour out another for a classic 15th business…
Where were you when Hardwicks closed down ?
Much loved? There are plenty of places formerly on 15th that I miss – the Canterbury, Coastal Kitchen, Red & Black books, and the video store- but this isn’t one of them. Disgustingly dirty and ridiculously overpriced. The few times I went in there I felt like I was in H.H. Holmes murder house. I lived 3 blocks away from it for 5 years in the 1990s and have worked 3 blocks from it for the last 3 years and haven’t been in there more than 4 or 5 times. Losing this place is no loss.
Agreed!
wow, you must feel so good getting this off your chest after 30 years. Good for you.
I’m old enough to remember when 15th ave was a nice place to visit.
For me, I think the convenience was overshadowed by the prices. I’m looking forward to something new for the neighborhood!