The cat is out of the bag, Trader Joe's is coming to Sammamish.
Though Regency Centers has not officially announced the new tenant slated for Ace Hardware's 11,000 square foot space at its Sammamish Highlands shopping center, the company has submitted an application for tenant improvements for the specialty grocery store, city permit staff said.
Ace had secured an extension to its lease following last year's announcement that it would be moving from the center, but the extension expires in August, making way for a new Trader Joe's location in Sammamish.
Recently, the land-swap proposal that Ace owner Tim Koch had referred to as the last best chance to relocate Ace in Sammamish was denied by the city of Sammamish.
Koch recently wrote a letter to customers, asking for help to keep Ace on the Plateau:
Dear Ace Customers,
I regret to inform you all that the city voted down our proposal. As of right now we will be closing our doors August of this year. If anyone has information about space on the plateau please contact me via email or call 425-868-2203. I would love to keep Ace alive on the plateau!
I sincerely appreciate all of your support and patronage throughout the years. Thank you so much!
Sincerely,
Tim Koch and the Sammamish Ace Team
Without Ace, the nearest general hardware stores for Sammamish residents are in Redmond or Issaquah.
Ace branded stores are part of a 4,400-store network originated in Chicago in the 1920's, but each store is individually owned.
Ace occupies an 11,548 square-foot anchor location in the Sammmamish Highlands Center. Regency also manages Inglewood Plaza and Pine Lake Plaza, which have a combined 120,000 square feet of space and are both fully leased.
Despite mixed emotions, do you like the idea of gaining a Trader Joe's in Sammamish? Tell us in the comments.
Previous coverage of Sammamish Ace Hardware
Sammamish Council Rejects Ace Hardware Site
Sammamish Ace Hardware Owner Continues Uphill Climb
Here lies Ace Hardware
Council Hears Two Hours of Comment on Sammamish Ace Hardware
Ace Hardware Owner Asks Sammamish to Represent at Council Meeting
