‘90%’ — In tiff with Seattle Metropolis Council over COVID-19 hazard pay, Kroger says most staff ‘selected to proceed working with QFC’ however has no solutions on what’s subsequent for Capitol Hill grocery

There’s not much left to sell at 15th Ave E QFC (Photo: CHS).

The numbers behind the decision may not add up exactly, but 15th Ave E. QFC is still set for the last business day on Saturday as the parent company based in Ohio Kroger continues to point finger at a specific guided tour in Seattle to decide to swipe the store over the $ 4 an hour COVID-19 hazard payment.

The 15th Ave E location has been an active grocery store for 44 years.

“Although we never intend to close deals, it is unfortunate that the decision was made for us,” a company spokesman told CHS on Thursday. “The Seattle City Council ordinance made it impossible to keep these two underperforming businesses open.”

The dispute is also a sore point between the company and United Food and Commercial Workers 21, the local chapter of the powerful union that represents food workers. UFCW 21 protested the shutdown decisions and held mock fundraising events in front of stores about to close to raise funds for the country’s top supermarket chain to pay their workers a temporary risk payment and ask Kroger Co. to do so to keep stores open. “

According to Kroger, “90%” of the employees involved in the shutdown have taken on new jobs at other QFC locations.

The spokesman declined to provide “specific business information” to CHS “as it is our policy not to share sales data for stores”.

There are two other QFCs on Capitol Hill – both on Broadway – and nine more in Seattle.

CHS reported in mid-February on Kroger’s decision to close two stores in Seattle over the city’s COVID-19 hazard payment as the most expensive locations on Capitol Hill and the Wedgwood neighborhood had to come on stream amid rising operating costs. The closings were closed along with other formwork from the company in accordance with the Hazard Payment Regulations in other cities.

In Wedgwood, the neighbors hosted a farewell event for employees Thursday afternoon with “applause, heartfelt thanks and custom checks for $ 205.88 from a fundraiser in the neighborhood,” reports the Seattle Times.

(Image: CHS)

(Image: CHS)

Many thanks to a CHS reader for the picture of the new surveillance camera setup

There was no party or farewell on Capitol Hill – and no checks.

With only two business days left, the shelves on 15th Ave E are all but empty. Shoppers turn to the small selection of snacks nearby Walgreens or a few blocks south to the Safeway on the 15th and John.

“We appreciate the friendliness and generosity that the community has shown our business partners,” says a company statement.

Earlier this year – a month before Kroger’s announced decision to close the stores – Seattle city council approved emergency payment legislation for city grocers exposed to the ongoing risks of a COVID-19 outbreak. Teresa Mosqueda The bill had broad support in the council and was co-sponsored by the council members M. Lorena González, Lisa Herbold, Tammy J. Morales, Kshama Sawant, Dan Strauss, and Andrew J. Lewis.

QFC announced this week that most workers will continue with QFC despite filing nationwide documents required to cut the 109 jobs at the two branches.

“We had over 100 employees who were affected by these two store closures. QFC has met with all employees in the last few weeks and offered opportunities for transfers. Over 90% have decided to continue working with QFC, ”a company spokesman told CHS. “We continue to work with staff on last minute placement options as they wish. Anyone who wanted to continue with QFC is still working and receiving the Extra Pay and Perks. “

Given these hiring and risk payout sums, Kroger’s decision to shut down locations and properties depends. According to the owner, the shop on 15th Ave E had a two year lease on it Hunter capital.

44 years of grocery (Image: Seattle Before and After)

Capitol Hill-based developer and real estate company Hunters Capital bought the property four years ago for $ 11.25 million after it was donated to the company University of Washington after a death in the family who held the property for decades. The Moore family building Property includes the grocery store built in 1944. It was originally the home of the Moore family Price and Stephens Business. The developer says that the store will open until 1956 thrift and a building in the south was demolished to make way for the large car park.

There is now a large new portable surveillance camera system in the store’s large parking lot. “The camera was placed there for security reasons and we have it in many locations,” the QFC spokesman said, but didn’t explain why it was added only a week or two before the store closed.

Hunters Capital said the ultimate plan is to rebuild the block with likely new apartment buildings and mixed-use buildings. It is possible that QFC’s early exit could postpone that date, but the developer already has its hands full on E 15th Ave where its plan to redevelop the Hilltop Service Station property through reviews is fully advanced and through Soil remediation moved in the direction of demolition of the old station, then construction.

For 15th Ave E, the loss of the food and 17,000 square foot market that is vacant could be a new challenge after months of COVID-19 shutdown. Hunters Capital has announced that it will look for ways to use the building and keep the block-length shop front “activated”. In the last few days before the shutdown, a representative from Hunters Capital said the situation around the building had not changed and talks with Kroger about the remaining lease had not progressed.

On Thursday, food company CHS said it had “no information about the future of this website or the lease itself”.

QFCs are slated to close for good on Saturday April 24th at 416 15th Ave E. The operating hours in the last few weeks were from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

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