Business Continues In Fairwood Shopping Center During Construction

The future is bright in Fairwood.

Just getting through the little bumps in the road (pun intended) during the massive construction process during the next several months is the hard part most of the business owners said recently. But all remain optimistic.

To make way for a new LA Fitness store, set to open later this year, a stormwater vault is being dug, displacing much of the parking for some of the stores on the corner of S.E. 171st Way in the Fairwood Shopping Center.

The vault is necessary for safety regulations because LA Fitness will have an indoor pool, in case there is an emergency need to drain it.

Right now, during the storm drainage work, and through mid-August, the two businesses hardest hit are the Fairwood Haircare Center (commonly known s Fairwood's Barber) and . Parking is limited immediately near the two stores, but there are spots within close walking distance.

Both businesses remain open during construction, and urge customers to patronize them.

Gina Olson, from Fairwood Hair Care said, “Yes, it is painful right now, but the future is bright [when the construction is completed].”

“We are lucky to have a loyal following of men,” Olson said.

Dick Illian, Jr., the owner of The Apogee Restaurant says that lunches have been hardest hit right now because of blocking of throughway traffic, but like Olson, has a positive outlook.

“Everything will look much better when they are done,” Illian said. “We have been in business for 40 years, and I am thankful for all of our local supporters,” he said.

The Apogee has been helped during the down period by relying on its catering business. That serves as good reminder for those summer picnics and family reunions.

At The Wine Alley, Allison and Scott Helfen said that business is down a bit, but that “it is probably a combination of the construction and the economy,” Allison Helfen said.

"For us on this end, it's more of a matter that the road is often closed between the front and back and folks don't want to take the detour around to this end. Driving through the construction is a bit of a hassle as it's congested and there's less parking.” The Wine Alley also takes orders online and delivers.

“What we're trying to stress on everyone is to please take time out to visit each business, even if it’s a little inconvenient,” Helfen said.

As part of the construction project, new signs and canopies are being installed for every business. If you  are interested in what the final outcome will look like, you can stop in to the Terramar Offices, located between Fairwood Thai and Salon DeGavo and speak with the property manager, Elizabeth Stoner.

Stoner said that there will be an additional 5,000 square feet of retail located next to Starbucks.  There are no current plans in the works for the site of the former Shell station. It will likely not be developed until 2012.

Look for a trailer on site soon, for pre-sales for the LA Fitness Store.

On the other side of the building, but unrelated to the Terramar project, the Bartells Drug Store construction is coming along well. The pharmacy is open and doing a brisk business since the Cascade Bartells closed two weeks ago even as construction goes on outside of the store.

John Weith, Vice President of Distribution, was on site checking out the new remodel during my visit this week. “We are trying something new with our beauty department, have expanded the gift selection based upon customer requests. We are excited about the card, gift and camera department,” Weith said. “It will make it easier to find what customers need.”

Weith invited the community to come in and see what has changed.

Customer and Fairwood resident, Pat Auten said she really liked what they have done with the store when she was shopping there on Thursday. “It is a convenient place for me to come and shop for gifts and cards.”

Charlotte Grohndahl, Bartells store manager, is looking forward to the new store façade and encourages people to stop in at Terramar location to check out the renderings of the new center.

“Once the construction is over, business should be booming and we're all focused on what's ahead,” Helfen said.