Published August 2002

Business Briefs

Arlington Sears store
under new ownership
Area residents Rusty and Leslie Keller are the new owners of the Sears Retail Dealer Store at 3407 172nd St. NE, Suite K, in Arlington.

“Sears is committed to the customers in this area. We’re thrilled to have selected capable entrepreneurs like Rusty and Leslie Keller to own and operate our store,” said Sue Sorlien, president of the Sears Dealer Store program. “We will continue to build on the strong customer base that has embraced the convenience of shopping locally for our well-known brands.”

The Arlington store, which features Kenmore and Craftsman appliances, as well as Maytag, General Electric, KitchenAid, Whirlpool, Magnavox, Sony and RCA, also offers repair service on all brands of appliances and consumer electronics.

HCI holds workshop for regional builders
Builders from California, Oregon, Idaho and Washington recently attended a three-day industry workshop at the headquarters of HCI Steel Building Systems Inc. of Arlington.

The workshop covered topics ranging from computer pricing to standing seam roof installation techniques. Later, the builders toured HCI’s new computerized beam line, which is capable of producing clear-span buildings up to 600 feet wide.

Arlington chamber
launches new Web site
The Greater Arlington Area Chamber of Commerce has launched its new Web site, www.arlington-chamber.com, featuring a membership directory, upcoming events and a visitors and community services section, which includes information about the city’s parks, schools and demographic data, along with a page for searching for area businesses.

Bothell rejects proposed
increase to business license fee
The Bothell City Council will name a task force to examine options after rejecting a proposed increase in the city’s business license fee.

On July 15, Bothell council members unanimously rejected the city staff’s proposal to raise the annual per-employee fee for companies. The $1 million to be raised by the increase would have gone for road work.

Business owners spoke out loudly against the proposed increase from the current fee.

Under the city staff’s proposal, the business license fee would have been raised to $60 for each person employed by a company. Under the current system, the fee starts at $18 per employee for small shops and decreases to just over $4 per employee for bigger companies.

Amgen completes Immunex acquisition
Amgen Inc. announced in mid-July that it had completed its $10.3 billion acquisition of Immunex Corp. in the largest biotechnology merger ever.

The purchase gives Amgen the rheumatoid arthritis drug Enbrel, which the company estimates will generate sales of at least $3 billion a year by 2005.

The Federal Trade Commission approved the deal July 12 after Amgen agreed to license intellectual rights that would allow rival rheumatoid-arthritis drugs to enter the market. Additionally, Serano SA will get a license to rights related to Immunex’s Enbrel.

Amgen also agreed earlier this year to sell Immunex’s Leukine cancer drug to Schering AG of Germany.

Berlex Laboratories of New Jersey, a subsidiary of Schering, has said about 190 of 200 former Immunex employees who worked in the Leukine business have accepted jobs with Berlex, which is moving production of the drug to Bothell.

New drug store in Edmonds
Bartell Drug is planning a new store in Edmonds, its 11th outlet in Snohomish County.

It will open the store in Westgate Village, a shopping area under development on Edmonds Way that was previously called Westway Center.

The store will be among the Seattle chain’s largest and will feature on-site photo finishing, a drive-through pharmacy, camera- and music-related products, convenience foods, auto products and other departments. It will employ about 25 people and is set to open in the spring of 2003.

Bothell-based Microvision
wins NASA contract
Microvision Inc. of Bothell has been awarded a $1.9 million development contract with NASA Langley Research Center to deliver a prototype cockpit helmet display system.

The company, which has developed augmented vision technology that scans images directly onto the viewer’s retinas, will develop the prototype within 12 months for the research center’s Synthetic Vision Systems project.

NASA is exploring high-tech tools that can help improve aviation safety by enhancing cockpit displays.

Microvision’s Nomad display system, which is worn on the head, is already being sold on the commercial market.

Also: Microvision to lay off 14
Microvision is laying off 14 people and taking other steps in order to reduce operating expenses. The budget-trimming moves could save $10 million to 12 million over the next 18 months, according to the company.

While Microvision is bringing in more revenue than before, it’s still not profitable. Making the cuts reduces the amount of new money needed for the near future, said Rick Rutkowski, the company’s chief executive officer.

The cost reductions are spread across the company, so they should not affect the ability to meet customer demands. After accounting for the layoffs, Microvision has 179 full-time employees.

New McDonald’s opens in Sultan
A ribbon cutting and an appearance by Ronald McDonald were part of the official opening ceremonies July 3 at the new McDonald’s restaurant at U.S. 2 and Rice Road in Sultan.

The new restaurant, owned by Dennis Morris of Snohomish, will seat 80 and employ 50 to 60 people.

Everett to get new destroyer in 2004
Naval Station Everett will get another Arleigh Burke-class destroyer in 2004.

Joe Austin, post-delivery manager for Northrop Grumman Corp., said in July that USS Momsen is under construction now and will be delivered for assignment to Everett in early 2004.

The company also built USS Shoup, which was commissioned in June and sent to Everett. The Shoup and the Momsen use the Aegis combat system, which combines advanced radar, weapons and communications equipment.

The Momsen was named after the late Navy Vice Adm. Charles Momsen for his role in the rescue of 33 crew members of the submarine USS Squalus, which sank in 240 feet of water off New Hampshire in 1939. Momsen led a team of rescue divers who brought up the survivors in a diving bell.

Momsen directed the Navy’s first submarine hunting pack during World War II and went on to become assistant chief of naval operations for undersea warfare and later commander of the U.S. Pacific Fleet’s submarine force.

Physician-giving surpasses
$1 million mark for Pavilion
A recent $500,000 contribution from The Everett Clinic to the Providence General Foundation’s Capital Campaign has placed physician-giving above $1 million for the Providence Pavilion for Women and Children.

Other physician groups that have supported this project are the Emergency Physicians and Physicians Assistants of Everett, and Western Washington Medical Group.

Individual physicians also have participated with donations, boosting the total contributions to more than $6.4 million in the foundation’s efforts to raise $7.6 million.

Providence General Foundation launched the Sharing the Vision Capital Campaign last September to help fund the $57 million Pavilion for Women and Children.

Reid Middleton recognized
for work on courthouse retrofit
Everett-based Reid Middleton Inc. was awarded, along with Grays Harbor County and general contractor Rognlin’s, the Project of the Year Award for Structures from $2 million to $10 million by the Washington state chapter of the American Public Works Association.

The award recognized the emergency response and seismic retrofit to preserve and rehabilitate the Grays Harbor County Courthouse after the July 2, 1999, earthquake in Western Washington.

Consolidated Cellular stores
reopen with new owner, name
One of the nation’s fastest growing wireless phone dealers has purchased and reopened five Snohomish County stores that another company abruptly closed earlier this year.

Advantage Wireless Inc. recently purchased and reopened five Snohomish County stores from Consolidated Cellular, a wireless dealer with headquarters in Sedro-Woolley.

The stores, which abruptly closed earlier this year, opened under the new owners and new name this summer, said Susan Spurr, vice president at Colorado-based Advantage. Stores that reopened in Snohomish County include those in Everett, Lake Stevens, Marysville, Smokey Point and Bothell. Advantage also bought eight other former Consolidated stores in Woodinville, Skagit County and the Spokane area.

Each store went through a quick remodeling before opening under the new ownership.

Spurr said Consolidated’s owner, John Falavolito, decided to sell the stores after being hurt by the slow economy.

Advantage Wireless has more than 1,200 subdealer stores, which operate under different names, and 106 franchise locations in 23 states. The privately held company offers wireless plans from AT&T Wireless, Verizon and other providers, along with phones and accessories.

The stores Advantage recently bought are the company’s only corporate-owned stores, Spurr said. After they are established, they could be sold to franchisees or subdealers and operated like the company’s other affiliates.

New businesses, locations
n Espresso Connection has purchased Latte Da in Marysville, resulting in the relocation of Espresso Connection’s branch in Marysville to 9620 State Ave. Espresso Connection also has locations in Everett, Monroe, Bothell, Oak Harbor and four other cities.

n The M. Danard Group Inc. has moved to Suite C101 at 111 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett. Led by Mariann Danard, the group provides marketing and related services to Snohomish County builders and development companies.

n “Sounds Good” Hearing Aid Center has opened at 3508 Broadway in Everett. The new business is owned by Ron Collette of Monroe and Sam Vong Phouthone of Redmond, who have a combined 25 years of experience in servicing hearing aids. Collette said they will handle all analog, programmable and digital hearing aids and offer free in-house repairs and service. The business also has agreed to provide free hearing aids to people who qualify through the Lions Club assistance program. The telephone number is 425-257-1108.

n Fran Powell has opened Powell Awards & Engraving at 120 Ave. D in Snohomish. The telephone number is 360-568-7738.

n Girl Scouts — Totem Council’s Northern Counties service center, which serves Snohomish, Skagit, Whatcom, San Juan and Island counties, has moved from Arlington to 7100 Evergreen Way, Suite C, in Everett. The phone number has changed to 425-348-6244, and the fax number has changed to 425-348-5773. The toll-free number will remain 800-767-6833.

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