Published February 2002

Everett no longer home,
but Crown still to have presence in city

By John Wolcott
Herald Business Journal Editor

It was a shock to the Everett business community two years ago when Peter Bargreen announced his family’s Crown Distributing Co. would leave the city where his grandfather, Howard Bargreen, founded the wholesale beverage business in 1934.

Since then, the business has moved and expanded in Everett four times. But by the late 1990s, the fourth-generation family owners — Peter Bargreen, President/CEO; John Bargreen, Corporate Vice President; Gigi Burke, Vice President of Corporate Affairs; and Greg Blunt, President of Crown Development — could see another move would soon be needed.

That decision was hastened when the city of Everett established a hazardous-household-waste collection facility adjacent to Crown’s headquarters and warehouse in the city’s downtown industrial center.

Crown’s beverage supplier, Anheuser-Busch, objected to having one of its leading distributors so close to hazardous materials. Negotiations with the city to resolve the situation were futile, leaving a move as the best option, Peter Bargreen said.

Traffic congestion was partly to blame, too. Frequent gridlock on I-5 at the 41st Street exit and the ramps to the Highway 2 trestle was becoming increasingly frustrating and costly to delivery firms such as Crown Distributing, Bargreen said.

But the move doesn’t mean Crown Distributing’s presence in Everett has completely vanished.

“Some of our families still live there, and we’re still very active in our roles in Everett, including schools and other community groups,” Burke said.

“We still serve Everett (customers), and we’re there daily for various things (in the business and the community). In many ways, we haven’t really left.”

Related: Crown's new headquarters allows for growth

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