Published September 2005

Business Briefs

Van Valey House open for meetings

Snohomish County Business Journal/JOHN WOLCOTT One of Everett’s newest venues for small business meetings and conferences is the historic 1914-era Van Valey House at 2130 Colby Ave., managed by the Everett Parks and Recreation department. It has meeting space for up to 48 people and seats 18 for formal dining. Rental fees range from $55 to $75 an hour for Everett residents, slightly higher for out-of-city. For reservations, contact event coordinator Gina Latshaw at 425-257-6300. More information is available at www.everettwa.org/parks.

Kohl’s stores coming
to Gateway in Marysville
When Kohl’s, a national chain of 670 department stores, opens its first Western Washington location in Marysville, the 88,000-square-foot facility in the soon-to-be-built Gateway Shopping Center will be just the beginning of its new presence in Washington state.

Construction is due to begin next January on the center, featuring Kohl’s store and a 93,000-square-foot Winco Foods supermarket, 45,000-square-feet of smaller stores and two stand-alone pad-sites for retail businesses. The center’s opening is set for late 2006.

The Wisconsin-based Kohl’s chain reportedly plans to make a big impact on mid-priced department stores in Western Washington. A second Kohl’s site is supposedly being targeted for downtown Covington, east of Kent. Other sites are rumored to include centers in Puyallup, Lacey, Silverdale, Woodinville and elsewhere, although the company itself is not commenting on the speculation.

Retail analysts expect Kohl’s to primarily compete with Mervyns, J.C. Penney, Sears, Kmart and Macy’s, but Wal-Mart and Target discount stores could also feel the competition. Kohl’s opened 95 stores last year and plans the same number of new stores this year across the country.

Construction to begin
on arts, sciences building at EvCC
As part of its 25-year plan to update its 47-year-old campus, Everett Community College recently broke ground on a $27 million arts and sciences building.

When the 88,000-square-foot building opens in 2007, it will give science classes storage and preparation areas and a third lab dedicated to organic chemistry. The visual arts department will have walls of windows that will provide ample light, two studios and gallery space near the main entrance. With the larger space, the arts department will add new programs that will include printmakin, art education and sculpture.

The Everett Community College Foundation is working to raise $750,000 to equip the arts and sciences building with necessary equipment for the classes.

3 Vines Chef Service
caters to busy people
A unique take-out restaurant recently opened in Everett. Owner Patricia Allegretti and Executive Chef Frank Molina, of 3 Vines Chef Service, provide daily lunch and dinner specials (viewable online at www.3vines.com) that are made to go.

Call 3 Vines at 425-303-3333 a few hours ahead for a quick meal, or the day before, especially for a large party, and the food will be ready for pick-up at a pre-arranged time. The restaurant, which buys from local growers to assure freshness and quality, shares a space with J. Matheson Kitchen and Gourmet at 2609 Colby.

SRO buys business park
Sterling Realty Organization recently bought the six-building Quadrant Business Park in Everett for approximately $17 million. The 108,300-square-foot park was built 25 years ago and currently leases space to engineering companies, health-care providers, consultants and nonprofits.

CityBank sells Diligenz subsidiary
Diligenz Inc., a subsidiary of CityBank that has provided online access to business documents and due diligence information since 1990, is being sold to Corporation Service Co. for $35 million. The Wilmington, Del., company has no immediate plans to move Diligenz, which employs more than 100 people in Mukilteo.

Diligenz pioneered online searches for information and access to data that primarily is used by lenders and investors when deciding whether to loan or invest money in a company.

Learn how to sell
to county government, contractors
Businesses interested in selling products or services to Snohomish County government agencies and Puget Sound prime contractors are invited to attend a free seminar at Everett Community College’s Jackson Center.

The Local Procurement Opportunities seminar will be 9 a.m. to noon on Sept. 8. Representatives from local agencies and large businesses will discuss the products and services they procure and how these purchases are made.

Participating agencies and prime contractors include City of Arlington, Edmonds School District, City of Darrington, Monroe Correctional Complex, City of Everett, Monroe School District, City of Gold Bar, Mukilteo School District, City of Lynnwood, Snohomish School District, City of Marysville, Community Transit, City of Monroe, U.S. Navy, City of Mountlake Terrace, Boeing, City of Sultan, Del-Jen Services, Snohomish County, Fluke, Port of Everett, Hoffman Construction, Everett Community College, Intermec Corporation, Edmonds Community College and Wilder Construction.

Since space is limited, early registration is encouraged. To register, visit www.snoedc.org/event_calendar.jsp or e-mail lhenthorn@snoedc.org. For more information, call Lisa Henthorn at 425-743-4567 Ext. 13.

HCI wins award for military project
HCI Steel Building Systems Inc., of Arlington, was a member of The Austin Company’s team for the Ft. Lewis Deployment Center Project, which received the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) 2004 Gold Award.

The award was given for innovation in the design solution, incorporation of sustainable design elements, contribution to improving the operating capability of a Federal Agency, and cooperation between the project team and agency in meeting project goals.

Diabetes education program
merits ADA recognition
Cascade Valley Diabetes Education and Nutrition Program, a diabetes self-management program in Arlington, was awarded Recognition from the American Diabetes Association. ADA Education Recognition is a voluntary process, which assures approved programs have met National Standards.

Participants in an ADA Recognized program are taught self-care skills to promote better management of their diabetes regimen.

With the support of the health-care team and increased knowledge of diabetes, patients can assume a major responsibility for their diabetes management. According to ADA, some of the acute and chronic complications of diabetes may be prevented through better self-management.

For more information about the program, contact Taunya Sanchez at 360-435-1051.

Upscale apartment complex
being built in Stanwood
When the five-story, 44-unit Village Square apartment complex is completed next fall, developer Sol Baron hopes it will appeal to empty nesters who are looking to downsize into an upscale apartment.

The $9 million complex will also contain ground-floor space for retail businesses, similar to the nearly completed Village Commons condominiums next door. The upscale apartments will have one or two bedrooms and range from 750 square feet to more than 1,100 square feet. Residents will park in a gated, covered parking area and will have access to common spaces for visiting or relaxing outdoors.

Red Dragon Casino opens
in Mountlake Terrace
The Red Dragon Casino in Mountlake Terrace offers gaming, dining and the opportunity to watch sporting events on a 158-inch television screen.

The casino opened in July under the ownership of Geordie Sze and has approximately 150 employees. Red Dragon Casino has gaming on two levels, a poker room with four tables and 15 gaming tables with limits from $5 to $200. The casino also books parties for up to 200 people.

Located at 21917 Hwy 99, Red Dragon Casino also has two restaurants. The Macau Grill has a Pan Asian menu, patio dining and live music on weekends. The Upper Deck Sports Bar has a more casual menu, pool tables, outdoor patio and sports shows on 42-inch and 158-inch television screens.

The casino opens at 11 a.m. daily and closes at 7 a.m., with both restaurants serving food throughout those hours. There are two parking lots and complimentary valet parking on weekends. For more information, call 425-275-4444.

Radia Vein Center opens
office in Mill Creek
The Radia Vein Center recently opened in the Park Place Center, 15224 Main Street, Suite 303, in Mill Creek. The office offers new non-surgical treatments to remove varicose and spider veins. Outpatient procedures involve minimal discomfort and, after treatment, patients can resume normal activities immediately.

Vascular surgeons on staff include doctors James “Jay” Cook, Robert DeFrang, Phillip Feliciano, W. Burley McIntyre and Mark Papenhausen.

For more information, call 425-740-2180 or go online to www.radiaveincenter.net.

Seminar for small-business owners,
professionals
A seminar designed to help small-business owners and independent professionals attract new customers will be held 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Sept. 30 in Bellevue. The cost of the seminar, which will be held in The Summit Building conference room, is $100 per person. The price includes a networking lunch. Deadline for reservations is Friday, Sept. 23. The seminar is sponsored by Women Business Owners and presented by Henry DeVries and Nancy S. Juetten, of New Client Marketing Institute.

DeVries is the author of “Self-Marketing Secrets” and “Client Seduction” and the founder and research director for New Client Marketing Institute. He is an adjunct professor of marketing at the Harvard Business School.

Juetten’s firm, Nancy S. Juetten Marketing, is the institute’s affiliate for the state of Washington. She will offer advice to help business owners benefit from editorial coverage.

Big Brothers Big Sisters
names new executive director
Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) of Snohomish County, a branch of the YMCA of Snohomish County, has named Ann Anderst as its new executive director, effective Oct. 1. She replaces Maddy Metzger-Utt who left in July after serving with the YMCA and BBBS more than 12 years.

Anderst has served as director of development for the YMCA of Snohomish County for the past four years. Prior to that, she was director of development with Sherwood Community Services.

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