Financial Section
Highline Community College Receives $250K To Boost Job Training
On Thursday (Mar. 4), Highline Community College’s Center of Excellence for International Trade, Transportation and Logistics (ITTL) announced that it had received $250,000 to provide additional... [Read more]
YMCA's Fundraising Drive Exceeds $40 Million Goal By $800K
In a down economy, it’s always reassuring to hear of successful fundraising efforts, and the Greater Seattle YMCA has some great news – their recent $40 million capital campaign has not only... [Read more]
Burien Native Spearheading Effort To Save Zoo's Nocturnal House
by Scott Schaefer Scott Gifford was born and raised in Normandy Park, spent a lot of time in Burien, went to school and got his first job here and now works as an attorney in Seattle. His passion now? To... [Read more]
Burien Council Expected To Adopt Budget Amendments Monday Night
by Ralph Nichols Burien council members are scheduled to adopt tonight (Monday, Dec. 14) amendments to the city’s 2009-2010 biennial budget. The changes will adjust the 2010 budget to compensate... [Read more]
Will Condo Prices Be Lowered Now That Burien Town Square’s Lender’s Assets Have Been Sold?
by Ralph Nichols With only five of the 124 condominiums at Town Square sold to date, more than five months after the grand opening of this complex in June, prospective buyers and those anticipating future... [Read more]
Police Chiefs Voice Concern About Potential Impacts Of I-1033
Burien Police Chief Scott Kimerer Story by Ralph Nichols Photos by Scott Schaefer Police chiefs from King and Snohomish counties voiced their concerns at a press conference in Burien Wednesday morning... [Read more]
Rally To Save Normandy Park’s Parks Is Sunday, Nov. 1st
In Normandy Park, Proposition #1 is aimed at creating a Metropolitan Park District, and, if passed, would take parks “off the chopping block” from closures and budget cuts, and create a revenue... [Read more]
Highline School District Receives $200K Of $1 Million Grant To Expand Community Schools Programs
The Highline School District has been awarded $200,000 towards a five-year $1 million grant to expand community schools programs at Chinook and Cascade middle schools and establish programs at Sylvester... [Read more]
Burien Receives $117,600 Grant For Shoreline Master Program
The City of Burien has been awarded a $117,600 grant from the Washington State Department of Ecology for its Shoreline Master Program. This grant is part of a $6.3 million award to 70 Puget Sound communities,... [Read more]
Burien City Council Expected To Declare Opposition To I-1033 Tonight
by Ralph Nichols Burien City Council members are expected to declare tonight (Oct. 5) their opposition to Initiative 1033 – Tim Eyman’s latest attempt to reign in government spending revenue. At... [Read more]
Sheriff’s Department Releases Rebuttal To King County Executive’s Proposed Budget Cuts
Sgt. John Urquhart of the King County Sheriff’s Department sent us the following article Friday afternoon (Oct. 2nd), where he attempts to clarify budget cuts that will affect police officers, as... [Read more]
BECU Holding Free “Surviving In Today’s Economy” Seminar Thurs., Sept. 24th
BTB Advertiser BECU is holding a free seminar called “Surviving in Today’s Economy” on Thursday, Sept. 24th from 5pm to 6:30pm at the Woodmont Library in Des Moines. Here are the details: WHAT:... [Read more]
Want To Help A Woman From Foreclosure? ACORN Needs Your Help Today!
On Wednesday, Sept. 9th our sister site The White Center Blog first reported how Burien-based community-service group ACORN is trying to help save resident Maria Morales’ home from foreclosure by... [Read more]
Hey Artsy Types – Burien Has Around $20K In Grant Money Waiting For You, But You’d Better Act Fast…
It’s good to know that even in tough economic times, money has been set aside to fund arts in our community. Burien of course, being the arts-centric “new Brooklyn” has around $20,000... [Read more]
King County “Mothballing” 39 Parks, More Than A Third Of Which Are In The Highline Area; What Do YOU Think?
by Ralph Nichols It’s déjà vu all over again. Closed parks and pools, on top of program and job cuts, have been proposed by the King County executive to balance next year’s operating... [Read more]
Wizards Casino Closes, Blames Smoking Ban & Economy
Story and Photo by Janet Grella
A reader tipped The B-Town Blog this morning that Wizards Casino in Burien was closing today. After an investigation, we found out that is indeed true – the doors are closed, and Wizards employed 130 people.
“The city’s (Burien) been great to work with,” said General Manager Pat Hosier.
The decline of Wizards “started with the smoking ban in 2005, where the Casino lost 17% of their customers, and didn’t make them up, and then the economy finished us off,” explained Pat…
Highline College Scholars Earn $624,000 In Financial Aid
Highline Community College’s 14 Honors Scholars for the 2008-2009 academic year received $624,000 in financial aid and scholarship offers to continue their education, including Burien student Jennifer Anne Kemp.
The Honors Scholar program’s 70 graduates have earned a combined $2.4 million in scholarships and other financial aid since the program began in 2003…
BREAKING NEWS: Burien Nissan Is Now Officially Closed
Story by Janet Grella
Photos by Michael Brunk
UPDATE 8pm 5/12/09: According to the Puget Sound Business Journal, a company called MD Johnson is advising Burien Nissan’s owner, Rainier Automotive, on the sale of this as well as the Auburn Nissan dealership.
PREVIOUSLY: It’s official – Burien Nissan is now closed.
When we attempted to reach John Antonelli, Sales Manager, he actually hung up on us!
That’s right – rather than talk with us about what’s going on, he hung up the phone. The last time we spoke with Mr. Antonelli (March 30th), he claimed “It’s still business as usual. Should have some good news on financing in a few weeks…â€
We then called the dealership’s number and received the following recorded message – listen closely as the woman’s voice cracks on the last sentence (“…and wish you all well.”):
[display_podcast]
“Thank you for calling Burien Nissan. At this time our dealership is closed. We have enjoyed being a part of your lives and a part of the Burien community. We appreciate your business over the years and wish you all well.”
According to manta.com, Burien Nissan employed 40 people and had estimated sales of $14.3 million in 2008.
Burien Nissan was part of the Rainier Automotive Group that included Auburn Nissan, along with Eastide Subaru and Eastside Hyandai, both in Kirkland.
At Auburn Nissan the phone rang so long it went to busy (they are closed for business also). At Eastside Subaru we were told that “parts and service are still open and we’re going through a change of ownership and should be open for sales in the next couple of weeks.”
At Eastside Hyandai we got only a voicemail box.
Here’s a photo slideshow of what Burien Nissan looks like now, shot Tuesday afternoon by Photographer Michael Brunk, who says that while he was there, a locksmith was changing the locks on the doors:
All the associated websites are still functioning, with no mention of any closings, as if it’s “business as usual,” when in reality, it’s not.
Previously, we broke the news that Burien Nissan lost its entire inventory when their “flooring” fell through and the financing company basically repossessed their entire car lot over a 24-hour period around March 13th.
No word yet on what will become of this business, nor of the large lot it sits on.
PREVIOUS COVERAGE:
- Burien Nissan Expecting New Financing In “A Few Weeksâ€
- UPDATE: More Information On Burien Nissan’s Inventory
- Burien Nissan Loses Entire Stock, Now An Empty Lot
Co-Owner Says Remodeled Cafe Mia Will Re-Open "Soon"
UPDATE: Cafe Mia, which closed without warning last Thursday (we first reported on it Saturday 4/25), is planning on remodeling and re-opening as a “family bar and grill” sometime in early to mid-summer, according to co-owner Todd McKittrick.
We spoke with Mr. McKittrick Monday morning (4/27), and he told us that the cafe, as it was, simply wasn’t making enough money. Despite a strong lunchtime crowd, business wasn’t consistent enough, so they decided to close it down.
McKittrick says that a new restaurant will soon open in the same location after a remodel that changes the current cafe to include…
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