Recession Section
BREAKING: Might Burien Nissan Be Re-Opening Soon?
We got an email tip from BTB Reader Jennifer about a Job Ad posted Monday (Aug. 31st) on Craigslist that implies that the closed/empty Burien Nissan may be re-opening in mid-September under new management... [Read more]
Applicants Camp Overnight To Apply For Burien Fire Dept. Job
According to both KIRO-TV and Northwest Cable News, dozens of job-seekers camped overnight Tuesday night outside the Burien/Normandy Park Fire Department building on 8th Ave SW in hopes of being one of... [Read more]
Lake Burien Presbyterian Church Offering Free Resource Fair With Free Backpacks This Saturday, Aug. 15th
Household finances got you down? Feeling the pinch during this economy? Well, the good folks at Lake Burien Presbyterian Church are holding a Free Resource Fair and Block Party, where they will be giving... [Read more]
Airport Rental Car Garage Construction To Restore 3,000 Jobs
The Port of Seattle Monday announced that an estimated 3,000 jobs will be restored when the airport “Consolidated Rental Car Facility” parking garage construction begins again. The Port of... [Read more]
Burien Town Square – Success To Be? Or Future Ghost Town?
by Gina Bourdage Since discussions began in October of 2003 to build an urban community center, devoid of the need to drive to find world class cuisine, shopping and entertainment, the city of Burien and... [Read more]
Burien’s Boehm’s Chocolates For Sale For $35K
Burien’s Boehm’s Chocolates is for sale for $35,000, according to this Craigslist Ad, posted Thursday, June 18th at 11:54am…
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…
Normandy Park Cove Rummage Sale Is Sunday, May 17th
There will be a Rummage Sale this Sunday, May 17th at the Normandy Park Cove Community Center, located at 1500 SW Shorebrook Drive in Normandy Park (map below), from 10am to 3pm, and here are the details…
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
Criminal Justice Training Commission Job Fair Is May 30th
The Washington State Criminal Justice Training Commission, which has a training center in Burien, is holding a “Criminal Justice Job Fair” from 10am to 3pm on Saturday, May 30th.
Here are the details…
Skipper’s Flounders, Might Be Sleeping With Da Fishes
Skipper’s Seafood & Chowder, located at 901 SW 148th Street in Burien at Ambaum (map below), appears to have floundered and may be sleeping with da fishes, with this eviction notice posted on its locked doors:
The notice was originally posted by King County Sheriff’s officers on April 3rd, but we only learned about it from a BTB Reader last week. Currently, the building sits empty, the doors locked and the inside still full of typical restaurant equipment…
Normandy Park’s Manhattan Drug Store Closing
After 51 years in their Normandy Park location, Manhattan Drug Store, the neighborhood drug store with “Big city selection and small town service” will soon be writing its last prescription, closing shop and taking their business in a different direction.
“We are very proud to have been entrusted with not only the filling of your prescriptions, but also with giving you advice and counseling in all matters pertaining to your pharmaceutical care. You have made us feel like family,†says a letter from the Herbert family…
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…
BREAKING: Cafe Mia Closes Suddenly; Future Unknown
Normandy Park resident Helga Herrera reads the notice taped to the front window of Cafe Mia, explaining its sudden closure.
Photos and Story by Scott Schaefer
Cafe Mia, located in the Normandy Park Towne Center on First Avenue South, closed suddenly last Thursday (4/21) with no warning.
Saturday afternoon (4/25) the doors were locked, paper covered all windows, no employees were present, and the only information available was a letter taped to a window near the front door, which read…
UPDATE: Highline Schools' Superintendent On Budget Cuts
As we first reported Tuesday, the Highline School District is facing major budget cuts, potentially having to lay off the equivalent of 228 full-time Teachers. According to the school district, the RIF... [Read more]
Highline School Budget Cuts May Mean 228 Teacher Layoffs
by As if the seemingly endless stream of daily layoffs, rising unemployment rates and closing area businesses isn’t enough bad news, now comes word of major budget cuts for Highline Public Schools, which faces an estimated $8 million in cuts for next year due to reductions in state funding.
As a result, up to 228 teachers could be laid off.
These are in addition to $3 million in cuts already made during the current school year…
PHOTOS: Signs Installed At New Coffeeshop “Burien Press”
On Tuesday morning (April 14th), workers from Western Neon in Seattle installed new signs at “Burien Press,” a soon-to-be-opened coffeeshop/newstand located at 423 SW 152nd, next door to the Australian Pie Company and across from the new town square, city hall and library.
Owner Mark Kerns has been busy over the last few months doing a major renovation, turning the former tattoo parlor space into a coffeeshop/newsstand, which he hopes to open sometime in May. The glass windows on the front were installed by Wakefield Glass, a Burien company.
Kerns promises a “european-style” coffeeshop where visitors can relax, have meetings and enjoy free wi-fi, pastries, coffee and magazines from around the world.
Burien Press already has website up, but with only the logo posted.
Stay tuned to The B-Town Blog for more news as the opening gets closer.
Family Avoids Foreclosure Thanks To Burien ACORN Office
The innovative low-income helping newspaper Real Change has an interesting article on how a Burien family avoided foreclosure on their home through the Burien-based ACORN office. Definitely worth a read... [Read more]
Burien Nissan Expecting New Financing In “A Few Weeks”
As of Monday, March 30th, Burien Nissan’s lot remains empty of any new car inventory, and according to Sales Manager John Antonelli:
“It’s still business as usual. Should have some good news on financing in a few weeks…”
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