Kevin and Sean’s A Place for Pets, owned by Kevin Foxen and Sean Spingelt, is located in the heart of Burien’s downtown and opened in 2005. The regional Small Business Development Center (SBDC) worked closely with the company on the development of its business plan, financial forecasts, bank application packages, referrals to local bankers, proposals for prospective partner-investors, and marketing implementation.
Kevin and Sean are very happy with their decision
to open their store in Burien. In fact, Burien was chosen because
of the key demographics of the area, including average household
income, number of homes and homes with children in the area, a supportive
business environment, as well as access to important highways. Their
store is an attractive addition to the retail core of Burien and
is strategically located across the street from the future Burien
Town Square project.
Many businesses have relocated to Seattle Southside
from other parts of the Puget Sound region, unable to ignore the
many benefits of the Seattle Southside location. One such business
is Seattle Chocolates, a company that produces a variety of fine
chocolate products including truffles and dessert shells. Formerly
located in Seattle, Seattle Chocolates moved its headquarters and
manufacturing facilities to Tukwila in order to accommodate its rapid
growth.
According to Jean Thompson, CEO and owner, Tukwila’s
close proximity to major highways and other transportation corridors
is a great benefit. So too is the ability of the company to draw
on the area’s local labor pool as well as take advantage of
the many businesses and retail shops nearby to supply her business
needs.
“We chose Tukwila because the building was
ideal for our needs. We had grown so rapidly over the prior few years
that we had outgrown our 20,000 square foot facility and were desperate
to move into much larger quarters. This building was available and
vacant, well built, and had all the features we were looking for.
Tukwila has provided us with a nice blend of all the things we needed
to set up our business.”
Northwest Kidney Centers, a not-for-profit, out-patient dialysis organization, is another organization choosing Seattle Southside. The organization is moving a medley of its services to SeaTac, including clinical operations, the Dialysis Academy, as well as its medical records, accounting, and regulatory affairs departments.
According to Palmer Pollock, Vice President for Planning, “the
motivation for our relocation is the need for a much larger facility,
with improved parking and access, in a more central location, with
good rates on our office lease.” Moreover, being close to the
airport is a particular asset since the organization’s new
facility will be generator-supported for use as a destination in
any type of local or regional emergency that might put other dialysis
facilities temporarily out of business. For Northwest Kidney Centers,
access to the future Link light rail, convenient Metro bus services,
as well as the many hotels and motels in the area were all attractive
drawing cards.
Other companies, like CorkyCellars, started their business in Seattle Southside. Based in Des Moines since 1999, CorkyCellars is a wine cellar and retailer. When Ric Jacobsen started his family business in Des Moines, he saw potential for residential real estate development as well as new retail and restaurant possibilities. Indeed, with one of the last undeveloped waterfront areas in the region, Des Moines has grown in many ways since 1999. With a variety of new restaurants and stores, as well as the development of new mixed-use condominiums, Des Moines is situated to be one of Seattle Southside’s exciting new destinations.
A Sampling of Seattle Southside Businesses
BurienFred Meyer Des MoinesHighline Community College |
SeaTacAlaska Airlines, Inc. TukwilaBoeing Company |
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