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The Seattle Times reports that Tully’s Coffee has filed for bankruptcy protection and plans to close 9 company-run stores this Sunday, including the Wallingford location (2100 N. 45th St.). CEO Scott Pearson told the Times, “We’re at a point where we need to position Tully’s for the future.” “We need to be able to keep this company operating, and this is the best option for us.”
Thanks to Paul who sent us the tip, adding, “Sucks, because the 45th/Meridian location was a very convenient alternative to Starbucks and right next to the Msft Connector stops.”
It’s such a great spot, though, and I don’t imagine it being empty for too long.
I would LOVE for this to become an independent coffee shop or a transplant location of one of our many Seattle Independent chains (Vita, Victrola, Porchlight, Ladro for example), Fuel is great, but it’s nice to have more than one option and this location seems perfectly distanced from it.
Just not a Japanese or Thai restaurant, ok?
wow. that place seemed to be doing really well. I always saw people in there. I wonder if it was closed because it was underperforming.
We need another bank! Or a hair salon!
I’m hoping for an ALL ORGANIC VEGAN cafe! Organic Soups and Salads? JUICE BAR!! Look up Kita’s place in Phoenix for an idea-
Chakra 4 Herbs. Perfect for Wallingford. Would be a lovely Compliment to Kuan Yin!
http://www.chakra4herbs.com/
http://chakra4vegetarianrestaurant.com/
Bummer. This was a nice place to work, which was maybe part of the problem. I’d go in there, get a $2 cup of drip coffee (with two FREE refills) and work for two hours. And I doubt I was the only one.
All the coffee drinkers I know say Tully’s coffee is no good, so I guess this isn’t surprising. I’m not a coffee drinker myself, so I really couldn’t say.
I always say this, but I’d love to see a killer sandwich shop (something like the Honey Hole) go in on 45th someday…
I would love to see a kazoo store in that location. Archie McPhee’s is too far to walk and its selection of kazoos is too small.
Bummer! I also occasionally worked (from) there and my boyfriend recently started tutoring a student there. I guess we’ll just have to spend more time at Muddy Cup!
I look forward to seeing who moves into the space. I also don’t want to see a Thai restaurant and think we have plenty of Japanese options. When I walked in to Lotus Thai recently (love their seafood salad), I had to wake up the napping cashier just to order it.
Mourning periods sure are short around here these days. I would love to see a discussion of the reasons why small businesses and small local chains go out of business in Seattle so routinely . . .
alongside the Wish List of what should go into this space next for the period of time it will be there before it, too, fails . . .
alongside the “What used to be there before Tully’s and before that and before that” discussion that misses the point that longterm ventures are generally rare in the small high-rent Wallingford retail spaces (shoe repair and a few restaurants notwithstanding) . . .
I wouldn’t call Tully’s that small, clearly they are having some big company-wide issues if they are shutting down 9 locations and filing for bankruptcy. I don’t think this is a “Wallingford problem” as much as a Tully’s problem. When it comes down to it, their coffee just didn’t taste all that great and they are trying to compete in a Starbucks market, not an independent coffee shop market.
Holy crap, a Honey Hole there would be SPECTACULAR!!!
45th Street is in dire need of a good deli. If you want great coffee, Uptown Espresso is only another 2 blocks away and Fuel and A Muddy Cup aren’t that far away either.
Please, no more Japanese restaurants though. We’re already at critical mass.
Michael H. I have been searching for a Japanese kazoo for ages wouldn’t it be wonderful if there was a store nearby where we could buy quality kazoos? What I would really like to see, though, would be a McDonald’s. I sure miss the one on Stone Way.
Hair Salon.. best idea.
Runner up.. Target
behind them sports clothing.. low cost store.. Athletic Supply
or good foot shoe store
meditation center
multi purpose.. sell to 3 small businesses: organic juice bar, meditation center, small coffee corner and at night a jazz bar/day a great organic deli
How about a really good pub/restaurant like the one in Tangletown. There is a real lack of pub food (where kids can also go).
A real bagel store would be most welcome, IMHO.
There are 180 Tully’s locations according to its Wikipedia page. I wouldn’t call it a “small local chain” by any stretch. Too bad, bring on the next hair salon.
Starbucks is the largest coffeehouse company in the world, with 19,972 stores in 60 countries, including 12,937 in the United States, 1,273 in Canada, 971 in Japan, 790 in Great Britain, 657 in China, 453 in South Korea, 356 in Mexico and 276 in Taiwan.
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Wikipedia.
Makes Tully’s look like a drip in the bucket.
Yes, but Margaret, I’m with Meg on this one (though, my gosh, I feel like I’m writing to myself…). Tully’s leaving isn’t a Wallingford problem, it’s a corporate decision based on cutting 9 stores. And Joule’s decision to leave across the street isn’t because of a high rent issue. They were in need of larger space and with the Fremont Collective, they can stretch out and be more creative.
There ARE small businesses doing just fine here in Wallingford, and so many of them have stood the test of time. Look at Mirage Shoes, or Wide World Books and Maps, for example. And how long has Yazdi or Cracker Jack’s Gifts been in Wallingford Center?
Will we be able to fill the newly-constructed mixed retail/residential dwellings on Stone Way with small businesses? Eh, my thinking is that maybe not so much. I think small businesses will do well staying in the retail corridor instead.
kazoo shop for sure. love the idea and I’m certain it would be a smashing success. however, to say archie mcphee’s is too far really betrays your eastern wallingford bias….please consider the western wallyhooders next time.
How long was Tully’s there? 10, 12 years? Not as long term as Tweedy & Popp, but not a bad run.
Anyway, Margaret H, small businesses and small chains go out of business because:
they did not find a market,
they did not capitallize enough to get through the first year or two,
larger chains undercut their prices
they were bad ideas or
badly executed.
It is hard to create and sustain a small retail business (aside form restaurants) that is different enough from big stores but not so specialized there is little customer base. Seattle is not much different from other cities in that regard. The main thing that could be done better in Seattle is making more small retail spaces in new developments, not big spaces that a niche retailer can’t fill or afford.
Muddy Cup, Uptown Espresso, Fuel, Cafe Appasionato, Diva and is Starbucks still there? And Fainting Goat has espresso,as does just about every other eatery but Musashi’s. Plenty of coffee in Wallingford, no need to panic.
Thanks Fruitbat, you make great points, and it seems at least from the article in the Seattle Times today that Tully’s as a company has failed on many of the fronts you mentioned. They were striving for the Starbucks model (not the neighborhood coffee shop model), but never achieved the efficiencies or economies of scale so were not able to compete on that level. They hyper extended themselves while never having a great cash flow or reserves. While i’m not happy to see them fail, I think that it is fairly easy to see where they went wrong, they did not specialize in a fantastic product and they tried to compete in the efficient fastgrab coffee shop market. Frankly, Wallingford is not your super fast drop by to grab a coffee on your way to a meeting type of place, we seem to be much more of a stop in and stay a while kind of place. I’d love to see a business that embraces this style of market thrive in that space, although I recognize it’s more difficult to turn a profit on such a business model.
On a more positive note, my husband and I were marveling recently over the diversity of businesses in Wallingford. We’ve moved rather recently from living in Capitol Hill for the past six years. You should see the CHSblog comments begging for a hardware store every time a business fails. It is great this neighborhood has more variety than just bars and restaurants – although, we could always use a few more of those, right? Seriously, something like Honeyhole would be amazing. Also, now you’ve highlighted the many coffee options, so I guess we’ll have to try more of those.
One more note to this long winded post – I’m very excited about the projects on Stone Way, maybe this is because we’re in lower Wallingford and we’ve been walking to Fremont frequently for food and drink. Also Eltana is amazing, when I found out they were opening here I washed my brain of any doubts about changing neighborhoods.
Sad to see it go! I have to think that size of space on that corner is pricey! That’s a lot of $2 coffees you have to sell to make a profit. Likelihood of a small business being able to afford that is small. I would prepare for a chain type store to move in within 4 months.
With that said I will invest all my life savings to open a kazoo store in that location. Archie Mcphee’s keeps their kazoo stock too far in the back of their store. This new location would have them closer to the door.
If that doesn’t work out. How about Wallyhood.org buying the space for it’s new neighborhood headquarters?
A real NYC Jewish deli would be awesome. Probably would need to hire the staff from NYC for it to feel authentic!
Starbucks woould be nuts not to jump at this location. It is SOOO much better than the one they have.
A Top Pot would be great.
Semi-related note to the small biz discussion: passed by the former Doggy Style space last night, and there was definite construction going on. Anyone on that side of Wally know if it’s been rented?
well, I truly miss Not A Number. We lost them and no one can replace the heart they gave us.
Tat’s Deli! (or a kazoo shop)
terriyaki chicken take out? remember Toshis? by Greenlake?
The Surrogate Hostess folded and was turned into a Tullys. How about a reincarnation? I hope this space is used by something coffee-house like because it is such a beautiful building and is one of Wallingford’s few large, airy spaces.
I like the idea of a deli. It is a great corner for business and it would be a great location for a deli.
The deli idea is great. I’m in E. Wallingford and currently my sandwich options are:
1) Five minute walk west to Subway next to Sea-Thai
2) Five minute walk east to Subway on Roosevelt in the UD.
3) Pray that a food truck pops up at Uptown or WW that serves good sandwiches.
Otherwise I would have to:
1) Find somewhere to eat outside Wallingford
2) Make my own (where’s the fun in that?)
Paul, There’s the Rusty Pelican, Julia’s and Murphys
Pinky’s (in the Shell parking lot) has awesome sandwiches.
Combination bra shop/deli/bookstore. I’d never leave.
The Rusty Pelican’s food is inedible. Do not count it when you list dining options. Also, it is like eating in a thrift store, and the decor has years of accumulated grease and dust.
I desperately want a Vietnamese place in the area. I’ve been trying to talk the owner of Tamarind Tree and Long Provincial to open a Wallingford location for awhile. I think Tullys would be a great spot. Who’s with me?
well, I know about Rusty Pelican.. I agree.
Blue Star has good ruebens
I am with (the other) Heidi!! Tamarind Tree and Long are so delicious and unique, and nice price/quality.
I heard through the grapevine that Starbucks is very much interested in that space.In my opinion it would be great spot for a nice French Cafe – that actually remained open after the movies let out in the evening.