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CONTACT THE ENTERPRISE Jocelyn Robinson, News editor jrobinson@heraldnet.com

Lynnwood Fred Meyer opens

By Mina Williams
Enterprise editor

The newest Fred Meyer store opens in Lynnwood Friday, Sept. 25 at 2902 164th Street Southwest. The Alderwood store represents a $28 million investment in the community and is expected to employ more than 320 associates. It is the 130th unit for the Portland, Ore.-based retailer.

Adding a second store to serve the Lynnwood community comes as a result of strong sales at the 196th Street store, according to Melinda Merrill, public affairs director for the chain. “This is a part of Snohomish County that we don’t serve right now. There are enough barriers between (the new store) and the existing location that we see a lot of opportunity. The (existing) Lynnwood store is busy and we look to forward to adding another option for Lynnwood shoppers.”

“We are extremely excited to offer a second location in this growing and vibrant community,” said Merrill. “Lynnwood residents are sophisticated consumers and we look forward to providing them with the highest quality service and products.”

Upscale service and amenities included in the 177,000-square-foot store a wine steward, a 16,000-square-foot Garden Center, a drive-through pharmacy and a Starbucks coffee bar. A fuel station, with five pumps to serve 10 cars, is another amenity of the new location. Additionally, the unit was designed and built with multiple “green” features such as skylights to utilize natural light, energy-efficient lighting and concrete floors that do not require the use of chemicals for cleaning and maintenance. The new store will be open daily from 7 a.m. to 11 p.m.

Opening festivities are slated for four consecutive weekends including free food, entertainment and promotions Friday, Sept. 25 through Sunday, Oct. 18.

Leading the line up of opening activities on Friday, Sept. 25, store employees will offer free coffee and donuts between 7 to 11 a.m. followed by a cake cutting at 2 p.m. At the cake cutting event, Lynnwood Mayor Don Gough and Fred Meyer Store Director Mike Johnson will present donations of $1,000 each to five local nonprofit organizations. These organizations include the Alderwood Boys & Girls Club, Lynnwood Food Bank, Lynnwood Parks & Recreation, Lynnwood Senior Center and Sno-Isle Libraries.

Entertainment highlights of the four-week celebration include performances by the Meadowland Middle School Jazz Band & Choir, the Combo deLuxe Quartet and the Hula O Lehualani dancers. Additionally, Gadget and Rudy the clowns along with Fred Bear will be on hand to entertain children throughout the grand opening events.

The Fred Meyer Cycling team will be available on Sunday, September 27, from 11:00 to 1:00, to provide free bicycle safety checks and helmet fittings and will be giving out free helmets to the first 200 children attending the event.

The town center-style Northpoint shopping center that Fred Meyer is located sits on an acre development. Northpoint will be the home for an additional 40,000 square-feet of service and retail outlets including banks, restaurants and coffee houses within seven buildings. Improvements to the property is $17 million, according to Mike Echelbarger of Echelbarger Investments.