New Seasons Buying Division Street Site, Opening Store in Late '03

The 18,000-sf shopping center sits on approximately 1.5-acres with frontage on Southeast Division Street and Southeast 20th Ave. "It's serendipitous," says broker Dean McCluskey, explaining that the center's current tenants--a Red Apple grocery store and a laundromat--had already contacted the building's current owner about closing or relocating their businesses when New Seasons tied up the property.

The company is expected to close on the property in the next several weeks. "We prefer to close when we have building permits in hand so we can immediately start renovation," says McCluskey.

Based on the size of the property, parking requirements and city design guidelines, McCulskey says the new store likely will be around 23,000 sf in size, with a portion of the center closest to Division, housing the store's full-service deli, extending out to the sidewalks. Access to the parking lot will be off Southeast 20th.

Construction of the Division location will be provided by R & H Construction of Portland, Oregon. Architects for the development are Richard Brown Architects of Portland. Lori Vollmer Studios of Vancouver, Washington will coordinate store design.

New Seasons stores are located in the neighborhoods of Raleigh Hills, Sellwood, Concordia and Orenco Station in Hillsboro. The newest store opened in Raleigh Hills in 2000.

The Division store will feature organic produce, natural meats and chicken, fresh seafood, imported olives and cheeses, and an extensive wine and beer selection. Additionally, as all locations, it will have a full-service deli with seating and a certified organic bakery.

When completed, it will be the closest location to New Seasons President Brian Rohter, whose family lives in Southeast Portland. Rohter and partner Stan Amy started New Seasons in 1999 after the natural foods chain they were involved with, Nature's Northwest, was acquired by publicly traded Wild Oats Markets Inc.