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Vulcan Brings Two New Retailers to South Lake Union

  • Local fitness center Rain Fitness will open 14,000-square-foot facility at future Group Health Cooperative headquarters in 2007  
  • Popular snowboard retail shop Snowboard Connection relocating to Cascade neighborhood at Alley24

SEATTLE – Dec. 4, 2006

Vulcan Inc. today announced that two new retailers will be providing sought-after services and amenities in the growing South Lake Union neighborhood. Rain Fitness has leased 14,000 square feet of retail space to open a new state-of-the-art fitness center and Snowboard Connection has leased approximately 6,000 square feet to relocate its Seattle store to the Cascade neighborhood. The two new retailers join several other businesses that are opening throughout South Lake Union as the neighborhood blossoms under a major redevelopment effort headed by Vulcan.

“We are thrilled to welcome Rain Fitness and Snowboard Connection to South Lake Union,” said Ada M. Healey, vice president of real estate for Vulcan Inc. “Their additions to the neighborhood are yet another new convenience for area residents, employees and visitors who are drawn to South Lake Union’s vibrant 24-7 lifestyle.”

Scheduled to open in October 2007, Rain Fitness will occupy 14,000 square feet spanning three floors at the Westlake/Terry Building, a 320,000-square-foot mixed-use project developed by Vulcan that will serve as Group Health Cooperative’s new corporate headquarters for nearly 700 employees.  Group Health has leased 185,000 square feet as the anchor tenant and approximately 110,000 square feet of additional commercial and retail space is available for lease.  The project is currently under construction and is expected to be completed by fall 2007.

“The current plans for the South Lake Union neighborhood offer a remarkable business growth opportunity for Rain Fitness,” said Glen Swain, owner and manager of Rain Fitness. “We looked at nearly 60 different site options before deciding this was the best choice for us to grow exponentially.”

The new Rain Fitness center will offer South Lake Union employees and residents a multi-purpose fitness club including state-of-the-art cardiovascular training equipment, strength training tools, cycling, Pilates and aerobics classes, multiple locker rooms with dry saunas, personal athletic trainers and tanning beds. The new facility will offer a complete rowing studio designed to complement the neighborhood’s history and presence of rowing. This new facility will become the fitness center’s second location in Seattle. For more information on Rain Fitness, visit www.rainfitness.com. 

Snowboard Connection will also be joining the South Lake Union neighborhood as a one-of-a-kind retail shop considered to be a favorite with Seattle snowboarders.  The new store will provide outdoor wear, boots and bindings, optics, and snowboards of every size, shape and brand. Since 1990, Snowboard Connection has been operating from a single store location in Pioneer Square.  In early 2007, the store will move all equipment, clothing and gear, along with its full-service rental and repair shop, to its new location at Vulcan’s Alley24 mixed-use project.  

“We’re trying to bring an easier, more convenient shopping experience to our customer base,” said Snowboard Connection owner John Logic. “South Lake Union gives us the best opportunity to do that within the Seattle area.”

Snowboard Connection joins other recently announced Alley24 retailers including Southlake Grill, Espresso Vivace, Urban Beast, Mad Pizza, tottini and Spa Blix. Located at 223 Yale Avenue North across from the flagship REI store, Alley24 is a $94 million, 336,000-square-foot mixed-use project featuring approximately 180,000 square feet of office space, 172 apartments and 28,000 square feet of street-level retail. Snowboard Connection has a second store location at 118 105th Ave NE in Bellevue. For more information on Snowboard Connection, please visit www.snowboardconnection.com or phone (206) 467-8545.

Other recently announced South Lake Union retailers include Seva Home, FK Kirsten, Koots Green Tea, Scraps Dog Bakery, Bank of America, Whole Foods Market and Starbucks.

The South Lake Union redevelopment project is one of the largest redevelopment efforts in the U.S. and will consist of more than 10 million square feet when completed.  Vulcan is working with the community and city officials to create a vibrant, diverse neighborhood in South Lake Union that blends housing, retail, office, life sciences research, open space and public transportation.

About Vulcan Real Estate

Vulcan Real Estate directs all real estate strategies for Vulcan Inc., a Paul G. Allen company.  Through strategic acquisitions and innovative development, Vulcan Real Estate creates a diversified portfolio of high-performing, quality assets. The company’s experienced, talented team of real estate professionals offers a full range of development services from site selection to build-to-suit construction. Its real estate model is based on quality, sustainable development that builds new value across the entire community. For more information, visit www.vulcanrealestate.com.

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