PCC Community Markets announces permanent closure next year
A mere two years after inaugurating its flagship store in downtown Seattle, PCC Community Markets revealed on Wednesday its decision to shut down the underperforming location by Jan. 31.
The downtown branch employs close to 80 individuals. PCC has expressed its commitment to “prioritize relocating these employees to other roles within the co-op by offering them opportunities at different stores.”
This closure news follows PCC’s disclosure 5 ½ months earlier of a $250,000 loss in 2022, marking its first financial setback since the 1990s. The downtown store contributed to roughly a third of this deficit.
The store’s inauguration on Jan. 20, 2022, was seen by downtown inhabitants and supporters as a hopeful indicator of the area’s resurgence after the pandemic’s challenges.
The store’s launch attracted a significant number of attendees, especially downtown dwellers who were enthusiastic about having a comprehensive grocery store in an area at risk of becoming devoid of such amenities due to recent shutdowns.
However, the expansive 20,000-square-foot grocery outlet highlighted the extent to which the downtown area is still grappling with recovery.
Owing to the persistence of remote work, which has led to a reduced workforce in the downtown area, and a lower-than-anticipated number of downtown residents, the PCC store couldn’t achieve the foot traffic or sales volume required to be profitable, as stated by co-op representatives. The announcement was met with a blend of surprise and acceptance among the store’s patrons.
