On Tuesday, July 22nd, the Portland Water Bureau announced it had begun adding groundwater from the Columbia South Shore Well Field to the City’s Bull Run-sourced drinking water. Officials are making this change primarily due to prolonged dry conditions, warm temperatures, and the limited precipitation forecast this season. The Bureau explains that blending Portland’s two sources extends the water supply through the summer season, ensuring water users maintain access to high-quality drinking water until rainwater replenishes the Bull Run watershed.
Columbia South Shore Well Field. Courtesy Portland Water Bureau
This announcement marks the earliest summertime supply augmenting activation of the city’s well water system since 2019. In recent years, this has occurred as early as August, due to dry springs and early summer weather reducing the supply at Bull Run. The October 2023 to April 2024 water year, which had near-average rainfall and a suitable mountain snowpack, kept Portland’s watershed supplied for a significant portion of the dry season lasting into October. However, warmer weather patterns and increased water usage have made well-water sources integral to the regional water supply. The Water Bureau’s “Seasonal Water Supply Augmentation and Contingency Plan” guides the Bureau’s annual addition of groundwater to slow the drawdown of the Bull Run reservoir. This augmentation preserves the watershed supply throughout the dry season and supports year-round water usage for fish habitat, which also relies on water flow from Bull Run.
Chart showing Bull Run reservoir storage over a year’s time with an average line and historical values including 2015 a particularly supply-stressing year. Courtesy Portland Water Bureau
Columbia South Shore Well Fields tap into deep aquifers filled with rainwater throughout the year. Portland Water Bureau assures residents that Portland’s groundwater supply meets or surpasses all federal and state drinking water regulations. However, the Bureau’s policy is to notify the public when activating groundwater sources so sensitive water users can take precautions. It can take up to two weeks before residents receive blended water. After operators revert to entirely Bull Run-sourced water, customers can expect it to take another two weeks for the lines to clear of groundwater.
Sensitive water users can sign up at the Portland Water Bureau’s website to receive notifications regarding changes to the water system. Customers with questions should call the Water Line at 503-823-7525 and check this article for updates when Portland’s water system returns to 100 percent Bull Run watershed-sourced water.
Update October 22, 2025: The Portland Water Bureau announced it returned its water supply source to 100% Bull Run-sourced drinking water. Customers can expect another two weeks for supply lines to completely clear of the blended Bull Run and groundwater mixture.
Crews are assembling the refrigerated display cases and product shelving inside East Portland’s first 99 Ranch Market location at 10560 SE Washington Street. The highly anticipated Asian grocery store began hiring for nearly 100 positions at the new location in May, with a Job Fair and postings on job websites. The hiring manager for this location anticipates the store will open in late July or August, with trainees reporting to the Beaverton location as they learn to perform their roles within the organization.
Partially assembled refrigerated display cases and product shelving inside 10560 SE Washington St.
The new store required more effort to open compared to the only other Oregon 99 Ranch location, which took over an existing grocery. Plans for the latest store became public in 2023, with construction starting in 2024. The California-based chain opened its Beaverton store at 8155 SW Hall Boulevard on August 23rd, 2017. Although the two stores are comparable in size, representatives say this new location will feature the company’s modern design updates, and the custom-configured space will better align with the brand’s goals for its store layout.
Beaverton 99 Ranch Market
Beaverton 99 Ranch Market
Beaverton 99 Ranch Market
Beaverton 99 Ranch Market
Beaverton 99 Ranch Market
With over 60 stores nationwide, the company is renowned for offering a wide range of imported products alongside local meats and vegetables. As with most stores in this chain, the new Montavilla adjacent location will offer prepared foods and baked goods made in an onsite kitchen. In addition to grocery items, shoppers will find a hot deli, an extensive meat department, and a seafood area with live seafood tanks. The store will carry a diverse assortment of Asian ingredients and packaged items alongside other grocery staples.
The job poster has a typo, (510) 309-1057 is the correct contact number
Ten Seconds Rice Noodle
The Alley
The Plaza 205 buildout for the 99 Ranch Market created a larger floor plan for the grocer at the back of the space while making room for complementary businesses along the shopping center’s frontage. Ten Seconds Rice Noodle restaurant and The Alley tea shop recently opened next door to the grocery store’s entrance. Foot traffic on the eastern side of Plaza 205 should increase once 99 Ranch Opens later this summer. However, the long-vacant storefronts at this location have encouraged more consumer activity on the Mall 205 adjacent side of the property, making it harder for people to discover the two new businesses in the shopping complex. People can expect to learn more about the official opening date for the SE Washington Street grocery store on the 99 Ranch website or its social media sites, including Instagram and Facebook. Jobs at this location are still available for anyone interested in working at this new location.
Graphic courtesy 99 Ranch Market
Update August 9, 2025: The 99 Ranch Market at 10544 SE Washington Street will officially open on Saturday, August 16th starting at 9 a.m. The store’s Instagram page touts a celebration featuring a lion dance and ribbon cutting event at opening. People can also attend a Bluefin Tuna cutting demonstration at 1 p.m. and the First 100 people in line before 9 a.m. will receive a $10 gift card.
Note: Title image digitally edited by MV News to show 99 Ranch sign as originally proposed in permit drawings. Finale store signage will differ and include FRESH PRODUCE, LIVE SEAFOOD, HOT DELI, and BAKERY under the 99 Ranch Market logo based on LU 24-073292 DZM documents
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The owners of the six-tenant strip Mall along SE 96th Avenue are seeking a buyer for their Mall 205 adjacent property. Called Prime 205, the single-story bar-shaped structure at 1026 SE 96th Avenue recently secured Carrington College as a new anchor business occupying 64 percent of the building with a ten-year lease. Past owners of the 1971-era strip mall renovated it in 2008. The building currently houses T-Mobile, GolfTec, Fixoid, and L&M Hair Company, with one vacant storefront.
Overhead image of Prime205 from Portland Maps with MV News illustrations
The retail building is located steps away from a TriMet MAX Green line station and offers 94 parking spaces. This area is in flux as new chain restaurants open in the vicinity, but shopping activity remains inconsistent. The unbuilt parcel could represent a development opportunity for urban housing with light ground-floor commercial uses. This parcel is part of a rezoning effort to build density in the Gateway District. Housing in this area would place residents within walking distance of grocery stores, retail establishments, medical services, and public transportation. Properties like Prime 205 can remain on the market for several years, and a buyer will likely want to retain lease tenants, so people will not see any significant change at this site in the coming years. However, owners listing this property could be an indication that they perceive renewed interest from buyers in the Gateway area, and any sale brings an opportunity for future site improvements.
Update: Changed link to SE 96th Ave & Access Dr info after host site took down original page.
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In early May, East Glisan Pizza Lounge, located at 8001 NE Glisan Street, reopened after a six-week closure with a new staff and an updated menu that retains many favorites, along with new options focused on continuing the 11-year-old establishment’s legacy in the Montavilla neighborhood. On March 17th, the restaurant and bar closed, posting on its Instagram page that it would temporarily halt service for an unspecified period. During that pause, owners Todd Dennis and Kristen Brown worked with a restaurant coach to rebuild a profitable business while retaining the community-centric environment that had kept the partners interested in working into the next decade of operation.
Fans of the NE Glisan Street pizza location were shocked that their favorite neighborhood spot showed any signs of trouble as it appeared busy with locals and attracted citywide accolades. Behind the scenes, the operators felt consumed by a daily struggle to maintain high food quality and prevent rising costs from inflating their prices beyond reason for their regular customers. “To be frank, we have not been profitable in the last several years,” said Brown. However, raising the prices alone would not solve their problems. Advisers had encouraged the owners to eliminate table service and adopt a counter-only model, similar to many other area pizzerias, along with other changes that would alter the establishment’s character. That advice did not sit well with Brown and Dennis, but they knew something would need to change. “We were talking about different options for a little bit, but there were a couple of events that happened in the last couple of days before we closed,” explained Dennis. “We just said, ‘We’ve got to do it now.'” Brown added the analogy that they had been trying to “fix an airplane midair, and we need to land it, or it’s going to crash.”
Brown and Dennis informed the staff that they had no idea when they would reopen and stated that all employees, except for the front-of-house lead Beth McClintock, had decided to take work elsewhere. That rotation of staff led the owners to reevaluate the business, starting with the question of why they wanted to remain open. They initially discovered the location in Montavilla during a region-wide search and were unfamiliar with the neighborhood when selecting the building. Dennis had worked as a bartender for 15 years in Tualatin, and Brown had some work history at Jake’s Grill and the Heathman but had since developed her career as a mortgage broker. “We both had a lot of front-of-house experience, no back-of-house experience, and very little management experience,” said Dennis. “We did our best, and I think that it went pretty well for quite a long time. It’s one of those things where the more you learn, the more you realize what you don’t know. After 10 years, it wasn’t running behind the scenes the way we wanted it to.” They felt that most guests did not notice the rough edges and appreciated how well their staff took care of customers; however, by the end of 2024, they knew that change was the only option.
What Brown and Dennis discovered is that some dishes were taking too much time to produce, and they were not selling enough pizza each week to cover payroll and material costs. They also felt that they could never take time away from the shop and their success depended on being there every day. “We were kind of becoming exhausted, and there were some staffing issues that were coming up. We decided that if we didn’t shut down on purpose, things would shut down without our control over it,” said Dennis. During that pause time, they removed specific items from the food and bar menus and sought replacement items that would require less labor and utilize more crossover ingredients. Sunday lasagna was a standout to remove from the recurring menu. “It’s very labor intensive. It’s both intensive to prep and labor-intensive to serve. It takes a whole other person during service just to handle that,” recalled Brown. They also changed the gluten-free crust to a Detroit-style instead of a thin rectangular polenta crust. “It was unique, kind of a big loss, but also very labor-intensive,” said Dennis. They removed the Spicy Eggplant and Capicola pizza, making room for a new tavern-style crust that they pre-make in a six-day process. “The tavern-style is a very thin cracker crisp cornmeal dusted pie cut into squares, very shareable,” explained Brown. These crusts keep well during the week, as they have a lower moisture content, making them an ideal option for streamlined preparation. The non-rising dough edge finishes slightly charred, making it crunchy.
They have remained committed to supporting a range of pizza options that cater to various dietary restrictions. “Vegan is something that we’ve expanded a little bit. We now have a Detroit vegan option. We’re using NUMU cheese, which is out of Brooklyn, New York. And we’ve got BE Hive pepperoni and BE Hive sausage,” said Brown. This option replaces the house-made vegan meat options, which required considerable cooking time, with a product that Brown and Dennis feel closely matches the flavor and quality. They have also added fresh pineapple to the menu. “We weren’t snooty about having pineapple,” Brown remarked, noting how a canned ingredient would not work. “But we have set up a process for the pineapple with as little waste as possible. So we roast the pineapple now.”
They also slimmed down the cocktail menu, focusing on bolstering longtime classics like the Old Glisan, Buffy Summers, and Yellow Submarine, but said that in most cases, they can still recreate an off-menu favorite if requested. Many of these changes came from seasoned professionals hired to guide the relaunch of East Glisan Pizza Lounge, including new chef Adam Maxwell, who came to us from Ranch Pizza and other acclaimed eateries. “He’s opened seven restaurants, He’s opened three Ranches, and he’s got a long pizza resume, including Cellarmaker, a Detroit Pizza place in San Francisco,” said Brown. Before hiring strong leadership skills in the kitchen, the owners worked with pizza consultant Alastair Hannmann, who helped with dough recipes and developed the tavern pie.
During May, East Glisan Pizza Lounge operated in a soft-open mode to give the new staff time to perfect their food service and learn to work together. Recently, the restaurant began accepting online orders for pickup and will soon introduce additional online ordering options. This cautious approach to relaunching the business should bring the behind-the-scenes operation up to the standards that Brown and Dennis can be proud of and give them confidence that the place will operate profitably without constant oversight. However, they feel these updates are only necessary to support the true goal of the business, which they only recently verbalized to themselves. “We articulated what we intuitively knew, that our purpose has always been creating a space where people feel welcome as themselves and are seen. A space for people to connect,” explained Brown. Eleven years ago, they made roots in Montavilla, not knowing that the community would be a critical ingredient in their business. However, they can no longer imagine it any other way and feel certain that these recent changes will help them stay open for their customers for years to come.
East Glisan Pizza Lounge is open for dinner Thursday through Monday, starting at 5 p.m. Sundays and Mondays, they close at 9 p.m. Thursdays and Saturdays, they close at 10 p.m., with Friday service extended to 11 p.m. As they ramp up operations, they expect to adjust times and possibly open seven days a week starting in mid-July. They feel ready to start seeing everyone again and look forward to showing customers the updated menu. Prices have risen slightly, and people may need to explore new options, but they are happy to offer the full table service that guests enjoy and return as a valued community place.
For just under $45 million, someone can purchase the iconic Gateway Shopping Center at the confluence of Interstates 84 and 205. The former Kohl’s building and parking lot are available together with the 24-acre retail complex or separately. The Key Bank parcel at 1205 NE 102nd Avenue is the lone carveout and is not part of the offering. This real estate listing features a significantly sized property anchored by the Gateway Fred Meyer store, with many national chain stores surrounding the expansive parking lot.
Fred G. Meyer built the Gateway Shopping Center in 1954, away from city centers, in what was unincorporated midcounty at the time. The development created the region’s first suburban-style shopping center, focusing on patrons who drove to meet their daily needs. Current structures date back to 1987, with owners reworking almost all the original post-war elements over the decades to meet the ever-changing demands of retail design. The multi-block offering contains six distinct properties with separate registered owners. However, outside of the now-vacant Kohl’s building, the listing focuses on selling the site as a whole.
Portland City Planners zoned this area as Central Commercial, allowing high-density commercial development similar to those found in downtown urban streetscapes. Sellers list the property as 96 percent leased, and a sale would not instantly change the commercial makeup of the shopping center. However, a new owner could repurpose the underutilized parking for redevelopment at the edges of the property, better meeting the urban design guidelines while retaining the existing profit center at the complex.
This listing joins other notable multi-block holdings now on the market in this area, including two whole city blocks and several half blocks to the south. The retail site also sits across from a 5.18-acre vacant property at the southwest corner of NE 102nd Avenue and Pacific Street that Prosper Portland bought last year to secure for future housing redevelopment. City leaders intended the Gateway Tax Increment Financing District to spur significant redevelopment, but few properties have transformed with the density required by the new zoning. Several nearby sites have had their structures demolished and are now fenced, awaiting future use. A buyer looking to expand the Gateway Shopping Center could become the catalyst for the district’s growth, much like Fred G. Meyer’s initial investment. However, it will require substantial funding and a vision that extends beyond its suburban past to meet the current demands of a district envisioned as an urban center.
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On May 15th, the Portland Design Commission provided its approval for TriMet’s placement of prototype Next Generation Bus Shelters on city streets. The presenters outlined the three classes of new bus stop weather protection that will use many interchangeable parts for more efficient maintenance. Oregon company GK Machine Inc. is manufacturing the test shelters, and project planners anticipate crews will begin installation at the end of June. After an evaluation period and some public engagement that could allow for modest design updates, TriMet planners intend to start replacing its approximately 1000 shelters with these new units as needed.
TriMet slide from May 15th Portland Design Commission presentation showing Pavilion XS rendering and size
The current shelter design received approval in the early 1990s, and decades of repair and upkeep experience have influenced these prototype designs. They also incorporate refinements based on the Bus Rapid Transit stations constructed for the FX 2 line on SE Division Street. Two of the three shelter size classifications use two or three vertical support poles at the back of the structure, with the roof cantilevered over its footprint. The smallest Pavilion XS design uses four posts with two in the back corner and the remaining vertical supports placed in the middle of the sidewall dimension. The roof uses a low-pitched asymmetrical hipped roof design that will direct most rainwater runoff to the front corners of the shelter.
TriMet slide from May 15th Portland Design Commission presentation showing Pavilion & XS on sidewalk placement
The three shelter types will all support sidewalls made from transparent two-foot-wide panels, but TriMet can also place the units without any walls, essentially floating a horizontal covering over the waiting riders with minimal vertical supports. The new design will structurally support glass panels if needed. However, due to increased glass breakage and growing material costs, TriMet is considering using decoratively etched polycarbonate panels protected with Vandal Guard coating for prolonged protection from graffiti.
TriMet slide from May 15th Portland Design Commission presentation showing Pavilion XL rendering and size
The Pavilion XS unit will likely become Portland’s most common varation as crews can mount them directly to a sidewalk that is at least 5.5″ thick, similar to existing shelters. Aditionally, is smaller footprint will fit more places in the streetscape with a roof that covers 5′-6″ by 10′-2″. The 8′ by 10′-10″ Pavilion and the 8′ by 14′-10″ Pavilion XL require more significant footing for their support posts. Unlike existing shelters with the underside of roof panels exposed, these new shelters will have ceilings, creating a sealed compartment protecting two battery units that can charge via roof-mounted solar panels. That power system will support integrated LED lighting, e-ink schedule reader boards, and pushbutton audio notifications of pending arrivals. Shelter seating is an updated design of current street furniture that will similarly mount to the sidewalk, independent of the shelter structure.
TriMet slide from May 15th Portland Design Commission presentation showing High-Capacity rendering and size
Although the Design Commission can exempt new shelters and associated amenities from future Land Use review, each shelter will require a permit authorized by the Portland Bureau of Transportation. Based on the sidewalk or platform space, the structures can face towards or away from traffic. TriMet plans to introduce larger shelters for high-ridership locations, but presenters did not include them in the May 15th request for approval. The High-Capacity Family of weather protection units will share many replacement parts with the Pavilion styles for a more cost-effective maintenance program. Riders could begin to see these prototype units installed this summer, and TriMet will continue to evaluate the Next Generation Bus Shelters’ performance over time before moving to full production.
Disclosure: The author of this article serves on the 82nd Avenue Transit Project Community Advisory Committee (CAC) but had no involvement with Next Generation Bus Shelter design.
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Starting May 13th, crews will close East Burnside Street from 94th Avenue to 99th Avenue for weeknight roadwork. The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) advises drivers to detour around this section of East Burnside on Tuesday through Thursday nights from 8 p.m. to 5 a.m.. The closures will prevent drivers from using the Interstate-205 overpass, requiring motorists to cross the freeway at NE Glisan Street or via the SE Stark-Washington Street couplet.
The overnight work schedule includes completing traffic signal upgrades and other improvements to crossing points along this street. Crews working with PBOT previously installed new signal equipment at 97th Avenue’s crossing of East Burnside Street as part of theNE 97th Avenue Phase II and Couch/Davis StreetLocal Improvement District (LID). The old signal equipment is still active, and crews must remove it so PBOT can activate the new traffic lights and pedestrian signals.
This LID project uses City and property owner funds to add sidewalks and create new road segments, restoring the city street grid in an area that previously had long, uninterrupted blocks and little pedestrian infrastructure. Project planners say this work will improve streets and sidewalks for existing residents while facilitating future housing growth in the Gateway area.
PBOT provided graphic
Closures will disrupt the Line 20 bus service. TriMet will close eastbound bus stops on E Burnside at SE 94th (Stop ID 822) and SE 99th (Stop ID 12934). Westbound line 20 buses will similarly bypass stops on E Burnside at NE 97th (Stop ID 8745) and NE 94th (Stop ID 823). Riders should consult TriMet’s website for further alerts and to plan trips around the construction. I-205 Multiuse Path users can travel through this worksite. However, they should use caution and follow detour instructions as crews work to enhance the walking and rolling corridor.
PBOT will work to maintain local access to residences and businesses during the project. People should anticipate delays and obey instructions on signs or from the crew on site. When completed, all users of the intersection will have new high-visibility crosswalk markings and new signals for safer navigation of this mixed point of nearly all modes of ground travel — at East Burnside Street and 97th Avenue, light rail, car, bicycle, bus, and pedestrian traffic intermix, creating a uniquely complex crossroads in the best of circumstances. During construction, people are encouraged to remain aware of work in the roadway and changing traffic patterns.
Carrington College recently relocated its Portland operations to 1010 SE 96th Avenue, Suite 1052, vacating its Lloyd Center classrooms. The private, for-profit school offers Medical Assistant, Dental Assistant, or Veterinary Assistant programs from this East Portland campus. The California-based organization was formerly known as Apollo College before its 2010 name change.
Carrington College’s Portland campus occupies the ground floor and basement of the former Unitus Community Credit Union location, left vacant since the branch’s relocation in November 2023. The approximately 16,700 square foot facility offers a reception area, administrative offices, and student services with two lecture rooms and one computer lab. The website describes the classroom design as representative of the professional environments students will encounter in their careers, such as hospital rooms, doctor’s offices, and dental offices. The lower level features lab spaces for students enrolled in the Medical Assisting, Veterinary Assisting, and Dental Assisting programs.
This campus is across from a TriMet MAX Green Line station and offers significant on-site parking, providing students with similar access options as its previous Lloyd Center location. The school is open weekdays and offers some evening classes.
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Starting Wednesday, May 7th, SE Washington Street will close to traffic so crews can install a sedimentation system at the SE 84th Avenue intersection. For the remainder of the week, eastbound drivers and TriMet buses will need to route around the closure between SE 82nd and 86th Avenues. Although the contractor intends to complete work by Friday, May 9th, crews may need to extend construction into the following week.
The Portland Bureau of Transportation (PBOT) intends to rebuild the four sidewalk corners at this intersection as part of a future project to add a bike lane and enhanced pedestrian infrastructure to the street. Road markings recently applied in the area show where crews will install new corners featuring Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) compliant ramps and curb extensions on the north side. The extended sidewalk corners bulb out into the parking lane of Washington Street, shortening the crosswalk distance and increasing visibility for people waiting to cross at the sidewalk’s edge.
This week’s project is in the center of the street and requires a full road closure for worker and street user safety. These improvements support a more robust stormwater system and other enhancements planned for SE Washington Street. Eastbound TriMet line 15 riders who rely on the SE Washington at 82nd (Stop ID 6166), 86th (Stop ID 6167), and 88th (Stop ID 6168) bus stops will need to use a alternate boarding location from 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Drivers who use SE Washington Street should detour to SE Division or East Burnside Streets for eastbound travel. During construction, motorists should keep an eye on posted signage and reader boards for information about any extensions to the work schedule that would prolong the road closure.
In April, crews began converting an adult entertainment venue into Portland’s first Chick-fil-A restaurant within city limits since the Lloyd Center food court location closed in 2003. This project dates back to May 2022, when the national fast food chain explored development at 9950 SE Stark Street, opting to renovate the original structure to maintain its nonconforming use of the existing site. The 1984-era structure previously hosted Rax Roast Beef, Tony Roma’s, and Hooters restaurants before converting to Mystic Gentlemen’s Club and later Venue Gentlemen’s Club.
9950 SE Stark Street stripped to its studs ahead of renovation (Jacob Loeb)
Complete demolition of the building would have required denser use of the rezoned property and prohibited the use as a single-story restaurant, so workers stripped the building down to its studs and repurposed existing structural elements in the new design. This property is in the Gateway Urban Renewal Area, which city planners hoped would become a second downtown. The Gateway District is predominantly zoned as Central Commercial (CX). City planners expect new developments in this area to maximize density and encourage urban activities. The CX zone allows projects with tall buildings placed close together. Developers working in this zone should create pedestrian-oriented structures that strongly emphasize a safe and attractive streetscape. To avoid the minimum density requirements in the CX zone, the Chick-fil-A on SE Stark Street must reuse the original building. Portland allows noncomplying use within a zone when the building predates the new standards and only expects zone compliance to occur when property owners significantly redevelop the site. The status of nonconforming structures is not affected by changes in ownership or tenants. The project’s initial demolition and drive-thru-oriented redevelopment plan would have needed to adhere to the CX standards. This renovation plan will create a Chick-fil-A that is different from most of the restaurant’s other locations without a drive-through option, but it will retain nonconforming status by maintaining the usage pattern of previous tenants.
April 2025 (Jacob Loeb)
January 2025 (Jacob Loeb)
An early morning fire at the location on January 4th almost hampered redevelopment plans. However, Portland Fire & Rescue’s quick response kept the damage to a minimum and preserved most of the structure. This event was just one of the obstacles this project faced over the years. Chick-fil-A remained committed to buying this property even as its storied history played out in court with a 32-year-old man found guilty this month for a deadly shooting at this location in April 2024.
Firefighters working outside the shuttered Venue Gentlemen’s Club entrance. Photo by Dennis Weis, courtesy PF&R.
Over the next few months, crews will rework the facade and roof to incorporate a new entry vestibule. Sidewalk improvements around the site will join updates to the parking lot and ramp additions to increase accessible entry to the restaurant. Workers will restructure the interior with an all-new layout, including restrooms, a play area, a sit-down dining room, and kitchen space to meet the Chick-fil-A standards. People should anticipate sidewalk and lane closures around the property as workers transform this site. After crews complete the renovation, area residents should expect increased traffic around the property border by SE Stark Street, Washington Street, and 99th Avenue. The chicken-centric fast food company tends to draw many patrons, and its lack of drive-through service may exceed its onsite parking capacity, diverting drivers into other area parking. However, the property will have a designated “Delivery Drivers” area for app-based service providers taking orders directly to customers offsite.
Although the building will mostly retain its original footprint and parking lot, people should soon see a different level of customer interaction at this site, and it has the potential to draw in new visitors from the adjacent Interstate 205 commuter looking for a quick meal. Increased visitors at one location can improve surrounding locations’ sales but may also draw customers from local competitors. Chick-fil-A’s impact on the Gateway District will take years to materialize. Still, people have expressed appreciation for the change in business at that location and will appreciate seeing the site more active.
Update January 1, 2026: Construction is nearly complete and the franchisee anticipates opening the location in early 2026.
By
Jacob Loeb
Correction: The article was updated to acknowledge the Lloyd Center food court location that closed in 2003.
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