Qfc Heading To Rainier Valley -- New Store Will Heat Up Supermarket Competition

Supermarket competition is apparently heating up - again - in Seattle's Rainier Valley, an area that has felt neglected by upscale retailers such as Starbucks and QFC.

The area got its long-awaited Starbucks outlet earlier this year with the opening of Rainier Valley Square at South Andover Street and Rainier Avenue South. The development also includes a large warehouse-style Max Foods store, Drug Emporium and Hollywood Video.

Now Bellevue-based Quality Food Centers plans to demolish the Rainier Market at 2711 Rainier Ave. S. and replace it with a QFC.

The company has applied for a building permit and a master-use permit for the 3.26-acre site, on the west side of Rainier Avenue South across from the Eagle Hardware and Garden store that opened in 1992.

Farther south, at Rainier Avenue South and Genesee Street, is a Safeway supermarket that was remodeled and expanded three years ago.

QFC has not formally announced its plans for the new store, and President Dan Kourkoumelis declined to provide any details.

However, QFC's building-permit application filed in September outlines plans to tear down the 14,900-square-foot Rainier Market and put up a 26,300-square-foot QFC.

Jan Kiaer, architect for the planned store, said it will include bakery, deli and floral departments. "It will be just like any other QFC," he said.

The PayLess drug store next to Rainier Market will remain on the site, which has parking for 186 vehicles, according to the QFC application.

Kiaer estimated the store could open next May but said that depends on obtaining permits.