Matthew's Red Apple Shuts Its Doors Early

SEATTLE - Matthew's Red Apple Market in Wedgwood cleared its inventory earlier than expected and closed its doors yesterday.

The grocery store, at 8400 35th Ave. N.E., and Wedgwood residents have been in a highly public and emotional four-month dispute with property owner Wes Williams of Seattle's Western Property Management over keeping the store.

Williams had struck a deal to lease the store's space to QFC after store owner Craig Mavis failed to renew his lease last fall. That caused Wedgwood residents to band together, hold rallies and circulate petitions.

But an arbitration board in July ruled Matthew's must move out of its location. The store had planned to close tomorrow, but a 20 percent off sale this week has cleared most of its merchandise, said store manager Matt Millar.