Issaquah innovators earn business honor
January 29, 2013
Innovation in Issaquah is exemplified by a leading apparel manufacturer, a revolutionary process to transform garbage into fertilizer and a theater renowned for fostering Broadway-bound musicals.
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and city leaders announced the Innovation in Issaquah honorees — apparel manufacturer SanMar, WISErg, a manufacturer of garbage-to-fertilizer harvesters, and the nonprofit Village Theatre — at a Jan. 24 ceremony and luncheon.
Leaders from the chamber and City Hall recognized the entrepreneurs’ accomplishments through the Innovation in Issaquah contest, a showcase for local businesses offering unique services. Honorees demonstrate innovation in product development, services, systems or strategies.
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce honors business innovators
January 24, 2013
NEW — 1:40 p.m. Jan. 24, 2013
The most innovative businesses in Issaquah clothe people around the globe, transform garbage into fertilizer, and create productions for local and Broadway audiences.
Issaquah Chamber of Commerce and city leaders announced the Innovation in Issaquah honorees — apparel manufacturer SanMar, WISErg, a manufacturer of fertilizer harvesters, and Village Theatre — at a ceremony and luncheon Thursday.
Leaders at the chamber and City Hall recognized the entrepreneurs’ accomplishments through the Innovation in Issaquah contest, a showcase for local businesses offering unique services.
City surveys 2,300 businesses for ideas, input
October 16, 2012
Issaquah leaders put a question to business owners in recent days: How can we help you?
Citywide, all 2,300 businesses started to receive surveys from the economic development team at City Hall last week. The effort is designed to help officials understand business leaders’ concerns and needs.
The data collected from survey responses could influence future decisions related to business regulations, incentives and more.
Not long after joining the staff at City Hall earlier this year, Economic Development Manager Andrea Lehner gathered anecdotal information from business owners from meetings and visits, but, through the process, started to crave more empirical information.
Press Editorial
August 21, 2012
Children win when community unites
The club challenge was just a small part of a wonderful outpouring of support to fill 1,000 backpacks for kids registered with the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank.
Numerous groups got together to coordinate the drive. The PTSA Council and Issaquah Education Association kicked things off by gathering donations of gift cards that could be used to purchase school supplies.
Press Editorial
August 7, 2012
School supplies for 1,000 children
It’s many of these same students who will be the recipients of the 1,000 backpacks stuffed with school supplies that the Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank and other community service groups are providing. That’s double the number of recent years.
Every parent or guardian knows that school supplies are not a small expense. First, there is the backpack. One sturdy enough to last the year can cost $20 to $25. Thankfully, the employees at SanMar have committed to supply 1,000 backpacks.
Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank to provide backpacks, school supplies
July 17, 2012
The Issaquah Food & Clothing Bank is prepared to meet the school supply needs of up to 1,000 returning students this fall, about twice as many as last year.
Low-income families in need of backpacks and school supplies should sign up at the food bank, 179 First Ave. S.E. Students must be attending school in the Issaquah School District.
Refer families in need of backpacks to the food bank.
The backpacks and supplies are being donated by numerous individuals and businesses in the community, including Kiwanis Club of Issaquah, Issaquah Schools Foundation, SanMar, Issaquah Rotary Club, Office Depot, Issaquah Education Association and others.
Local PTAs collected $500 in gift card donations in June to support the bulk purchase of supplies.
Donations can be sent or dropped off at the food bank. Call 391-4123 for more information.
Klahanie Shopping Center is sold for $22 million
November 8, 2011
The commercial hub in Klahanie, the namesake Klahanie Shopping Center, sold last week for $22 million.
Seattle-based Hogate Properties sold the shopping center to Gerrity Group, a company based in Solana Beach, Calif.
QFC anchors the 49,000-square-foot shopping center, the commercial hub for the Klahanie community in unincorporated King County. Other tenants at the shopping center include a fitness center, restaurants and a bank branch.
The sale is among the largest real estate transactions in Issaquah area in the past year.
In July, Preston-based apparel company SanMar purchased a glass-sheathed office building as a corporate headquarters for $32 million. In September, Hawaii-based A&B Properties Inc. acquired the Siemens Building along East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast for $19.7 million.
Issaquah’s Siemens Building sells for almost $20 million
September 20, 2011
Hawaii-based A&B Properties, Inc. has acquired the Siemens Building for $19.7 million, the company announced Sept. 14.
The technology giant Siemens listed the 147,000-square-foot building along East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast for sale in 2008. Siemens plans to lease space in the complex.
“This office building is well-located, approximately 16 miles east of downtown Seattle and in close proximity to the headquarters and offices of several prominent companies,” A&B Properties President Christopher J. Benjamin said in a statement.
A&B Properties is the fourth-largest private landowner in Hawaii. The company owns more than 87,000 acres, mostly on Kauai and Maui. A&B Properties’ holdings include development projects in Hawaii and mainland states.
Issaquah office building sells for almost $20 million
September 14, 2011
NEW — 12:45 p.m. Sept. 14, 2011
Hawaii-based A&B Properties, Inc. has acquired the Siemens Building along East Lake Sammamish Parkway Southeast for almost $20 million, the company announced Wednesday.
“This office building is well-located, approximately 16 miles east of downtown Seattle and in close proximity to the headquarters and offices of several prominent companies,” A&B Properties President Christopher J. Benjamin said in a statement.
The technology giant Siemens listed the 147,000-square-foot building for sale in 2008. A&B Properties purchased the building for $19.7 million. Siemens plans to lease space in the complex.
“The Seattle MSA is an attractive market featuring a diversified economy that continues to expand, adding high-quality technology and scientific jobs that are expected to sustain future demand for office space,” Benjamin continued. “Siemens, one of the world’s largest companies, will continue to fully lease the building, which it constructed and has occupied since 1994.”
SanMar plans to relocate 400 jobs from Preston to Issaquah
August 30, 2011
The apparel company SanMar plans to relocate about 400 jobs to Issaquah from Preston in the months ahead.
SanMar purchased a hillside office building behind The Home Depot last month. The company intends to complete some minor upgrades to the space and then occupy the building by December.
The relocation encompasses the front-office departments housed at the Preston headquarters, such as accounting, distribution, marketing, product design and more. The company plans to maintain the existing distribution facility in Preston.
SanMar supplies apparel and accessories to companies for embroidery and other embellishment. Clients include household names such as Columbia Sportswear and Nike.
“This is a great opportunity for us to have more space, a big block,” SanMar Vice President Jordan Lott said. “It creates really no additional commute time for the vast majority of our employees. It really is an opportunity to have nicer office space and not disrupt the commutes of the vast majority of our employees. It was kind of a win-win all around.”
SanMar purchased the Eastpointe Corporate Center for $32 million last month. The glass-sheathed office building encompasses 156,323 square feet — more room for the burgeoning company.
