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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Rosauers Plans Outside Work At Store On Sunset Boulevard

Rosauers supermarkets spent $2 million a year ago renovating its 34,000-square-foot store in Browne’s Addition.

Now, the employee-owned company is embarking on another project to redesign the parking lot at Second Avenue and Sunset Boulevard.

The idea is to make the Browne’s Addition store an attractive and viable business in the neighborhood, said Dik Salsbury, vice president for retail services.

He said Rosauers expects to spend more than $33,000 on the latest project.

Last week, the Spokane City Council approved a request by Rosauers to turn over the right of way on Oak Street where it cuts through the east end of the parking lot.

In return, Rosauers would build a new lane for traffic to get around the east end of the lot. Motorists would still be able to access Sunset Boulevard and Third Avenue from the north side of the store.

Currently, Second Avenue is one way westbound between Sunset and Oak.

The new design would add an eastbound lane to Second Avenue between Sunset and Oak. The lane would curve to the right at Sunset so motorists would be able to pull into traffic easily.

Salsbury said the new plan will be safer for customers and employees who have been parking in the small, triangular lot where Sunset branches off from Second Avenue. Under the plan, they would no longer have to cross Oak Street to get to the store.

The proposal also calls for new trees and other landscaping, as well as a drainage area for the lot.

Rosauers would grant easements for utility lines under the Oak Street right of way.

Salsbury said a Browne’s Addition entrance sign at the front of the parking lot will be landscaped with flowers every year.

The entire lot would be repaved once construction is completed, he said.

Rosauer’s leases the property from a subsidiary of URM Stores.

A year ago, the URM subsidiary purchased an old car wash at the triangle where Sunset branches off from Second. The car wash was demolished on the same day the land purchase was closed, Salsbury said.

Residents of the neighborhood said they support the new parking lot design. They said it will probably be safer for motorists and pedestrians.

Rosauers met with neighborhood representatives before going before the City Council.

The store has been operating at its present location for 50 years. It was the first supermarket in Spokane, Salsbury said.

The building has been expanded from about 7,000 square feet to today’s 34,000 square feet. That is considered on the small side for modern super stores, which can be 50,000 square feet or more, he said.

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