Plans for first Seattle WinCo store hit obstacle [View all]

A proposal to open Seattle's first WinCo Foods store hit a roadblock last week after a hearing examiner reversed a previous environmental impact exception from the city.

WinCo first filed plans to open its new store at 13550 Aurora Ave. N. in 2024. The Boise, Idaho-based discount grocer has sought to fill the 144,776-square-foot former Sam's Club, which closed in 2018. The Walmart-owned chain also closed stores in Renton and Auburn.

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WinCo's proposal seemed to be methodically working its way through the city's permitting process before hitting local opposition.

The opposition has been led by Lake Washington Working Families, a coalition of King County residents, activists and organizations describing itself as supporting "sustainable growth and good jobs in King County, while limiting impacts to climate change and our natural environment."

https://www.bizjournals.com/seattle/news/2026/04/14/winco-foods-grocery-stalled-hearing-examiner-north.html

The objection doesn't make a lot of sense. WinCo is an employee-owned store that offers fairly affordable prices.