Harry Gatjens is the author of this new column about the Edmonds business scene.

Wednesday was the official grand opening of the new Edmonds IGA, following a “soft opening” a few weeks ago. Manager Tyler Trask said that he and the rest of the IGA employees are thrilled to be part of the Edmonds community. Cody McClain, the store’s produce manager, hails from Missoula, Mont. His goal is to provide high-quality produce and a wide variety of items in a smaller “local” grocery setting.

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A local contractor has been a hired both to dismantle the current building and construct the new building that will house a Walgreens on the Edmonds Way property that was home to the former Robin Hood Lanes bowling alley. The prior owner has sold off all the bowling equipment — including scoring machines, pin setters, bowling pins and the bowling balls — and the hardwood lanes themselves to several buyers. On Wednesday morning, all of the wood from the lanes and the sub flooring underneath was loaded into trucks and taken away. The contractor estimates that close to 95 percent of materials in the building will be recycled. Despite having been built in the early 1960s, there was not a significant amount of asbestos in the structure and what was there was removed Tuesday.

The actual demolition of the building exterior will begin in the next few days. If you drive by now, you will notice a large hole cut into the south side through which the bowling equipment and alleys were removed. It is estimated that construction will begin within the next month.

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Merrillee Bradshaw recently joined the Edmonds office of the financial services firm Edward Jones as a branch office administrator. She will be responsible for the daily operation of the branch, client service and marketing support for financial advisor Mitch Hamilton. The office is located at 23107 100th Ave. W. Suite No. 1 Edmonds; Phone is 425-778-1210.

Coming next week: An Edmonds version of “Storage Wars.”

Have business news to share? Email it to businessbeat@myedmondsnews.com.