The Baskin-Robbins ice cream shop in downtown Edmonds is closing its doors Saturday, to be replaced by a new branch of HomeStreet Bank.
The ice cream store, located at 615 5th Ave. S., will serve its last scoops this Saturday, according to owners John and Hannah Kim. The building, along with the vacant building across the parking lot at 616 5th Ave. S. (most recently home to a Curves fitness studio), will be torn down to make way for the HomeStreet Bank’s branch, with opening anticipated in late 2016 or early 2017, said HomeStreet spokesman Michael Rubbinaccio.
“Edmonds is a perfect community for HomeStreet,” Rubbinaccio said. “We’re looking forward to bringing our products and services to support the community. It will add full-service convenience to the area, joining our nearby Mountlake Terrace and Lynnwood branches.”
Rubbinaccio said that site design plans have not yet been completed for the new bank branch.
This is sad with the ease of banking online it isn’t really something needed in Edmonds and their are too few places to take kids.
I’m disappointed that they’re not planning for a multi-family residential building with their bank on the ground-level floor.
I was just thinking Edmonds needed another bank…
Like Dave of Edmonds Maytag said “Just what Edmonds needs is another bank!”
Yet another bank, just what nobody asked for. Can we at least get a decent credit union downtown? That would at least be a step up.
Downtown Edmonds doesn’t need another bank. However, I’m with Scott Baker on this one, a credit union would be a step up.
Another bank…too bad
It does seem a bit odd. We have many banks already in town, and that site would seem to be a prime location for an attractive and functional mixed use building.
The free market says otherwise. Banks do not place themselves where there isn’t a likely a market for them. And whether or not the Council wants a nice mixed use building and one they consider to be an attractive building isn’t within the Council’s power to dictate, the Council can only promulgate codes. But what property owners choose to do cannot be dictated beyond the codes. There seems to be a great deal of confusion on that simple issue here in Edmonds. If that site were a prime spot and an economically viable one for a mixed use building, the developers would have done just that. It apparently is not, and that may be a direct result of the codes, costs, restrictions, and regulations currently put in place by the Council.
Diane is correct. I wonder if the City looked at purchasing the parcel, like they did with the Community Center.
Ms Crank and I respectfully disagree on the City looking at purchasing that parcel. Edmonds has many many parks and a history of overspending on them while at the same time neglecting the maintenance of many of them. It would be nice to see an effort made to have the parks that exist have the ability to monitor the conditions under which the sprinklers are used ( in a dry period to assess the need for water v letting grass in under used parks go dormant). The Parks Department does a wonderful job working with the resources they are given but savings on water consumption seems a worthy effort and an economically viable one. And as to crumb rubber, the parks department might actually have real grass fields in very high demand should Edmonds keep real grass. It does seem to be what parents want these days.
Let me clarify: not purchase to make another park, but to own in general then rent/lease to another entity, thus having a say in what type of development goes there (while creating a revenue stream with land ownership).
We still disagree but I get where you are coming from. Personally I don’t think that the property management business is something this City should be getting into right now (if ever.) But it is a good point , Alicia.
The city has absolutely no business purchasing a building to lease out so that they can “control” what type of development comes to Edmonds. City government trying to create a revenue stream by being land owners is definitely not what local government should be involved in. Please leave this to the “private sector”. Local government should be doing just that, governing locally, not become property management bureaucracy.
Oh my goodness! Another bank in Edmonds. Would have been great if they at least built apartments on top or something. What a waste of space.
Another Bank? How wasteful for the space. Hope they do something while building with the dedicated bench in front. It was purchased by Curves members in memory of a very special employee. Hope it comes back after construction.
Ah, yes, another bank. Wouldn’t another nail shop be better? Ah, yes, another nail shop.
Does anyone know what the Kims are going to do next? My niece and nephew will be upset to hear their favorite ice cream place is no more.
As always, it’s a case of use it or lose it. Many times on a hot Summer’s Eve, the B.R. was still almost empty. The location is WRONG WRONG WRONG. It’s too far from town to walk with children; especially as “Revelations” is just a block away from the roundabout.
Now if they could have moved to the location next to the Edmonds Bakery, they would have done a roaring business. Especially on Edmonds Summer Market Days. Everyone loves Baskin Robbins
Edmonds is turning into Bankmonds. Yuck. I suppose Baicha is next…
Seriously folks, Edmonds would be a much different place if banks didn’t want to come here. You don’t get it both ways.
I have been a loyal US Bank customer for quite a number of years and have no intention of jumping ship now. If you look up
“Edmonds” and “Banks” on Google Maps, you’ll see that all the major banks have branches in downtown Edmonds or in the Westgate neighborhood. There are currently 6 banks in downtown Edmonds and two banks in the Westgate neighborhood. This doesn’t include bank branches in grocery stores.
Banks don’t build where there is no customer base…
At least it’s not an another over-65 condo.
I have lived in Edmonds since 1955, but am not a member of the “Keep Edmonds encased in amber” crowd, but am sad to see B&R close. The Kim’s are a great couple and a pleasure to do business with. A bit of nostalgia comes over me when I read about the closing. When our daughter Shana was about 3 years old we had just bought her a winter coat. We were down town for something and I stopped at Baskin and Robbins for ice cream. Knowing how a 3 year old eats ice cream, I found one that best matched the color of her coat, Daquiri Ice. She will be 39 in December, and still loves Daquiri Ice.
Interesting story Steve. Our younger daughter worked there in 1980.
Personally, I’m just grateful it won’t be another Starbucks.
For people missing the ice cream, I highly recommend taking a ride a little further down 5th to check out the gelato place.
Per ice cream establishment, Build It and they will come…
This is just sad… I take my dog to the lot behind Baskins Robbins a lot…
Not that I’m anxious to see another bank in downtown Edmonds, but any word as to when Homestreet Bank will start building their new location? It was supposed to have been built and open for business in late 2016/early 2017.
I will check on this tomorrow. Not sure what the holdup is.
It’s currently under design review but not sure how long it’s been at that stage. HomeStreet is also going through a downsizing (just sold off their home lending arm). Not sure if that’s a direct connect to the delay.
Homestreet has not been a good “corporate neighbor,” maintaining an eyesore at that location for about four years now – no effort to make those two buildings look a little less derelict.
Banks go where the money is or is percieved to be. There’s only one bank in Beaver City Nebraska and it’s failing due to tariffs on soybeans. (That’s a real place, but I made up the bank stuff just for fun. Probably no bank there anymore).
Banner Capital Bank is located at 401 9th Street in Beaver City. They must have some money there too.
LOL Darrol. There are still a few bucks in Furnas Co. NE. but the old locally owned 1st. State Bank is long gone. Six hundred people, more or less, in B.C. and it’s the county seat believe it or not. Maybe 2000 in the whole county. You think we have problems maintaining the roads, etc.
Hmmm, I was wondering how long this ice cream joint has been gone so another bank could be built. Almost 5 years is the answer. Must be the same builder as the Top Pot Donuts as well as other very long term projects. Or, are building permits sooooo hard to get through the process? What else could be the cause…?
HomeStreet downsized and sold off their home lending arm. Building new branches are no longer a priority. They will most likely sell the property to another taker.
Hey Chris—Top Pot underwent a change of leadership mid-project unfortunately and elected to redesign some significant elements of the project. Fortunately for everyone that included building the interior second story library area. Edmonds Planning staff helped ensure a smooth, collaborative and practical process.