The Residence Inn by Marriott Now Open

The Residence Inn by Marriott in Bellevue has opened its doors for business this week. Although not technically in “Downtown Bellevue,” it will still serve as a great hotel for guests looking to stay close to the city.

The hotel features 231 guest suites, with a range of studios, 1 bedroom, and 2 bedroom units. Also featured is a Hertz Rental Car desk, Microsoft designed techno-lounge named “Escape," complimentary wireless (and wired) Internet throughout the hotel, 3,200 sq ft of flexible meeting space, and more.

The hotel is located at 605 114th Ave SE, one block over from the Bellevue Club, and is now open for guests to reserve rooms.

Pearl to Open November 14th

Pearl Bar & Dining will open in Lincoln Square on November 14th, in their newly renovated location where Trader Vic’s previously occupied.

The 200-seat, 7,800 sq ft restaurant and bar will bring a much needed urban and trendy setting; complete with a bar, bistro tables, a lounge area with low sofas and tables, and a raised, sheer-veiled seating option for small parties.  Pearl’s interior will focus on contemporary design elements.  You’ll first notice the large “teardrop glass sculpture” in the front entry, along with other fashionable art.

The locally owned restaurant has created a menu filled with fresh Northwest-inspired foods, featuring dishes like: Salmon Sashimi with ginger and hot sesame oil, Dungeness Crab Cake with Yakima Orchards Gala apple, Braised Mishima Ranch boneless Wagyu short ribs, Flat Iron Crispy Chicken, along with many other tasty offerings.

Pearl will be open for lunch and dinner and will offer a daily happy hour from 4:30 – 6:30pm.  In addition, Pearl will be offering a (much needed) weekend brunch!

Inside Ten20 Luxury Apartments

Ten20 apartments at 108th St and 10th St are now available for lease and will be available for move-in to residents in the coming weeks.

A recent tour of Ten20 apartments showed the standard luxury amenities you'd only expect in a high-end condominium complex, such as hardwood floors, granite, marble, high ceilings, air conditioning, solar shades, and more, available at the 20-story tower of apartments.

Special features of the project include an entertainment area called "The Club" with a media lounge, gourmet kitchen, E-Lounge, executive conference room, and free wi-fi. Also included is a state of the art fitness club.

Ten20 will differ from other apartment complexes because of their commitment to service. Going to be on vacation and need your pet fed, or how about your plants watered? The Ten20 concierge, like a 5 star hotel, will provide superior services for its residents. The complex is partnering with local restaurants and companies to offer events to residents within the common community areas.

The 129 spacious units range from 782 sq ft - 3,138 sq ft with rents starting at $2,150 and maxing out with the penthouse suites at over $9,000 a month.

Irish Pub coming to Lincoln Square

Paddy Coyne's Irish Pub, a local restaurant with locations in Seattle and Tacoma, will occupy the old Koot's location that has been unoccupied at Lincoln Square since May.

The pub continues to diversify the restaurants in the Bellevue Collection and adds another local restaurant to their repertoire.

Currently there is no set date for Paddy's to open. The restaurant has not begun the interior remodel and likely will not open until 2009.

Join the Downtown Bellevue Livability Discussion

On Tuesday, October 28th, the Bellevue Downtown Association will be hosting one of their monthly meetings at the Harbor Club. This month's conversation will be on the topic of the Downtown Bellevue neighborhood community.

With many future residents planning to move downtown within the next 2 years, it becomes an important time for community members to discuss properties for the Downtown Bellevue neighborhoods.

What is important to you: walkability, the arts, transportation, parks, safety, etc? Voice your opinion on Tuesday!

Panel speakers will include VP of Development from Avalon Bay Communities, Principal from REALOGICS, downtown residents, a downtown business owner, and last but not least Downtown Bellevue Network founder (me)!

Tuesday October 28th 7:30am - 9:30am
Harbor Club - 777 108 Ave NE

Register Today

Michael Kors will open at Bellevue Square

The Bellevue Collection has confirmed that the fashion designer Michael Kors has plans to open a "Lifestyle" retail store at Bellevue Square in 2009.  Michael Kors prides themselves on luxury appearal, and accessories for men and women.

The store is planned for 3,000 sq ft, and to open in July 2009.  The location has not yet been disclosed.

Ask Lea: What's Next?

Dear Lea,
Downtown Bellevue has a pool hall, bowling alley, nightclub, and movie theater. It's soon to have a music venue, comedy club, ultra lounge, and Jimmy Choo store. What's next for Bellevue; what else could we possibly need or want here!?
- Dreaming Big

Dear Dreaming Big,

I get what you're saying. There's so much here, it's hard to think of what the next developer or investor could possibly dream up for this place! I hardly ever make it out to Seattle anymore, unless it's for a special occasion, because I have everything I want here on the Eastside. I can have dinner at restaurants, cocktails at a lounge, dance at a club, go bowling with friends, shop trunk shows, meet for happy hour, and the best part is - all of these things are in walking distance of where I live. Downtown Bellevue has become quite the amazing place!

But what's next? What else do we need? Or better yet, what else do we want? I think we need a dessert bar. I'm not talking about another frozen yogurt place, with more toppings, I'm talking about a real dessert bar with pies, cakes, Gelato, port wine, and Irish coffee. I also think we need a theater dinner. Something like Teatro Zinzanni, with burlesque dancers, dream girls swinging from trapezes, magicians table side, and a mysterious murder mystery to solve while enjoying your 5-course meal.

I think we need an adult arcade. Not only will it have a bar, but Wii stations you can rent by the hour, laser tag, and virtual sniper missions. Last, but not least, we need a late night coffee shop. We need a place we can go at midnight, after we've had a few drinks, for an espresso pick-me-up before the car ride home. Who says no one would want a cheese danish rather than a Breakfast Jack at 2am?

So, here's my question for you: what else do you think Bellevue should have? What do you think of my ideas? I want to hear from you!
Write me at lea@downtownbellevue.com.

Kids' Cove Now Open at Bellevue Square

Many might remember reports of The Boat at Bellevue Square closing in March. Since then, Bellevue Square has been working on their remodel and recently opened the "Kids' Cove."  This is an area for kids to play on the many play toys that are now centralized in one area.

The famous Boat and the Washington Ferry, along with other climbable play toys, have been refurbished and transported to the new Kids' Cove and are now available for children to play on!

See other great pictures here.

Spooktacular Halloween Eastside Style

It's almost that time again, and you're wondering where to find a unique and truly "you" Halloween costume. Something creative, and something where you won't see yourself coming and going at every party you attend. There are quite a few resources right here on the Eastside for a costume and even party accessories.

A few suggestions:
On Bel-Red road you will find a great place to shop called A Masquerade. They have shoes, costumes, wigs, accessories, and even a party-planning department.

Of course for the "do it yourselfer," there is always Value Village. Get creative with a "go go girl" or "macho man" get up.

Another place to shop for a full service costume experience is Party City in Bellevue. They have a large assortment of costumes to pick from, a couple being the Joker from Batman or a gothic princess.

Where can you wear your costume this year? For families, The Bellevue Collection is offering trick or treating at selected stores inside the mall.

Halloween Family Funfest
October 31st
Join The Bellevue Collection for a night full of tricks, treats and fun!
4:30 - 7:30pm

Or, check out the Bellevue Art Museum "Bam-o-Ween."

Free Family Day! BAM-o-Ween
Come for an evening of ghoulish good times. Halloween-oriented art and activities will abound for the entire family to enjoy. Don't miss the cultural musical performances and the haunted auditorium! Costumes are encouraged.
3:30 - 7:30pm

For grown up trick or treating, treat yourself to a night of ghoulish fun at the 520 Bar and Grill. Located in Old Bellevue, this quaint spot is the perfect place to party with friends.

Oh, and let's not forget that Halloween is for collecting candy. Stock up at Bartells on Bellevue Way in Downtown for some great variety of the classics: Snickers, Milky Way, Rolos, and Tootsie Rolls.

Power Out at Bellevue Collection

As of about 2pm Friday, the power at most of Bellevue Square and Lincoln Square are both off. Workers and customers from both buildings have been evacuated until power comes back on.

No word at this time (4pm) what is the cause of the outage, or when it might come back on.

Plan your Friday night accordingly.
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Update: Power is back on everywhere (4:40pm)

Superblock, Washington Square for Sale

In today's Seattle Times, a story has been reported about how the entire block, where Washington Square condominium towers currently resides, is seeking a buyer (or partial buyer) by the developer, Wasatch Development Partners.

The story reported that the asking price in a letter in August sent to prospective buyers, listed a price tag of $113 million. The letter also suggested that an interested buyer would need to put 50% down or consider a partnership deal for half of the property. The select group that got the letter includes a few local and national companies. Also noted in the August letter was that 120 out of the 379 units, about 30% of units, still remain for sale at Washington Square.

Kamper Freeman Jr. is quoted in the article regarding Wasatch's situation, "They're discovering there's nothing easy here."

The block was originally planned as a $1.6 billion development, that would encompass four or five additional towers planned for residential, office space, hotel, and senior living.

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See our this article on our new site:

http://www.downtownbellevue.com/2008/10/16/superblock-washington-square-for-sale/

PetSmart to Open in Downtown Bellevue

Comp USA's old location on Main Street in Downtown Bellevue has sat vacant for over a year now. Just recently there has been activity inside the location, and it has been posted that PetSmart will occupy the space.

With all the additional pets that will be moving in, along with their owners, to the condos and apartments that are currently being built, this will be a high-trafficked store.

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Update: PetSmart has confirmed that they will be opening in early March '09!

New Stores at Bellevue Square

We recently took a stroll through Bellevue Square; many new stores are coming soon, and some have just recently opened. The following is clearly not a complete list, but here are the most "interesting" stores to mention:

You might have noticed right outside of The Lodge at Bellevue Square, that there are now signs up announcing Blue C Sushi and Boom Noodle's soon to be opened locations. Also opening before the holiday season is the 7 for all Mankind store; "Sevens" are arguably the most popular and most widely worn designer jeans right now.

Eileen Fisher, Free People, Victoria Secret Pink, and The Body Shop have all just recently opened in the last couple of months at Bellevue Square. In addition, Brookstone has returned to Bellevue Square, opening up a temporary holiday shop where Banana Republic used to be on the second floor.

It's only a little over 40 days before the holiday madness begins at The Bellevue Collection.

Downtown Bellevue Gets an Entertainment Venue: Parlor Live

Finally, Downtown Bellevue will get what it has desperately needed, an entertainment venue for live music and comedians at Lincoln Square! Parlor Live, as it will be called, is the sister club of The Parlor and will go right next door.

So your next question might be, where is there space next door? The Parlor will be splitting its existing 20,000 sq ft of space in half, to accommodate for Parlor Live, which will now be a separate location dedicated to entertainment.

Parlor Live is scheduled to open December 1st and will likely just cater to private parties until 2009, when it will start booking comedians and musicians.

Bellevue Square Clock Tower Renovation

You may have noticed recently that the clock tower has been relocated from Bellevue Square's center court to outside of the Westin at One Lincoln Tower.  In addition to the relocation, it has also been artistically updated.

This has been one of the many efforts in the renovation of Bellevue Square.

It is nice to see that in all of the remodeling, the Kemper Development Co. has kept parts of the history alive in one way or another!

Bellevue Square Remodel Almost Complete

Bellevue Square has come a long way over this past year in its major interior remodel. It isn't complete yet, but it's very close!

Take a look at some recent images, which show many of these upgrades in action. The theme of the wood paneling, with the accent of green throughout, has made for a very nice organic and premium feel.

You'll also see the sign for the "Kids' Cove," which we will follow as it becomes complete. This will be the new kids area on the third floor.

Earl's Confirmed at Lincoln Square

As rumored on Monday, it has now been confirmed that Earl's - the hip restaurant and bar from Canada - will in fact occupy space in Lincoln Square next to The Container Store. Currently, Fashion AXIS has occupied this space on a annual basis.

The 9,000 Sq Ft, high-viability space has gone unoccupied for Lincoln Square's entire existence. Earl's will open in Spring 2009.

New Plans for Office Towers on NE 8th

In an article on Friday, the PSBJ reports Beacon Capital Partners LLC is creating plans for a high- rise office tower in the core of Downtown Bellevue at 10833 NE 8th St.

The newly proposed building would be 32-stories of office space and would be positioned to accomodate a 2nd building at the site as well.  The open space is in between the Yuen Lui photography studio and the First Congregational Church.