SEQUIM — If developers Fred McConkey and Mark Burrowes succeed in persuading City Council members to approve their application for a regional shopping center, they will still have challenges to face.
The anchor tenant in their proposed Bell Farm Center — Fred Meyer — has not fully committed to the plan.
The shopping center near South Sequim Avenue and East Hammond Street is expected to gain City Council approval Monday night.
McConkey and Burrowes featured Fred Meyer as their primary tenant when applying for permitting through the city Planning and Public Works Department.
Fred Meyer officials accompanied representatives from McConkey Development at an open house last fall at Sequim’s Pioneer Memorial Park, where they presented their vision for a community-oriented shopping center with a village motif.
Portland, Ore.-based Fred Meyer is a subsidiary of Kroger Co., a Cincinnati firm operating more than two dozen retail outlets including grocers QFC and Ralphs, and Fry’s, an electronics superstore chain.
Company spokeswoman Mary Loftis told Peninsula Daily News on Thursday that the Fred Meyer division is “very, very interested” in building a Sequim store.
“We really want to be there,” Loftis said.
“At this point in time we are a bit stalled. It’s just a matter of jumping through some internal hoops.”
