Burger King finally coming; Good news for fast food fans

Posted

Irene Torres, KP News

Other major Lake Kathryn developments promised

Believe it or not, Burger King has finally applied for a building permit at Lake Kathryn Village. At press time, approval was expected within a couple of weeks, according to Northwestern General Development Corporation Manager Joe Rhea. Rumors about Burger King, Safeway, and other development have surfaced over the past few years, but Rhea told the KP News, “There are lots of things going on, but now isn’t the time to get into it,” and referred questions to the majority owner, Don Zimmerman of Cost Less Pharmacy, for comment.

Zimmerman reflected on the history of Lake Kathryn Village, on which he and Mike Salatino first collaborated “about 16 or 17 years ago, when we bought acreage from Mr. and Mrs. Easley and removed the stumps from the property.”

“At the time, interest rates were 21 percent and we had to wait until they came down.” Zimmerman said. “Funding for the original development was secured through the Bank of Hong Kong and Shanghai, and they have been the major lending agency through the duration.”

Zimmerman said that “Burger King is imminent,” and he hopes it will be built during the good weather this summer. He said there are some “very important developments underway for Lake

Kathryn” that have been in the works for quite some time, but the permitting process with the county has been delayed up to six years because of the number of different agencies involved. One hold-up has been a major amendment with the state Department of Transportation and the county Public Works to install a four way stop at 94th (Elgin-Clifton) at State Route 302, required to address “ingress and egress” conditions.

Cost Less Senior Services, operated by Jeff Hendrickson and Drew Zimmerman, a closed-door pharmacy located in Cost Less Pharmacy, is the strongest tenant in Lake Kathryn Village, according to Zimmerman. Cost Less Senior Services has state contracts for prescription services to assisted living facilities, jails, and juvenile detention centers. Together, the two pharmacies employ 30 people, with six drivers delivering prescriptions, and process between 500 and 1,000 prescriptions daily. Zimmerman credits “the nice, loyal people in the community” for Cost Less’ success.

Peninsula Market is the most recent addition to the shopping center, joining David Ahrens’ Coast Hardware and veterinarian Jeff Irwin in the core building, and the “new” Wauna Post Office, located

on site.

“All the details of future expansion plans are not appropriate to disclose,” said Rhea, “because nothing can happen until they sign on the dotted line, and that hasn’t happened yet.” When it does, Rhea says, “We’ll be making an announcement.”


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