The majority of the new office/retail Spring Plaza building on Snoqualmie Ridge is getting closer to opening, but how the space will be used is going to be different than originally planned.
Two unforeseen issues delayed the opening of the building: 1) the developer’s general contractor filed for bankruptcy in early 2019 when Spring Plaza was about 80% complete; 2) the COVID-19 pandemic.
Chun Lai Hospitality, which also owns the adjacent Hampton Inn, restarted construction of the building last September after a 9-month delay. Originally the company’s corporate offices were going to be located on the second floor, but instead those offices and client/guest entertainment area will now occupy the majority of the ground floor.
Chun Lai Hospitality owner, Mr. Cho, also owns Mountain Meadow Farms in North Bend. He started multiple businesses after moving to the area from China in 2012, including a technical college in Bellevue.
One retail/restaurant business will be moving into the new building. The street level space closest to Center Street will become a coffee roaster/shop – as originally planned – called America’s Best Coffee. It will be run by Mr. Cho’s daughter who owns four other coffee shops in Bellevue, Seattle and Federal Way called Honor Coffee.
There’s no opening date yet for the new coffee shop. Due to the COVD-19 crisis, construction was halted, but they are gradually re-starting.
With the corporate offices relocated downstairs, the entire second level of Spring Plaza will be used as banquet, reception and large meeting space, like an extension of the hotel.
The 97-room Hampton Inn does have corporate meeting space, but according to General Manager Yvonne Gilbert, for larger meetings and events like banquets, rehearsal dinners and receptions that are over 100 people, the Spring Plaza second floor space will be promoted.
She explained, “We will be looking for outside caterers in our area and outside of our area. We’d like to have at least 3-4 caterers that we can promote for wedding receptions, rehearsal dinners, etc.”
Gilbert said they had been receiving quite a few inquiries about the Spring Hill second floor event space. The inquiries slowed when the pandemic stuck, but she said they’re starting to pick back up.
They’re currently in the process of ordering banquet tables and chairs for the space while awaiting a temporary certificate of occupancy from the city.
[Photos of building, office included in slideshow below]
