(The Center Square) – Seattle Mayor Katie Wilson announced a $1.7 million plan Sunday to help independent grocery stores boost business, stopping short of a campaign idea and previous city ideas that would have had Seattle operating supermarkets.
Wilson floated the idea of Seattle entering the grocery business during her campaign for mayor last year to help residents in “food deserts,” where it can be harder to access fresh, nutritious food because of a lack of supermarkets.
Former Mayor Bruce Harrell first issued an executive order in October 2025 directing Seattle to explore operating grocery stores after food chain Kroger announced it was closing a Fred Meyer store in the Lake City section of Seattle.
Wilson’s office didn’t respond to requests for comment on why her plan changed.
Wilson said in the press release that her initiative is about food access.
“Every person deserves to have access to fresh, healthy food. We are supporting local grocers because neighborhood stores play a vital role in making our city more affordable and livable,” she said in the release.
“For working families underserved by large retailers, and the small, family-owned markets that are cornerstones of our communities, we are investing in a future where everyone can access the food they need.”
Wilson said that, as part of a pilot, the Office of Economic Development is working with Lam’s Seafood Asian Market, a family-owned grocer that has served the Chinatown-International District since the 1990s.
She said the city helped cover the cost of repairs following recent break-ins, and is now scoping facade and security improvements ahead of the store’s upcoming new location in Rainier Valley.
David Tran, owner of Lam’s Seafood Asian Market, said in the city statement that, due to Seattle’s support, the store is able to open a location in Rainier Valley that has been vacant for eight years
“As a community-focused independent grocer, our goal has always been to bring high-quality, culturally relevant foods to our community, and this is the perfect site to do so,” said Tran. “The City will help fund essential security upgrades to assist us in creating a brighter, more welcoming storefront for our customers and prevent break-ins and vandalism.”
The city has not released figures on how much of the $1.7 million Tran is receiving or how much aid it has received previously. Tran was unavailable for comment.
As part of the new initiative, the city, according to Wilson’s release, is also teaming up with the Independent Grocers Alliance in Chicago to perform market analyses across eight underserved Seattle neighborhoods, identifying untapped market potential to attract new grocery operators.
The alliance operates as a global network of independently owned and operated supermarkets with thousands of storefronts across the United States and more than 30 other countries.
In addition, Wilson said ten established, independently owned grocery stores in underserved areas will join a technical assistance cohort, receiving a full year of specialized operational training and guidance from the Independent Grocers Alliance to help them navigate rising operational costs.