Shopping at Grand Ridge Plaza in the Issaquah Highlands this 2020 holiday Season and beyond

This is a post created in partnership with Grand Ridge Plaza in Issaquah Washington and Regency Centers to help shoppers discover the community resources that help them flourish and all thoughts and opinions are my own.

Why my Seattle family shops at Issaquah Highlands Grand Ridge Plaza

Although we live in Seattle, we spend a lot of our time at our cabin in Snoqualmie Pass and this means that we’ve done a lot of shopping midway in Issaquah over the years. We were so excited when we found Chinoise Cafe, one of our Queen Anne favorites that we thought was gone forever, had moved into Grand Ridge Plaza and now we try to eat there whenever we pass through.

When I was contacted by Grand Ridge Plaza and Regency Centers to start a conversation about our shopping habits in that community shopping center, I was really excited for this partnership because Grand Ridge Plaza is a place my family already depends on and loves. When I think about things I value in a shopping center especially lately, I think about why we shop there: we are looking for a one stop shopping experience, we are looking for a safe shopping experience and we are looking for ways to support and feel connected to our local community while we leave our houses to shop.

Looking for a one-stop shopping experience

I never realized how much I appreciated a one-stop shopping experience before this time when we have to think so much about the trips we make when we leave our homes. When we drive my SUV to Snoqualmie Pass in the winter in we often stop at the Safeway fuel station at Grand Ridge Plaza to make sure the car is topped up just in case there is a lot of snow when we get to our cabin. The Safeway fuel station there usually has better prices than we get near where we live in Seattle too.

I usually pick up groceries that we need at the Safeway while we fill the car and we might grab dinner at Chinoise Cafe, Mod Pizza or Aji Sushi (a place recommended to us by friends) . In the past we have also used some free electric charging stations nearby that we found on plugshare (there are several in the area) to charge our Tesla while we’ve eaten at Grand Ridge Plaza Restaurants. And even though we are doing a lot more online shopping during Covid-19, we are also looking for more one-stop type shopping experiences too.

Stores with enhanced safety procedures

When we visited Grand Ridge Plaza recently, I noticed a lot of safety measures in place. Retailers that usually have multiple entrances like Snapdoodle Toys and Great Clips Hair have only one entrance open to control movement in and out of stores. When we passed by Great Clips I saw a sign that read “masks required” and a worker there was telling a customer they needed to put a mask on before they entered. The Bevmo had clearly marked distanced spaces for waiting outside. And the Starbucks had a sign saying that it was only open for grab-and-go but the restrooms were still open too. I find these types of things really important to me when I shop and all these measures made me feel comfortable. I like to know that a shopping center is trying its best to keep me safe, so I don’t have to continuously think about safety while I shop and I can relax my head a little bit. Do these types of things help you lately too?

On our visit we walked our pup around the shopping area while we waited for takeout from Chinoise Cafe and picked up treats from Pinkabella and it felt festive with a giant decorated tree and we felt safe walking around.

Supporting our local community while holiday shopping

I love that there is a mix of national brands and local stores and services in Grand Ridge Plaza because it feels like a place where we can support the community with our shopping and also get all the things we need. There were a few people lined up out of Snapdoodle Toys when we were in the area and it made my heart happy to see people supporting a locally owned shop. There is also a red mailbox at the toy shop where you can drop a card to wish local seniors a Happy Holidays and I’m going to remind my kids to do this for the next time we pass through. (There is more information if you scroll to the description under Eastside Friends of Seniors on this page.)

There were also a few signs in the area about a cool community event put on by Grand Ridge Plaza called “Santa Cruises the Highlands” where Santa will cruise a route through the community shopping center area on a few December days and nights and spread “holiday cheer”. I love when a shopping area can connect a community like this, especially in a time when many of us are feeling isolated and need our spirits lifted.

And a quick survey about shopping that I’d love for you to fill out

Have you ever been to Grand Ridge Plaza? Even if you haven’t been there I’d love it if you could give your input on how you are shopping lately too to inform Regency Centers how this community shopping center can meet the needs of shoppers and help them flourish. I’ve attached a survey that should only take a few minutes – I’ll be drawing a name on December 15th for a $100 gift certificate to Grand Ridge Plaza. **Congrats Nina @adventures_of_Shameless for winning the $100 gift certificate**

Terumi

Terumi Pong is a Seattle-based family travel writer and mom of twin teenage boys.  She loves coffee and pastries, shopping local and looking for greener ways to live.  She is also known as Scout’s mom (Scout is a 5ish pound little black yorkie-poo)