This story was originally published on my northwest website.
The place that once had lines around the block is now being forced out of Seattle’s Westlake Center.
Asean Streat Food Hall has been evicted from the center after failing to pay rent since 2023, according to court documents obtained by the Puget Sound Business Journal. The agency also failed to pay utility bills or taxes.
The Asean Streat Food Hall, an 8,600-square-foot space designed to mimic a street market that sells a variety of Southeast Asian food items, is said to be behind on its bill of $842,209. There are up to 10 different food stalls in the hall.
As of this report, the food court’s website is currently down.
The food court signed a 10-year lease agreement in May 2021, with monthly rent of approximately $26,000.
Asean Streat Food Hall is owned by the same restaurateur Punya Tipyasothi, who owns and operates Racha Thai Cuisine and Noburu Ramen and Sushi restaurants, the Puget Sound Business Journal reported.
Nordstrom Rack plans to move from Westlake Center to downtown Seattle
Westlake Center suffered another exodus in December when Nordstrom Rack formally submitted plans to relocate.
The new location is located in the former Forever 21 building, next to the Nordstrom flagship store. Old Navy, Fox Sports Grill, Planet Fitness and Gene Juarez have previously occupied the space before Forever 21.
The new store has three floors and covers an area of more than 38,000 square feet.
As of this report, it’s unclear what will occupy the vacated space at the Nordstrom Rack on the lower level of Westlake Center Mall. Nordstrom Rack first moved to Westlake Center in 2012.
In March, Forever 21 filed for bankruptcy for the second time in six years. In its second bankruptcy filing, the company cited the COVID-19 pandemic, high inflation and competition from international companies such as Shein and Temu.
Forever 21 spent months searching for a buyer, contacting more than 200 potential bidders, CNBC reported. Thirty bidders signed confidentiality agreements, but no viable deal was reached.
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