Eagle Group owner puts up $2 million for Pybus

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Eagle Group owner puts up $2 million for Pybus

Monday, March 12, 2012

Rendering by MJ Neal Associates of Wenatchee their design of the interior of the proposed Pybus Public Market

WENATCHEE — Mike Walker, owner of the Eagle Group companies, announced Monday that he will spend as much as $2 million to build the proposed Pybus Public Market, and run the market hands-on for three to five years.

Walker made his announcement at a Port of Chelan County commission meeting at the Confluence Technology Center.

The project would transform the old Morse Steel warehouse at the foot of Orondo Avenue into a year-round agricultural-themed public market with stalls for eateries, produce sales, retail sales, gathering areas and space for live music.

06232011 Photo by Michelle McNiel

The removal of one building at the old Morse Steel facility this month made more public the deteriorating condition of the remaining building, which is being proposed for the Pybus Public Market.

The grounds around the market would become a permanent home for the seasonal Wenatchee Valley Farmers Market, which has had a nomadic existence since 2007 when it was ousted from Wenatchee Riverfront Park to make room for the new road, Riverside Drive.

Under the plan, the city of Wenatchee would agree to transfer $1.4 million in federal grant money that it already has for the project to port control.

The port would spend the grant to improve the 25,000-square-foot building’s roof and exterior shell, including basic interior lighting and a sprinkler system.

The port would then lease the entire property to Walker to build out the market interior and fill with tenants.

Construction on the building’s exterior should begin in September. The market could be ready for tenants by next summer.

Walker said he and his wife, JoAnn Walker, would commit up to $2 million for the project.

He plans to run the business end of the market himself for the next three to five years, but he and the non-profit he’ll create will eventually hire a market manager, he said.

“I have an inherent feeling that this will create lots of excitement and lots of opportunity,” he said.

Failure isn’t an option, he says.

“If you’re ordered to get to the top of the hill, and you can’t get to the top of the hill, you find another route,” he said. “That’s the same thing I tell my team.”

Walker said the project is a way for he and his wife to give back to the city. He doesn’t expect a profit in return.

Mayor Frank Kuntz said that no city money will be used.

The success of the project now depends on Walker’s business savvy.

Craig Larsen, the port commissioner who took the lead on the Pybus project, said the port wants the market to be successful, but it if isn’t, the port’s risk is small.

“Certainly, we’re interested in having a successful project,” Larsen said. “If it’s not a successful project, we still own the land and still own the improvements on the property... The port now has a piece of property with several million dollars of improvements that we’d have to figure out what to do with.”

Christine Pratt: 665-1173

pratt@wenatcheeworld.com

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» 46 comments on this story

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stephmat 1 year, 2 months ago

If the success of this project depends on Business Savvy...we are in FABULOUS hands with Mike Walker. Thank you for stepping forward to take this on.

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

Well said, Stephanie; I couldn't agree more.

momoftwo 1 year, 2 months ago

Thank you Mike & Joanne Walker. I will support the market!!

kyook 1 year, 2 months ago

wenatcheeview, anonymous posting is not allowed. Please take the time to re-register. Thanks!

Seven 1 year, 2 months ago

Thanks Mike and Joanne, this will be a great asset for our valley!!!...Whitey

WenatcheeCitizen 1 year, 2 months ago

I've met the Walkers a few times and I was always struck by how nice they were. This does not surprise me at all. Very exciting news!

kyook 1 year, 2 months ago

WenatcheeCitizen, anonymous posting is not allowed. Please take the time to re-register. Thanks!

christijohnson 1 year, 2 months ago

Good Grief kyook - are you the wenworld.com police? Is it your mission to try to irritate others?

rebaann1939 1 year, 2 months ago

Asking them to abide by the rules is not trying to irritate others. Or it shouldn't unless they don't want their names shown.

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

The Wenatchee World changed the Terms of Use a while ago eliminating anonymous posting. There was a lot of discussion about people's jobs being in jeopardy if a real identity was revealed, the concern that comments posted with a real identity could lead to harassment by those who disagreed, etc and etc.

The Wenatchee World said that there will be no more anonymous posting allowed. This is a different policy than most newspapers, but that was the paper's decision to make.

As a result, many great posters quit posting in order to abide by the rules. For those of us who have utilized this forum for quite a while, it is a sore point to have people disregard the rule and try to post anonymously.

So... this isn't about the desire to "irritate others". This is about what is correct, and fair, and required by the Wenatchee World. The rules are the rules, I despise this policy by the Wenatchee World, but that's the way it is. Anonymous posters will be flagged and attention will be brought to the Wenatchee World's forum moderator about the anonymous poster.

I hope this helps.

RWeekes 1 year, 2 months ago

Well it is irritating to a WHOLE lot of people, myself included. Anonymous posters may be against WW rules, but it doesn't hurt me or bother me. What does bother me is reading something OFF TOPIC such as your policing of people's screen names.

Myself and others have had several discussions with the WW to ask you "name police" to stop. If it bothers you, flag the anonymous poster and keep the conversation ON TOPIC.

kyook 1 year, 2 months ago

"What does bother me is reading something OFF TOPIC such as your policing of people's screen names."

Well then, don't read it. And better yet, don't comment on it if your time is so precious.

JimboBear 1 year, 2 months ago

"Myself and others have had several discussions with the WW to ask you "name police" to stop."
And I'll wager that your complaint has fallen on the same deaf ears that fail to hear our discussions and requests that they enforce their own rules. As for me, I don't wish to flag and have any one's posts removed, and I very much appreciate those who have edited their profile to include names. I simply want everyone to play by the rules and I'd like to see the WW enforce the rules they made or change them.

bushman66 1 year, 2 months ago

Yep, chris........, some folks around here have deemed themselves the "name" police. Your name matters, your thoughts don't. Or, if you don't give your name, your thoughts don't matter. Same guys tell you that gov't or any other entity shouldn't be telling you what to do, but, they'll tell you to get in line w/the rules. I dunno - go figure.

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

Please re-register with your real name as is required by the Terms of Use.

anniebear 1 year, 2 months ago

why are you and Bkelly so worried about anonymous posting. Jeepers Creepers - jealous much? YES U R

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

Mischaracterizing the issue much? I'm not worried a bit. Jealous of what? The Wenatchee World booted a lot of good posters off the forum when THEY changed the rules to not allow anonymous posting while I argued to KEEP anonymous posting.

JimboBear 1 year, 2 months ago

anniebear, if I may I'd like to interject that I'm not so sure that we care at all about people posting anonymously. I'm not going to Google the names to see who they are and I doubt that the others who object do that either. Quite honestly, I believe that when I do it I am voicing an opinion that the Wenatchee World made all sorts of threats about banning anonymous posters and chased many people away from this forum. Now, we would very much like to see the Wenatchee World back up their words and enforce the rules they made. Like others have mentioned, I think that it is a senseless rule and I am quite disappointed in the Wenatchee World staff, from the janitor to the chairman of the board who make such rules and then fail to enforce them. Each time I call someone on their anonymity it's actually a call to the WW staff to do what they said they would do when they made the rules. There is an even more simple solution if they would care to implement it, that being they just admit that is was not a good rule and go back to the way it used to be. That would solve the whole thing.

bushman66 1 year, 2 months ago

Dave - you're a classic. No support for your "white elephant arena", but, you gotta post your name - WW rules, right? So, we only go the direction your sheep herder is driving? O.K., now I get it.

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

Apparently you've missed it by quite a bit, T.J., I'm all in favor of anonymous posting. It is the Wenatchee World which isn't. This issue was fought with the Wenatchee World quite a while ago where I argued for the pro anonymous posting side of the issue.

BTW, the White Elephant Arena doesn't belong to me, it belongs to Wenatchee and the PFD. There is even an award with Wenatchee's name on it. How one can tie the two issues together is anyone's guess. HTH, HAND.

TJackman 1 year, 2 months ago

This is a great example of why Wenatchee still has a chance, even after the poor political leadership it has endured in the recent past. Mike and JoAnn are great people and are showing their commitment to this community. Now the rest of us need to show our commitment on a much smaller scale by approving proprosition 1 and moving forward. Thanks again Mike and JoAnn. You are truly the salt of the earth.

Obetwo 1 year, 2 months ago

I can hardly wait til it opens.

It's hard to know what to say, for those of us waiting for a permanent version of one of these to open in Wenatchee.

Let's hope it's a win for everyone involved.

Thanks JoAnn and Mike

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

Hoo-Ray!!! Good onya, Mike. Well done.

dwilliams 1 year, 2 months ago

Are you glad that he is investing in the "Pie-Pus" project, Davebugg?

iansfolks 1 year, 2 months ago

Nice!!!!!!!

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

Oh come on, Dave, seriously?? I thought my post was self-explanatory. Why the unnecessary jab?

dwilliams 1 year, 2 months ago

Sorry...it was just too tempting. I will be good.

iansfolks 1 year, 2 months ago

I won't! This will be a great opportunity for people from outside the Wenatchee city limits to support the TOWN TOYOTA CENTER by spending their money and helping to generate additional tax revenue with this wonderful addition to our valley! ;)

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

Unless they make sure that there is a large parking area and a way to keep traffic flowing smoothly, Bruce, I doubt I will be a frequent customer. I mostly get my in-season fruits and vegetables from the numerous, nearby fruit and veggie stands near to my home.

davebugg 1 year, 2 months ago

No worries, Dave :-)

CPrather 1 year, 2 months ago

What a great project, thank you Mike and JoAnn! Can't wait to watch it move forward.

iep 1 year, 2 months ago

thank You Mike and JoAnn I'm awed by your support of the Market.

fjell32 1 year, 2 months ago

Norseman61 Thanks to Mike and JoAnn for your vision for our area. I feel you two are on target.

fjell32 1 year, 2 months ago

Thanks to Mike and JoAnn for your vision for our area. I feel you two are on target. Your adventure is somewhat similar climbing a mountain; your view changes as you proceed on the route, being flexable increases your success.

k_lee413 1 year, 2 months ago

Great project, can't wait to see it happen. Thanks for your commitment to valley Walkers.

UpperValleyGuy 1 year, 2 months ago

This is amazing for Wenatchee and the farmers market. Best of luck Mike and JoAnn and thank you.

Eye_Guy 1 year, 2 months ago

Thank you to the Walkers!

mihapel 1 year, 2 months ago

Thank you Mike and JoAnn--this is a wonderful project and you are right: it will create lots of excitement and opportunity ! People like you make this city great!

dwilliams 1 year, 2 months ago

This is really cool! I love the rendering of the market. I'll admit that it's difficult to see how a corrugated metal building can be transformed, but I think everything looks awesome. I am certain this will attract other businesses to locate in that area.

anniebear 1 year, 2 months ago

Wow - very very excited to see this all come together :) Good Luck and thank you to the Walkers.

NWexplorer 1 year, 2 months ago

It is great that $1.4M in federal dollars from all of US can help make this possible and build a community.

MitchBoyce 1 year, 2 months ago

Thanks Mike and Joann for making such an awesome contribution in time and money to the future of our great Central Washington home. I have always admired both of you! In case anybody doesn't know, Mike Walker is one of the best when it comes to making a business successful. If he decides it will work, rest assured, it will work!