PCC Corner Market Embraces Larger Community Role with Smaller Building Footprint
Envision a community and you might think of tree-lined streets dotted with houses and schools. Think of a downtown, and high-rise-lined streets abuzz with 8-to-5 workers may come to mind. In reality, urban centers are often home to all these things, and more.
It’s for this composition of office and service workers, residents, dinner-seekers, and tourists that PCC Community Markets devised its newest store, PCC Corner Market. And it’s that diverse mix of people that both describes and defines community in its downtown Seattle, Washington, location.
PCC, the country’s largest food cooperative that was founded in Seattle 73 years ago, developed its smaller-footprint Corner Market concept using insights from their previous downtown Seattle store and a desire to serve the neighborhood’s evolving needs. The first iteration of their downtown location encompassed a larger space in Rainier Tower. Following a COVID-era closure, downtown began to revive. The time was right to try something new.
“We had explored the idea of a small-format store for some time,” said Lori Ross, Director of Store Design at PCC. “We thought, if we had the opportunity, where would that be? What would it look like?”
With an existing lease on the Rainier Tower space, and an office lease elsewhere that was nearing its end, the natural conclusion was to bring them together under one roof. “The downtown community had been missing us since we closed,” Ross said. “Being able to go back to that space was providential. After exploring the concept for some time, this was the opportunity to make it come to life.”
A Concept Coalesces Â
The PCC management team reevaluated the size, layout, and purpose of the space. With a new vision, they engaged Cushing Terrell to provide architectural and engineering design for the transformation. The project focused on converting the existing location into a PCC Corner Market as well as an office, reflecting PCC’s brand vision and commitment to the downtown community.
PCC’s mission is to ensure that good food nourishes the communities it serves while cultivating vibrant, local, organic food systems. Operating on a triple bottom line of economic, social, and environmental impact, the new, small-format market had to be many things to many people.
“The store was used quite a bit as a lunchtime go-to,” Ross explained. “The office community had used it that way. We wanted to maintain and build upon the options they were accustomed to. But we also wanted to serve the downtown resident — those who want to fill a basket with what they need for the weekend. So, we have a little bit of everything.”
PCC Corner Market in downtown Seattle, Washington
That mix of offerings matched with customer needs gives them what Ross refers to as a collaborative advantage. “It’s how we create distinct value in a shifting market,” Ross said.
Fresh produce section of the PCC Corner Market in downtown Seattle, Washington
Effective Design, Efficient FlowÂ
As project collaborators, the Cushing Terrell architectural and engineering team addressed comprehensive tenant improvements to create a shopping experience tailored to the needs of shoppers, staff, and PCC’s values of quality standards, integrity, and stewardship.
“This project was about more than just reconfiguring a space — it was about honoring PCC’s deep roots in the community while creating a welcoming, efficient environment for everyone who walks through the door,” said architectural design lead Kara Eberle-Lott. “By preserving key elements of the original store and thoughtfully integrating new features, we were able to support PCC’s mission and foster a sense of connection that truly puts community at the core.”
Interior renovations featured the construction of new partition walls and soffits, installation of equipment and fixtures, updated signage, custom millwork, and high-quality finishes. Cushing Terrell also provided mechanical engineering and lighting design on the office side of the project to support the new design, as well as construction administration services to ensure the project’s successful delivery.
PCC’s mission is to ensure that good food nourishes the communities it serves while cultivating vibrant, local, organic food systems. Operating on a triple bottom line of economic, social, and environmental impact, the new, small-format market had to be many things to many people.
PCC Corner Market entrance/exit stairway: “When you love a community, you feed it well.
While customers may not see all the work that was done, they will experience much of it via the design and layout. At about a third of the space originally occupied by PCC’s original downtown store, the PCC Corner Market supports quick, convenient shopping trips due to thoughtful design.
“It’s efficient,” Ross said. “You can see the entire store from each entry. Finding what you want is simple. In a lunch hour, that’s key.”
The selection of products and prepared foods also supports varied shopping lists. Using a bank of knowledge and sales data from their previous store, they stocked popular items.
“What the neighborhood had wanted was the first line of curation,” Ross said. “Now that we’ve been open for a time, we’re looking at what may have changed a bit and will be revising selections based on that information.”
The expanded deli and extensive fresh and prepared foods cater to heavy demand during midweek lunchtime hours, for example. Evening hours were extended in response to customer demand.
In the months since the store opened in July 2025, PCC’s Corner Market has outpaced expectations. In the Seattle City Makers podcast (Episode 92) with Jon Scholes, PCC President and CEO Krishnan Srinivasan said the Corner Market is flourishing — indicators of downtown’s rebound, as well PCC’s offerings.
“By every measure, the store is doing really well,” Srinivasan said. “The sales are doing quite far ahead of what we had thought they would.”
Bakery and deli sections of the PCC Corner Market in downtown Seattle, Washington
Integrating Workspace and MarketplaceÂ
Adjacent to the Corner Market is new space for PCC’s office teams. Previously accommodated at the north end of downtown, they’re now near both the goods they make and curate and the customers they serve. The office space and employee break room occupy space that once was part of the larger store. Introducing desk rows and meeting rooms into an area that once housed a deli or food-prep area was both a challenging puzzle and a tantalizing opportunity.
Teams now gather in a conference room that was once the produce-prep area, with the original cooler-box wall and prep room tile still intact — offering a tangible connection to the store’s history. The former produce (also meat cooler or grocery freezer) cooler has been transformed into a dedicated supply area, maintaining the distinctive character of the space while supporting new uses.
“The design incorporated existing grocery store elements, infusing the space’s original purpose with new functions,” Eberle-Lott said.
Staff reaction has been positive. “They love being next to a store,” Ross said. “We’re all eating better now because we’re eating our food.”
Connection to co-workers is another benefit. “Being in a smaller space has let us be more aware of each other’s departments,” she added. “It’s simpler. There are more chances for water cooler conversations because we’re sharing a smaller space. That’s been really beneficial.”
Adjacent to the Corner Market is new space for PCC’s office teams so they’re now near both the goods they make and curate and the customers they serve.
Multiple conference rooms are available for meetings as well. “We retained almost as many conference rooms as in the old office,” Ross said. “That was a key factor.”
The original store was Living Building Challenge-certified. PCC maintained much of those goals in the new format by reusing materials and preserving significant architectural features. “We wanted to retain the feel of the store and reduce the impact of the remodel,” Ross said.
“Being here connects us to who we are, and to our stores,” she added. “The design reflects that we’re all working for the same organization, with the same goals, and strengthens the relationship between office and store teams.”
The Store of the FutureÂ
The new PCC office and Corner Market was a project like no other. It called for ingenuity in workspace and grocery store design — expertise that Cushing Terrell is well equipped to provide with a deep expertise in both areas.
“Working with Cushing Terrell has been remarkable,” Ross said. “We appreciate the bench of knowledge, especially regarding general architectural issues.”
As for the future of downtown Seattle and PCC’s role in it, change is certain, but values are constant. “PCC Corner Market will continue to teach us what our community needs,” Ross said. “This store is a great learning tool for that. Relying on Cushing Terrell is key as well. We’re exploring what the store of the future should be. Cushing Terrell is helping us answer those questions.”
