Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce begins search for new location

The Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce is now looking for new office space. Its current location, on the corner of S.E. River Street and Falls Avenue S.E. has been sold by the city of Snoqualmie to Flying Pie Pizzeria, an Issaquah-based restaurant.

By Evan Pappas • October 13, 2016 12:43 pm
The Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce building on Falls Avenue and River Street.
The Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce building on Falls Avenue and River Street.

The Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce is now looking for new office space. Its current location, on the corner of S.E. River Street and Falls Avenue S.E. has been sold by the city of Snoqualmie to Flying Pie Pizzeria, an Issaquah-based restaurant.

Andrew Glandon, president of the Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce, said the building sold on Sept. 16, and the organization is now looking at their options for a new office. Glandon said the chamber does not have to move out right away and will be working on a lease with the new owner while they find a new location.

“The new owner is looking to do some tenant improvements and some re-configuring of the building, but their time frame isn’t right away,” Glandon said. “The chamber might negotiate a month-to-month lease with the new owner for a period of time. So we don’t move right away, but that’s subject to it working out for everybody, and there are still some decisions being made.”

The Chamber of Commerce also runs the Snoqualmie Visitor Center in the building, under contract with the city of Snoqualmie. Glandon said the future of the chamber continuing to operate the visitor center is uncertain due to the need to relocate.

“The city has worked with us to help with staffing in the busy season of the year, and if we don’t have space that’s conducive to a visitor information center we can’t get those people and it just doesn’t work,” he said. “Whether we continue to do that (depends) on what space is available. The better the space the higher the rent, so it’s a big juggling act. How do we make all this stuff work and do we even want to? It’s a board-level decision we have to work through.”

Glandon, who has been a member of the Chamber of Commerce for more than 10 years, said the organization moved into the location on Falls and River seven years ago.

“I was a chamber member and when I first joined the office was in the North Bend Train Depot,” he said. “I believe when Larry Brown was our president we signed the lease with the city.”

Glandon’s term as president ends Dec. 31, but he said he will continue to serve on the chamber board in 2017.

The Snoqualmie Valley Chamber of Commerce will continue to host its planned community events including the upcoming chamber luncheon on Oct. 26, featuring Congressman Dave Reichert and the chamber board members up for re-election.