Change in store for island eateries

Published 1:30 am Wednesday, September 25, 2019

Change is ahead for island businesses at both ends of town, with Subway and the building that holds the laundromat and frozen yogurt shop for sale and Maven Mercantile closing.

Vinny Kumar and his wife, Bneeda Kaur, have owned the island’s Subway franchise for the past eight years. They employ a team of six people in the sandwich shop, which is Vashon’s only fast-food chain restaurant.

Kumar declined to state a price for the franchise but said business in the shop has been so good that it has enabled him to buy two additional Subway franchises and a house in Auburn, Washington, where he and his wife moved a year and a half ago. They still own a rental property on Vashon.

His goal, he said, is to own 10 Subways in the Auburn area — an expansion that would be easier to manage without the commute to Vashon.

Kumar said he is grateful to islanders for supporting his restaurant and hopes to sell it to a local family. Kumar and Kaur are the fourth and most long-standing owners of the franchise since Subway opened on Vashon in 2003.

As for his own menu choice at Subway, Kumar said he likes all the restaurant’s sandwiches, but typically chooses a vegetarian option.

Kumar can be reached for inquiries about buying the business at 425-268-2541 or vinnyusa77@gmail.com.

Just steps away from Subway, since July, a “for sale” sign has been advertising the building where Suds and Kenny’s Brain Freeze are located. It is owned by the Parks and Sudduth families. Doug Sudduth said they have fielded a few inquiries, but have not received any offers.

“We are just waiting for the right person,” he said.

Suds Laundromat opened in November of 2015, and Kenny’s Brain Freeze opened shortly after, in February, 2016.

Sudduth noted that the owners are open to selling just the building or one or both businesses with it. He added that his mom, Rebecca Parks, runs the business and is ready to retire.

But islanders who are concerned about losing the laundromat should not be worried, Sudduth said. If a new owner did not want to keep the laundromat in its current location, the families would move that business elsewhere.

“No one is losing the laundromat,” he said.

At the other end of town, Maven Mercantile is closing its doors, today, Sept. 26, but the business will continue delivering meals to islanders’ doorsteps each Monday. Islander Heidi Finley opened Maven Mercantile in August 2017 and sold food to go, with a focus on nutritious prepared meals, including hearty entrees, soups and salads, as well as handmade granola and cookies and an assortment of pantry items.

The island store is part of what Finley calls “the Maven group.” It includes the original Maven Mercantile in Burien, which will remain open, Maven Market and Maven Meals, an online meal delivery service that serves the greater Seattle, Tacoma and Eastside areas.

In a press release, Finley said that it was a pleasure to meet so many islanders through the shop, but growth of her business necessitated the change.

“While the Vashon Mercantile is thriving, the primary arm of our business trifecta, Maven Meals, continues to grow rapidly, and production efforts must be streamlined to meet the increasing demand,” she said, adding that the island is under served by convenient fresh food delivery services. “We’re thrilled to offer the convenience of healthy, quick meals to the community.”

Islanders who are interested in food deliveries should place their orders at mavenmeals.com.