BOTHELL, Wash. — The future of Bothell's Country Village is unknown as the current property owners entertain offers from potential buyers.
Country Village opened in 1981 and now there are 45 shops and restaurants on the property, which is located right off Bothell Everett Highway. There are play areas for children, antique shops, restaurants -- even a giant rooster.
The family that owns Country Village sent letters to shop owners warning them of the potential sale. In the letter the owners, the Loveless family, told shop owners they could stay put until at least March 2018.
Shop owners are trying to figure out whether to move to new locations, but told KIRO-7 they benefit from being in the same complex with other shops.
"This is the last little bit of that country feel that is left here and it would be a shame to lose it," said Patricia Tobar who works at Yarn of Eden at Country Village. "You're not going to find a community like this, every shop is unique." Tobar says they've looked at possible places to relocate but the businesses at Country Village benefit from the customers drawn in by each other. "I don't think there's anybody that wants to see this place go."
Residents are trying to save Country Village by signing a petition to give to the Bothell City Council.
Gavin Wissler has pages and pages of signatures she gathered to try to get the attention of the city council. "We just need to show how much support there is for Country Village," she said.
"They want to develop it. It could be housing or a strip mall, that's why it's important the public knows about it so it doesn't become that."
One idea community members are considering is to try to get the city to step up and help buy a portion of the property along with other investors.
Since word of a potential sale was announced, some shop owners say they've seen businesses drop but they say now, more than ever, they want community members to come and shop to show their support.
"So people realize it's open for business and still a fabulous place to come and it's free and child friendly," Wissler said.
There have been talks about selling the property in the past, but the owners said buyers often back out because of the wetlands on the property.
There were land surveyors at the property on Tuesday.
Shop owners and residents have more reason to worry because the Loveless family did recently sell the property behind Country Village. A developer plans to build 98 townhomes on the property.
KIRO-7 reached out to the Loveless family and was told they are out of town.
In the letter the Loveless family sent to shop owners it said shops would be able to maintain occupancy until at least March of 2018.
The Loveless family wrote in the letter, “We know this news may come as a shock, and a decision to sell will impact a great number of lives. As a family, this was an extremely difficult decision to make.” The letter also said not all members of the family agreed on the idea of selling the property.
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