Eastside business notes
State wines toasted in August

By Kristina Shevory
Seattle Times Eastside business reporter

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Washington is the second-largest wine producer in the country, but the state wine commission doesn't think enough people in the state drink wine that is made here.

Every August, the commission celebrates Washington wines by cutting prices and holding retail promotions at local grocers, state liquor stores and wine shops. Many retailers include maps and brochures about the state's wine industry, but few go all out like Jill Thompson, the wine manager at Bella Botega QFC in Redmond.

Last week, the commission again awarded her the top prize in its annual wine-display contest. Thompson put together wines, photos, soil samples and three cases of brochures and maps for all the Washington wine-making areas.

"Everything I do, I try to bring home to consumers," said Thompson, who also won the display prize in 2002. "In this industry, so many wine stores don't say why their wine displays are meaningful, and consumers need to know every detail of a display."

Thompson was awarded concert tickets at Chateau Ste. Michelle, a spa package, dinner and two free nights at the Salish Lodge & Spa in Snoqualmie. Contestants came from Albertson's, QFC, Costco, Fred Meyer, Safeway and independent stores across the state.

August is typically a slow month for wine sales. Since the promotions began five years ago, Washington wine sales have risen from $175,000 in 1999 to $250,000 in 2003. Annual sales have risen from $20 million in 1999 to $26 million in 2003. Sales are projected to top $30 million this year.

New tenant

Crossroads Bellevue landed a new tenant for Jo-Ann Fabrics' former space.

Pier 1 Imports will start construction on the 14,087-square-foot store in January and is scheduled to open by March.
 
Jo-Ann Fabrics moved earlier this month to a 35,000-square-foot space at the mall. It is opening superstores in Puyallup, Lynnwood, Tacoma and Bellevue and will celebrate their grand openings from Sept. 23 to 25.

For more information, go to www.crossroadsbellevue.com online.

Free language training

Bellevue Community College is offering free English and job-training classes for low-income immigrants and refugees.

The classes, geared for people whose primary language is not English, will teach students customer-service skills, English, basic computer instruction, and job-search skills. The classes are from 12:30 to 4:20 p.m. Mondays through Fridays from Sept. 27 to Dec. 15.

Students are eligible if they have children, are permitted to work in the U.S., and have low incomes. For more information, contact Mindy Iwen at 425-564-4144, or by e-mail at miwen@bcc.ctc.edu.

Giving back

The Children's Home Society of Washington received a $10,000 boost from Quadrant Homes this month. The Bellevue-based home builder gave the group the money last week in a ceremony at Safeco Field.

The nonprofit group — which offers adoption assistance, child and family counseling, and parental education — serves more than 35,000 children and families at 38 locations in Washington.

For more information about the group, visit its Web site: www.childrenshomesociety.org

Kristina Shevory: 206-464-2039 or kshevory@seattletimes.com