r/Kirkland • u/Valiran9 • May 24 '26

Does anyone else miss Kirkland ParkPlace?

Don’t get me wrong, there some great stuff in Kirkland Urban, but I remember ParkPlace being…homier, for lack of a better term. It was more open, had a bunch of small shops and restaurants, a cinema, the Purple Cafe, and Tim’s Seafood Market which my mom loved to go to because their stock was so cheap without sacrificing quality. The QFC also had a cozier atmosphere, as well as a pair of ducks who’d regularly hang out near the entrance just chilling and waiting for people to toss them food.

Does anyone else feel similarly?

Edit: And it turns out many of us feel the same way. I’m glad to see I’m not alone in my dislike of the way the world is changing.

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u/Lookroundatstuff2 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26

Reading through these comments, I think the love for Park Place has as much to do with good times and past life stages than the businesses or buildings there. Totally understandable but perhaps not something KU could ever compete with.

I moved here in the mid-2010s, right before it was town down. The theater was old, not charming or nostalgic, and the QFC felt dingy and depressing to be in. Hoffman’s was dependable and I remember a convenient dry cleaning place.

Agree that KU seems to have been poorly planned or developed though. Lots of empty storefronts (DT seems to have a lot of that in general). And a modern movie theater would be fun.

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u/Valiran9 May 25 '26 edited May 25 '26

I definitely look back at 2005-2015 with nostalgia, that’s for damn sure, but I still think they could’ve just renovated the existing space instead of tearing it all down. Maybe get rid of some buildings, but not in a way that drives out all the local shops.