Central Market to Expand to Issaquah Highlands With Fourth Store in Company’s Popular “Destination” Concept

CENTRAL MARKET TO EXPAND TO ISSAQUAH HIGHLANDS
WITH FOURTH STORE IN COMPANY’S POPULAR “DESTINATION” CONCEPT

50,000 square foot grocery store, featuring exceptional produce, organic foods, fresh seafood, natural meats and a delicious selection of gourmet foods, scheduled to open in 2010

ISSAQUAH, Wash. (July 9, 2008) – Port Blakely Communities, an industry leader in creating residential and mixed-use urban villages that embrace the principles of smart growth, today announced that Town & Country Markets Inc. will open a signature Central Market store at its High Streets project in Issaquah Highlands.

The 50,000 square foot store is planned to open in 2010. Construction will begin in 2009 at the new location, which is part of The High Streets, a new and exciting mixed-use retail and entertainment village. The new store will be located at Issaquah Highlands on the Sammamish Plateau and adjacent to the new Sunset/Highlands Drive Interchange off of I-90.

Town & Country Markets is a locally owned and operated independent retail grocery company that currently operates six stores in the Puget Sound area. It selected The High Streets at Issaquah Highlands due to the community spirit, exciting growth of the High Streets shopping center and excellent location for retail expansion, company officials said.

“Central Market’s unsurpassed quality, excellent customer service and dynamic array of store features makes it a perfect fit for Issaquah Highlands,” said Judd Kirk, CEO of Port Blakely Communities. “Not only will the store feature locally-grown and harvested produce, but in keeping with Issaquah Highlands’ Living Green philosophy, it will be built to meet LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Green Building Rating System Certification. LEED certification emphasizes sustainable site development, water savings, energy efficiency, materials selection and indoor environmental quality – all in keeping with Issaquah Highlands’ commitment to sustainability.”

“Our group first toured the Issaquah Highlands store site in 2003 and we immediately connected to the values and long-term vision of the community,” said Larry Nakata, president of Town & Country Markets. “With the exciting growth of Issaquah in recent years, we feel the timing is right and we are excited and eager to do our best to serve the Highlands and greater Issaquah area.”

Central Markets are considered to be “destination” grocery stores with a broad scope of quality, selection and value that attracts shoppers from both local neighborhoods and the greater surrounding areas.

The Central Market concept was born with the opening of Central Market in Poulsbo in 1995. In 2000, the Shoreline Thriftway was remodeled to become the second Central Market. The third Central Market opened in September of 2004 in Mill Creek. The High Streets at Issaquah Highlands store will be the company’s fourth Central Market. The company was founded in 1957 with the opening of Town & Country Market on Bainbridge Island, and also includes Ballard and Greenwood Markets.

About Central Market

Central Market stores strive to offer the freshest, highest quality foods available. With features such as exceptional produce, a wide selection of natural and organic foods, superb fresh seafood, bulk foods, natural meats and specialty foods, and full-service delis, Central Market intends to satisfy the needs of a diverse array of shoppers. Central Market’s unique format, unsurpassed service, and vast variety of the freshest and best food available make food shopping an adventure in culinary discovery and delight.

About Port Blakely Communities

Port Blakely Communities applies its family values of integrity, quality, innovation and stewardship to the business of real estate. Working with neighbors, regulators and elected officials, Port Blakely Communities creates residential and mixed-use urban villages that embrace the principles of smart growth. In partnership with the region’s premier homebuilders, the company builds communities that are known for their quality construction, innovative design, small-town feel and respect for the environment.

Founded in the 1990s, Port Blakely Communities’ inaugural effort is the award-winning Issaquah Highlands community, a 3,250 home urban village. Its innovative design, smart growth philosophy and cutting-edge environmental safeguards make Issaquah Highlands the standard for others to follow.