December 11, 2024 1:29 pm

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‘Molbak’s bones’: Woodinville demolishes proposed historic landmark

WOODINVILLE—In January 2024, when Molbak’s Garden and Home closed its doors, plant lovers in King County and beyond wilted more than a little. 

molbak's
Current location of Molbak’s Garden and Home in Woodinville. Photo by Willa Jones.

According to The Seattle Times, the Woodinville gardening complex attracted “1 million visitors a year” at its peak in 2006. For 67 years, the store served as an accessible introduction to horticulture, with employees eager to convert any window-shopper into an avid green thumb. 

But to many, Molbak’s was more than just a business, and meant much more than just plants. 

Egon Molbak, a Danish immigrant who founded the business in 1956 with his wife Laina, was “convinced that contact with arts and with nature and beauty is… a psychological necessity,” the Seattle Post-Intelligencer wrote in 1997. The physical space at Molbak’s was once a reflection of his belief, featuring a “tropical conservatory and aviary”, as well as “a pond and a waterfall… and benches for you to sit on while you listen to the splashing water and the nightingale’s song.” 

A hippie’s haven, perhaps; a greenhouse to stroll through after indulging in some more odorous green in the parking lot. But good vibes aside, is Molbak’s truly worthy of being considered historic?

Some argue that the historical value of the Molbak’s site surpasses that of the very city it’s located in. “It’s not… a garden center in the middle of Woodinville, it’s that a whole town grew around us,” said Julia Kouhia, CEO of Molbak’s, in an interview with KUOW. For reference, Woodinville officially became incorporated in 1993, 37 years after operations began at Molbak’s. 

In the past, local politicians and business partners had unanimously affirmed this historicity. “This is an institution here,” Woodinville’s Mayor Mike Millman told KING-5, also sharing that he was “sick to his stomach” when he heard of the store’s closure. In June 2023, a spokesman for Green Partners, Molbak’s landlord since 2008, referred to Molbak’s as “storied” and a “beloved business.” 

molbak's
Current location of Molbak’s Garden and Home in Woodinville. Photo by Willa Jones.

But since then, attitudes seem to have changed behind the scenes at Green Partners, which is “associated with Bill Gates’ Cascade Investments LLC”, per the Puget Sound Business Journal. Initially, Green Partners had conceived a new home for Molbak’s within the Gardens District project, a “19-acre development in the heart of Woodinville to create apartments, retailers and restaurants within a garden space.” In November 2023, however, several publications reported that Molbak’s, originally intended as the “centerpiece” of the district, had been “forced out” of the plan. 

Curiously, state government records list Jens Molbak, who inherited ownership of Molbak’s from his parents, as once having served as the “Governor” and sole “Business Officer” of Green Partners. This has stirred online speculation; accusations of mismanagement and profiteering by ownership have arisen in social media discussions. In contrast, the Seattle Times reported in November 2023 that, according to CEO Kouhia, “Jens Molbak… has a ‘small, silent, minority interest’ in Green Partners.” 

Molbak’s also stated on Facebook, “There are online records that list Jens Molbak as a “Governor” of Green Partners, LLC., but that hasn’t been true for several years…Secretary of State official records show that Green Partners is currently governed by Mount Tolt Holdings, LLC, which is associated with Cascade Asset Management Company.” 

Though the records may be outdated, “for several years” implies that Jens Molbak indeed served as the company’s “Governor” for some time post-2008, when the Molbak’s land was sold to Green Partners in the first place. Potentially, this could indicate that a member of the Molbak family, through governance of a separate corporate entity, still possessed legal and financial control over the Woodinville property after it supposedly changed hands, and could have taken steps to preserve the nursery’s future. 

molbak's
Current location of Molbak’s Garden and Home in Woodinville. Photo by Willa Jones.

Corporate intrigue aside, the Garden District letdown wouldn’t be the last time Molbak’s had its hopes dashed. In April 2024, three months following closure, a new direction for the company was announced: “Green Phoenix Collaborative”. KUOW reporter Dyer Oxley, who couldn’t resist the headline “Molbak’s from the dead”, described Green Phoenix as “essentially a community gathering space centered on gardening.” The collaborative aimed to provide educational classes and programs, host farmers markets and festivals, and more. 

Green Phoenix set an extremely lofty goal of $2.5 million in fundraising; “if they fail to reach their goal, all money will be returned to folks who pitched in,” wrote Oxley. By the deadline in early May, only $106,814 had been raised. The fundraiser ended, donations were refunded, and Green Phoenix Collaborative’s website shut down, along with any reopening plans for Molbak’s.

I spoke to Tyler Freeman, a former Molbak’s employee who began nominating the property for Historic Landmark status in September and created an online campaign to raise public support. His efforts to preserve the Molbak’s property led to talks with the King County Historic Preservation Program, operated by the Department of Natural Resources and Parks (DNRP).

Freeman had arranged a sit-down with Woodinville municipal officials on October 10, which Green Partners reportedly declined to attend. After the meeting, he learned that Green Partners had requested a demolition permit two days prior. “On October 15th, 2024, the City of Woodinville issued a demolition permit on the subject property, presenting a reasonable threat to the Molbak’s Greenhouse & Nursery,” reads a notice from the DNRP.  

Woodinville resident Alison Farmer, who reviewed emails between Freeman, Mayor Millman, and City Manager Brandon Buchanan, established a timeline of events, which allegedly show the city “conspiring to prevent the Landmark nomination.” Farmer claims that the two politicians “deceived a member of the public (Freeman) and used the power of government to benefit a developer.” Although the City of Woodinville had already received Green Partners’ demolition application on October 8, Freeman was not informed of this during his meeting on the 10th. 

Freeman also emailed Millman and Buchanan on the 14th to “thank them for the meeting” and to ask “if there are any updates from Green Partners.” According to Farmer, Millman responded, “Nothing yet but will notify you if and when we hear from Green Partners.” That same day, the demolition permit was approved. Freeman only found out three days later from “other sources.”

Freeman unsuccessfully requested a moratorium on demolition; as of publication, the Molbak’s property has been almost completely leveled, with only two minor structures remaining. His sole remaining course of action is a public hearing on the 21st, which he says “wasn’t widely publicized by the city.” He encourages plant lovers, community members, and those who “appreciate King County’s history” to attend the hearing at Seattle’s King Street Center.

But what, if anything, can still be realistically accomplished, and why fight what seems to be a battle already lost? “Being an employee, I saw firsthand what this meant to people,” Freeman shared. “People walked the halls weeping, people flew in from out of state just to say goodbye. I know this was a really important thing to them.” He emphasized a statement on his website: “We choose to memorialize Woodinville’s memories and history by protecting the bones of the business (the structures).”

Aware that the bones have now turned to rubble, Freeman asked, “To the city of Woodinville, how do you choose to memorialize this institution that has passed away?  That is now no longer intangibly present, but also no longer tangibly present?” He suggested a revival of the original Garden District plan, somewhere to serve as “an open community space, a green place for people to look at nature and chill.”

Somewhat deflatedly, Freeman shared his opinion and outlook on Molbak’s future. “I don’t care what specifically happens, but I want Green Partners to listen to what the community needs… Maybe hold a public hearing to see what people actually want, but I don’t think they have the integrity to do that.”

The Lynnwood Times contacted Green Partners for comment and has not received a response as of publication.


Editor’s Note: Article updated 2:20 p.m., November 29, 2024, clarifying that Tyler Freeman, a former Molbak’s employee, “began” nominating the property for Historic Landmark status in September. The word “began” was added to the article.

Kayvon Bumpus
Author: Kayvon Bumpus

17 Responses

  1. It is historic Such a wonderful vibrant healthy atmosphere Hands on green space I was one of those who admired and benefitted from Molbaks my whole life Loved wandering the greenhouses breathing in the colors and air and home products and eclectic and holiday faire and the waterfall green walk so soothing The lil nursery plays were nice too Outrage to disappear

    1. You are totally wrong, it was a very nice restaurant which was nothing like a tea room. It had a wonderful plant selection and pottery, garden tool area, gifts area, free classes on gardening, plays, art events and wonderful Christmas events. If you didn’t like that kind of a wonderful place you don’t have to disparage it.

    2. You obviously never shopped the extensive areas of indoor and outdoor plants . Perhaps you thought the gift shop was the extent of Molbaks?

  2. As usual the Lynnwood Times has half the story and a lot of bad conjecture. Hire some journalists!

    – land marking a place you don’t own is well outside the norm
    – Molbaks was on private property that the owners CHOSE to sell
    – their rent was FREE and they still couldn’t stay open
    – a city manager isn’t a politician
    – Woodinville has a ceremonial mayor and the mayor can’t do shit for demolition permits

    Please learn about our systems of government before your write articles on them. This and your recent Bothell pieces are misinformation garbage.

    1. As usual, random anonymous suburbanites pretend to be experts on journalism.

      1. Tell the Landmark Commission that it’s “well outside the norm.” They reviewed and approved a motion, requesting that Woodinville commemorate the site’s historical significance.
      2. Irrelevant to the article
      3. Irrelevant to the article
      4. “The City Manager is appointed by the City Council to act as the chief executive officer of the City” Not an elected politician, but a politician. Is that you Brandon?
      5. Whether straight from the Mayor’s office or not, a moratorium on demolition was a real possibility all through October.

      Please learn how to read better and check your bias before you write comments. Thanks!

  3. This is how China conquered it’s people. Demolish historical dash in the souls of the people for financial gain. Conspire against the many, with the few, prosper. Success isn’t moral, it’s profit. We are losing our country to few like gates. Bet he would preserve his favorite little shop, if he had a soul enough to have such a thing. Mam is hated by majority. World will be netter when these giants perrish.

  4. Heads within the city of Woodinville should be held accountable for their poor decisions. There seems to be a stench in the air of somebody getting paid off. A thriving historical business destroyed by greed. Look out Seattle, they are coming for the Seattle center next.

  5. Being a former resident of Woodinville, Molbaks was the heart of Woodinville. Every Summer I looked forward to and loved walking through looking and often buying flowers for my garden at home. It was a unique and special place. I am so sad that it is gone.

  6. Woodinville is New Redmond beholden to construction companies who all but one on our city council conspire with.

    Drive around the new Harvest construction project with towering buildings right up to the sidewalk and feel the suppression of your spirit while the council laughs at the peasants 6 stories below.

  7. My Great Grandfather Peterson owned the property before the Great Depression. He was one of the first four settlers in Woodenville. I loved going to Molbacks. I felt the history. The owners even called an area the “Peterson” property. My Mom and her brother played in the little creek there. I would like the area to be a historical site.

  8. Molbaks was such a special place for our family. We used to look forward to Holiday events there every year for decades. I am certain that taking our daughter there all the time in summer , spring, fall , and winter helped pass along yet another generation of the love of gardening, plants, the beauty of nature, and appreciating the lovely gift shop! All of it is so missed! It was a truly special place, we would get a coffee, cookie, and wander the greenhouses. There were hummingbird families born there, and other baby birds. It was where we went to just relax sometimes. Lots of special memories. So disappointed that the business wasn’t sold instead of closed.

  9. I began going as a kid in 1958. Considered very remote. Took a job in ‘99. It was a wonderful place to work (if you could afford the low wages). So many unique passionate people in various departments!
    There are no better customers on earth than gardeners: we’ve all been humbled by weather, pests, deer, viruses, etc, yet are ever hopeful and keep trying! It occurred to me that ‘there are no pessimists at the seed rack in February’©️
    It was a real joy to work with our customers (and their dogs!) and I miss you all like crazy.

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