New Seasons was started in part by former executives of Nature's, a formerly Portland-based chain that had grown to six stores before being acquired in 1996 by vitamin retailer GNC, which last year sold the chain to Wild Oats Markets Inc. The first New Seasons Market opened in Beaverton in February. A store in southwest Portland's Sellwood neighborhood came in August, followed a third store recently in Northeast Portland's Concordia neighborhood. In all, five stores are planned by the end of 2001.

The 30,000-sf store at Orenco Station is scheduled to open in the fall of 2001. Orenco Station is a planned community of just under 700 houses with front porches and garages that open to alleys; and more than 700 apartments and townhomes. The neighborhood, which won the Governor's Livability Award, features a large, centrally-located park, retail space, entertainment, swimming pools and gyms. Intel's Ronler Acres campus is alongside the development's northern border.