West Seattle, Washington
24 Wednesday
7:56 AM: Since last night’s announcement that food/beverage places have to close unless they can offer pickup/delivery, we’ve had lots of requests to publish a list of who in West Seattle will be doing that. We started checking websites and social-media channels for local establishments but that’s taking a lot of time and (understandably) not everyone has updated. So we’re asking for YOUR help – if you have a restaurant or coffee/beverage business, please send us your info – or if you’ve seen info, let us know! Email westseattleblog@gmail.com, text or call 206-293-6302, or comment below – thank you!
10:16 AM: Thanks for the help. We’re still building this and right after the governor/executive’s briefing (now set for 11 am), we’ll publish what we have, and keep adding to it.
8:06 PM FRIDAY: Announced today – a chance to help The Admiral District‘s beverage businesses stay afloat:
These last few weeks have been really tough for a lot of local businesses in the Admiral Junction. Here is your chance to help out. This Sunday, March 15th, join us for a bar crawl to support your favorite local businesses. Each of these businesses will be running drink specials and food specials.
5 pm – The Nook
5:30 pm – Yen Wor (in the bar in the back)
6 pm – Admiral Pub
6:30 pm – Arthur’s
7 pm – Mission Cantina
7:30 pm – Copper Coin
8 pm – Parliament Tavern
8:30 pm – CircaIf you can’t join us for the bar crawl, please try and stop by on Sunday to one of these businesses, and if you can’t stay, you can always buy gift cards. Any amount of support would be greatly appreciated from all your favorite bartenders, servers, cooks, dishwashers, and barbacks in the Admiral Junction.
Starting point The Nook is at 2206 California SW.
ADDED 11:15 AM SATURDAY: The proprietors have just told us this is off, after they discussed further and agreed the “social distancing” recommendations might be tough to meet.
Looking for someplace to go tonight? You can help Best of Hands Brewery and Barrelhouse (7500 35th SW; WSB sponsor) finish celebrating their 1st anniversary. As noted in our daily highlight lists, one year after Best of Hands opened in “the building with the cow,” the party’s been on all weekend with new releases.
Today’s draft release is Three Kingdoms, described as a “cabernet sauvignon BBL aged sour ale with apricots.” Here’s the current list of what’s available – that includes canned beverages:
They’re open until 10 tonight. P.S. If you can’t get there until tomorrow – note that Best of Hands has Monday night trivia, 7-9 pm.
(WSB photos)
Thanks for the tip! Three months after we reported what was on the way to the ex-OutWest space (5401 California SW), Box Bar is now open.
Box Bar is a 21 and over venue. Along with drinks, they’re serving “plant-based” food – see the food menu here and here, the beverage menu here.
Caveat from the Box Bar team – that’s just the menu they’re starting with – still a work in progress. Hours are 4 pm to midnight, Tuesdays through Sundays, closed Mondays.
(WSB photos)
That’s a look inside what was Bird on a Wire and is now The Birdhouse (3507 SW Henderson) – a new name and new owners, after longtime proprietor Heidi Herr sold the coffeehouse to Amber Heinemann (below left) and Todd Fregin.
Todd and Amber (who’s with team member Ellie in the photo) own Fremann Foods, known for catering and “grab and go” food like sandwiches. You can enjoy sitdown or takeout at The Birdhouse:
We photographed their breakfast menu (here) and lunch menu (here). No changes in hours (7 am-4 pm). As for the shop’s founder and now former owner Heidi, her social-media announcement of the sale said she wasn’t sure where she was headed next but, “I feel very proud of what I have built and it has truly been an honor to live/thrive in this neighborhood since 2002.” The shop originally was in a different space on the 35th/Henderson corner, facing 35th.
Two years after Tap Station closed at 35th/Kenyon, the next tenant is working to overhaul the space. Readers have noted the work going on, and today we finally found someone there who confirmed to us that – as suggested in permit files – it’ll be a new branch of Realfine Coffee. Julie Mierzwiak opened Realfine at 4480 Fauntleroy Way SW in fall 2015, and added a Capitol Hill shop a year and a half ago. We’re told the work on the new shop is proceeding relatively slowly, so it’s still likely months away from opening.
Youngstown Coffee Company proprietor Zoe Kritzer says she’s closing her original shop, the one at 5214 Delridge Way SW, at month’s end. Here’s how she’s announcing it to customers this morning:
It is with a heavy heart and an overwhelming amount of gratitude for your support that I must share this deeply saddening news.
Youngstown Coffee Company on Delridge will officially close on Saturday, February 29th. It has been the greatest privilege to have met so many extraordinary humans and dogs over the last 14 months. I can’t thank you enough for welcoming us into the neighborhood with open arms and daily transformative and inspiring conversations.
If you or anyone you know is interested in making this magical shop yours and continuing the dream of a shop built on community, coffee, and connection, please email: wonderwallseattle@gmail.com
Five months after opening the Delridge shop, Zoe expanded to 6032 California SW in Morgan Junction. That shop, and its “kitchen” next door, will remain open.
(WSB photos)
Robyn Campbell and Erin Treankler are welcoming their first guests this afternoon at Cold Crash Brewing Co. Their commercial home-based brewery is off the alley (look for the small sign) at 4507 48th SW, west of The Junction.
There, as noted in our previous report, they brew gluten-free beer:
The menu includes six beers, and other beverages, plus some simple snacks – here’s a photo.
The seating area is covered and heated:
Regular hours for Cold Crash’s tasting room will be noon-5 pm Saturdays and Sundays.
Does your commute home take you through SODO? On Thursday, March 5th, here’s a reason to stop – or detour:
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is proud to announce “Sip in SODO,” our newest event featuring a tasting of local wine varietals and culinary delights!
Join us on March 5, 2020 from 6 pm to 9 pm at SODO Urban Works (located at 3901 First Avenue South) where you are invited to SIP local wines, SAVOR petite entrees by local West Seattle restaurants, and confectioners as you STROLL through the shops of local vintners, distillers and eateries in this hidden gem in the SODO District.
Sip In SODO is the latest event produced by the Special Events Committee and Board of Directors of the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce. “We have made the commitment for 2020-2023 to include additional ways to reach out into our community and the greater Seattle area; expose new areas that may not be on everyone’s radar and show our friends, neighbors and colleagues all there is to offer right here in our backyard. SODO Urbanworks is an IDEAL venue to bring awareness to one of Seattle’s coolest hidden gems,” said West Seattle Chamber of Commerce CEO Julia Jordan.
Ticket price includes: 5 wine tickets and 5 food tickets for $75 general admission I $65 for chamber members and wine club members.
Additional taste tickets can be purchased at the event or online in advance through the chamber website wschamber.com
The Chamber is advertising the event on WSB to help get the word out. Here’s the direct link for tickets.
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
Moments after The Good Society Brewery and Public House (2701 California SW) opened its doors at 3 pm, we got a text reporting it was packed, with a line out the door. The line was gone by the time we got there, but a crowd remained.
We first wrote last July about what West Seattleites Nick Berger and Phil Cammarano were planning for The Good Society – “to marry good beer with good deeds”.
(Nick and Phii – photo by Estepworks Photography)
Their first two nonprofit beneficiaries are the West Seattle Food Bank and Forterra. And, also as promised, there’s a kids’ play area:
The inaugural menu features five Good Society beers plus three “guest taps,” $2/four ounces, $5/ten ounces, $6/twelve ounces, as well as two ciders, three wines, and four non-alcoholic beverages (including juice boxes for $1.50).
Seven items on the food menu – $4 for snack mix or a kids’ plate, $5 for pretzels or a bagel dog, %10 cheese plate, $11 for a hummus plate or charcuterie. Hours are:
Monday/Tuesday closed
Wednesday: 3 PM – 10 PM
Thursday: 3 PM – 10 PM
Friday: 3 PM – 10 PM
Saturday: 11:30 AM – 10 PM
Sunday: 11:30 AM – 9 PM
After passing their health inspection today, The Good Society Brewery and Public House in The Admiral District has finalized an opening date: Valentine’s Day. That’s the word from co-proprietor Nick Berger, when we asked after reader tips and questions (thank you!). For the backstory, here’s our report from last July, when they explained their plan “to marry good beer with good deeds” at 2701 California SW.
The West Seattle beer scene keeps brewing up new entries – like Cold Crash Brewing Co., about to arrive west of The Junction. From proprietors Erin Treankler and Robyn Campbell:
We, Cold Crash Brewing Co., are a women-owned, gluten-free brewery located at 4507 48th Ave SW. The area is residential. We converted our 600-square-foot detached building into a brewery and tasting room. We are a licensed home-based commercial brewery – this includes city, state, federal permits.
The Cold Crash Brewing tasting room’s public grand opening is noon-5 pm Sunday, February 16th; all ages welcome, details here. Their regular winter hours after that will be Saturdays and Sundays, noon-5 pm.
Meet the new owners of what has been The Pacific Room on Alki since just last summer, but not for much longer
(WSB photo)
Jisun Jackson and Bobbie Robinson are the new owners of the restaurant/bar at 2808 Alki SW, which they plan to transform into The Avenue.
The changes are happening without a closure, so it’s still open for food, drink, and entertainment while the metamorphosis takes place. But they’re changing just about everything, bit by bit – the menu (with a new executive chef), the aesthetics, the decor (adding local art, for one).
And the hours; They’re planning to add lunch and weekend brunch.
Live music will stay – in fact, Jisun and Bobbie are both musicians themselves. But while The Pacific Room was focusing heavily on jazz, The Avenue will diversify, adding other genres of music, and some late-night DJs in summer. Plus a local favorite – CC from the Chelan Café – will perform every Monday. “That’s her piano!” Jisun pointed out during our conversation on Tuesday.
The Avenue’s atmosphere will be “classy but casual,” as described by Bobbie. “Accessible and inviting,” added Jisun, who says the intention is for customers to feel like the people at The Avenue are neighbors. “We want this to be a place where people feel comfortable.” All ages welcome (even the kids’ menu is getting overhauled). They’ve just added TVs at the bar, which means they’ll be able to offer sports-geared specials too. More local wines and beers will be part of the revamped beverage menu.
Once The Avenue is up to full speed, and you’ve tried it, they will be eager for your feedback, Jisun promised. If something’s not working, “I’ll want to change it.”
But in the meantime, they’re already appreciative of the warm welcome they’re getting. Jisun, who came to Seattle from Chicago, enthused, “Everybody’s been so friendly!”
Look for the name change and other changes over the next month or so.
(WSB photos. Above, mural inside Lula Coffee)
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
“Be your own kind of beautiful.”
That’s one of the inspirational suggestions featured in art on the walls inside Lula Coffee Co., which celebrates its grand opening this Friday and Saturday (January 24-25) at 4451 California SW in The Junction.
The space has been transformed from its former identity as Red Cup Espresso, under new owner Taylor Platt and manager Caitlyn Johnson (L-R below).
Platt is a veteran of “the coffee world” – 9 years at Cutters Point Coffee Co. (Lula’s roaster), and she’s a former vice president of development for Gravity Coffee Co..
She says she has longed to take over this shop since she first saw it shortly after moving to Alki five years ago and was excited to get the opportunity after it went up for sale last year. She wants Lula to be known for more than coffee; she’s worked to create a “super positive atmosphere,” which she says ex-employer Cutters Point is known for in Gig Harbor.
In particular, Platt says, Lula is a celebration of “girl power.” But girls aren’t the only ones likely to find meaning in the art by Tori Kirihara. Overall, the intention is for Lula to be “a place where everybody feels comfortable.”
And there are other reasons to hang out there: Seating with outlets (including USBs), for one.
Breakfast burritos made for Lula by adjacent taco truck El Chapulin Oaxaqueño (which doesn’t open until 11 am otherwise) and heated super-fast by the new Turbo Chef oven, one of the equipment upgrades. Pastries and bagels are available (multiple providers). And, Johnson adds, “We offer great milk alternatives at no additional cost, including oat, coconut, hemp, soy, and almond. We also use ‘clean label’ syrups.”
More changes are ahead – Platt hopes to install a speaker box for ordering, to “move people more quickly” through the drive-up line, one of just a few in West Seattle. And the hours are about to expand, to 5 am-7 pm weekdays, 6 am-8 pm Saturdays, 7 am-6 pm Sundays. (Maybe later in summer.)
You’re invited to stop in and give the shop a try during the grand opening Friday-Saturday, with specials including $1 12-ounce hot drinks.
P.S. About the name – it’s a nod to Platt’s mom, who, she explains, wanted to name her Tallulah. Some customers have called her Lula, she says, and that news thrilled her mom (“It’s finally happening!”). Whether you call her Lula or Taylor, she says, just come on in.
Today we welcome Best of Hands Barrelhouse as a new WSB sponsor. Here’s what they would like you to know as they approach their first anniversary:
By now West Seattleites are familiar with Gregory Marlor, Chris Richardson, Nick Marianetti, and the Best of Hands Barrelhouse team of dedicated, knowledgeable, and friendly beertenders. We are the folks responsible for turning the famed West Seattle “cow building” into a destination for great local craft beer brewed on premises. We’d like to thank our West Seattle community for making our first year in operation a success, and for truly making the experience of owning a small business a pleasurable one! We couldn’t have done it without the support of our wonderful community and neighbors. Now that we’re well into our first year, we can start giving back to the place that has given us so much – we figured what better way to show our appreciation than to sponsor this incredible blog!
We also wanted to let everyone know that we have big plans for the cow building in 2020. We can’t divulge too much at this time, but be on the lookout for new amenities and food options at the brewery in the upcoming year! Also, we are releasing our first packaged products! 
We have released our first bottled beer (extremely limited, available only at the brewery, 4-bottle-per-person limit). And we will be canning two beers today (January 7th), with an initial brewery release before distribution to retailers of fine craft beverages. We are very excited for the next year of our endeavor and we hope you all are too!
Please look for updates on bestofhandsbarrelhouse.com or follow us on social media.
Best of Hands Barrelhouse is located at 7500 35th Ave SW (on the corner of 35th Ave SW and SW Webster – there’s a giant cow named Merriam on the roof). Hours are listed here.
We thank Best of Hands Barrelhouse for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here, and find info on joining the team by going here.
Today is opening day at Nos Nos Coffee House (35th/Graham, in Upton Flats), as mentioned Monday. This is a much-awaited opening, as High Point is short on walkable businesses.
Nos Nos’ proprietor is Khalid Agour, also known for Itto’s Tapas in The Junction. He announced the café plan last June.
Nos Nos will be open 6 am-3 pm for starters, hoping for later hours in a few months. Along with QED Coffee and Flying Bird teas, it’s serving pastries from Patrick’s in White Center, as well as soups and sandwiches.
We photographed the menus – printed food menu here, beverage menu here.
(November photo, courtesy Nos Nos)
Over the weekend, readers messaged us to say it looked like Nos Nos, the new coffee/etc. shop in Upton Flats at 35th/Graham, had opened. That was actually a “friends/family” open to get ready for the grand opening, which, proprietor Khalid Agour tells us, will be tomorrow – Tuesday (December 17th), 6 am-3 pm. Those are the hours for starters but they’re hoping to extend to 6 pm as soon as February.
If you too were wondering about the status of these two …
THE GOOD SOCIETY: Five months have passed since we first reported on this brewery/pub opening just south of Lafayette Elementary. We checked in with co-proprietor Nick Berger, who tells WSB: “We were almost going to make our goal of opening this year, but it looks like probably mid-January. Construction is wrapping up and we are beginning to brew beer.” Turns out West Seattle-headquartered Washington Beer Blog reported last week on that milestone.
And in The Junction:
DARBY WINERY: Many have noticed the signage that went up recently on the space just west of Easy Street Records. Darby Winery‘s long had a tasting room in Woodinville but winemaker Darby English is a West Seattleite and opening this tasting room to add to the peninsula’s growing wine scene. He told WSB today, “We should be opening within the next few weeks. We are excited to open in West Seattle.”
The photo is from Khalid Agour of Itto’s Tapas, giving us a peek inside his close-to-opening High Point coffee shop Nos Nos. Our previous update was in September, and we’ve received many requests for an update, so we checked with him. Here’s the status of the shop at 35th/Graham:
We are very excited about Nos Nos opening in the High Point neighborhood to serve our community. Finally the buildout is done. We are now in the process of hiring and training baristas. We are shooting for mid-December. … We can’t wait to open our doors to you all!
(WSB photos by Patrick Sand)
Bowling, beer, and hunger-fighting, all rolled into one big event – that’s the Beer Church Turkey Bowl, and tonight it filled West Seattle Bowl (and countless glasses) for the 21st year. Your hosts as always, Kendall Jones and Kim Sharpe Jones of the Beer Church:
One of the night’s biggest signs of success was actually outside WS Bowl:
One of the breweries participating tonight, Old Stove Brewing, brought a half-ton of donated food in that van! That and other donations were a reason for West Seattle Food Bank executive director Fran Yeatts to smile:
Though the bowling lanes always sell out in advance, the Turkey Bowl is always open to community spectators to come drink some beer – including this year’s newly released Beer Church IPA – and get in on raffles:
In the crowd, we spotted Washington Beer Commission executive director Eric Radovich:
You might also know him from his announcing work – from the West Seattle 5K to Husky Stadium. And if you don’t already know – the Beer Church’s leaders also have a statewide role in the beer world too, publishing the Washington Beer Blog. Even if you missed tonight’s event, watch for the Beer Church IPA at a pub near you.
Two coffee biznotes:
WEST SEATTLE GROUNDS TURNS 1: In our photo are Celia and Michelle at West Seattle Grounds (2141 California SW), which is celebrating its first anniversary all day and into the night, until 10 pm: “To say thank you, we are giving away donuts from a trendy donut wall all day with a purchase of a coffee.” And 6-10 pm tonight, they’ll have live music with Jonny Gold, “playing an acoustic set of classics and originals.”
On to Highland Park:
BEDHEAD COFFEE UPDATE: Since we reported last week on the opening of BedHead Coffee (1513 SW Holden), proprietor Michelle has locked in her hours: Tuesdays-Fridays 6:30 am-2:30 pm, Saturdays 8:30 am-2:30 pm, closed Sundays/Mondays.
(WSB photos)
Meet “Cletus” the one-ton smoker, out on the deck behind Lady Jaye, which (as we reported earlier this week) opens this Wednesday (September 18th). When we first reported on the plan for this new Junction venue (in the ex-Pecado Bueno space at 4523 California SW), they mentioned the intention to spotlight smoked meats and cocktails. They meant it. Co-founder Evan Carter tells the story of needing a forklift to get the smoker into place. We met Evan and the other three co-founders during a preview visit this afternoon:
Evan’s at left. L-R with him are Sara Rosales, Tyler Palagi, Charlie Garrison (all formerly of Radiator Whiskey). They have spent the last few months remaking the space into their new restaurant/bar.
The “dark, warm wood” focus is inside and out; the patio is part covered, part not, and retains the fire pit that predated Lady Jaye. Some art too, including this:
So what’s on the menu, you ask? A specialty will be the “Forever Smoked Turkey Drum,” with ancho barbecue sauce and lime crema. Smoked chicken, too. And a sandwich with smoked bologna. It’s not all for carnivores, though. Evan explains they’re smoking veggies, too. And the opening menu’s selection of salads includes shaved summer squash as well as a salad with burrata cheese, green beans, and crostini.
As for the beverages, they’re focusing on whiskey and agave. But the menu also includes beer (draft as well as bottle/can) and wine plus seltzers/spritzers.
Lady Jaye is all ages and will seat about 60 inside (including the bar, where you can have the “full dinner experience”), ~35 on the patio. They’ll be open 3-midnight for starters, adding weekend brunch soon.
8:27 PM: Thanks to Vanessa for sending the photo and tip! BedHead Coffee opens at 6 am tomorrow (Monday, September 16th) on the southeast corner of 16th/Holden in Highland Park, according to the sign in its window. This is the same spot where DutchBoy Coffee closed in May.
MONDAY MORNING UPDATE: Just stopped by; BedHead is indeed open and proprietor Michelle says she’ll be open 6 am-2 pm Mondays-Saturdays.
(UPDATE: That’s changed to 6:30 am-2:30 pm Tuesdays-Fridays, 8:30 am-2:30 pm Saturdays.)
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