West Seattle, Washington
22 Sunday
Three weeks after Luna Park Café reopened following six months of repairs and maintenance, it’s in Phase 2 – owner John Bennett reports, “We are now open 7 days a week for breakfast and lunch. 8 am -3 pm. When the weather gets better we will open our outdoor patio. We are working on a plan to be open for dinner soon. Stay tuned.” Shortly after reopening, the restaurant at 2918 SW Avalon Way celebrated its 34th anniversary.
Nos Nos Coffee House at 35th/Graham in High Point is expanding hours. Proprietor Khalid Agour wants you to know that the shop is now open weekdays 7 am to 5 pm and weekends 8 am to 5 pm – closing three hours later than they had previously. Nos Nos has been open on the ground floor of Upton Flats since late 2019.
Tommy Andrade did something for himself by giving up an engineering career for hair-cutting shortly after moving here from Texas, in hopes of a more-balanced life. Now this West Seattle barber has found a way to do something for others too. Andrade is supporting foster kids, actually in two ways: Offering them free haircuts on Sundays, and donating 20 percent of his proceeds the first week of each month to Amara. He contacted WSB to get the word out more widely in the community – and in hopes of inspiring others to realize they can make a difference in the world too.
Andrade says he was inspired to help foster kids by two things: He has friends involved with the foster system, and he personally experienced the loss of a parent – he was just 10 years old when his dad died. Community volunteers helped him back then, via the Big Brothers program. Along with helping Amara financially, he’s also collecting other donations – toys and clothing (here’s the Amara wish list), and when the next school year gets closer, he plans a school-supply drive. (He’s also hoping to raise money through seasonal events, like a beard-trimming promotion.) He works at Rain City Barbershop in The Admiral District (just east of Safeway), and you can find booking/contact info on their website.
Three food-business notes this afternoon:
THE LOCOL: Back in November, we reported on the restaurant/bar‘s ownership change. Now, an update:
We are back open after our latest remodel. Now with the ownership changeover we are slowly rebranding with new signage coming soon, and the name has changed to The Locol Kitchen & Bar. We also have added a selection of cocktails featuring Northwest Spirits.
The Locöl is at 7902 35th SW; hours are here.
JET CITY BEIGNET: New way to get your beignet(s) on:
Starting in April, we will be serving made-to-order beignets from our commissary kitchen, located at 4611 36th Ave SW, every Sunday (including Easter Sunday) from 9 am-1 pm.
Preordering is not necessary (although we do appreciate a heads-up for orders larger than 2 dozen) – people can just swing by and ring the bell near our menu located on the east side of the building and we’ll come out and take the order on the spot.
We are also offering 12-ounce cups of our custom coffee blend with hints of chicory for the complete NOLA experience in West Seattle.
We will also have bags of our coffee (roasted by Middle Fork Roasters in South Park) available for purchase, along with JCB merch and gift cards. Our menu, contact info and calendar can be found here: jetcitybeignet.com
YOUNGSTOWN COFFEE’S BENEFIT BAKE SALE: Happening today through Sunday at Youngstown Coffee (6032 California SW):
Transgender Day of Visibility is today (March 31st) and all weekend at Youngstown Coffee we’ll be hosting a bake sale to raise funds for three incredible organizations doing vital and life saving work to support local transgender and gender diverse communities. Stop by and grab some treats including some local favorites that were donated by Dough Joy and Full Tilt and support these amazing orgs! Or use the QR code in our shop to choose the organization you’d like to donate to.
Lavender Rights Project
Diversity Alliance of Puget Sound
UTOPIA (United Territories of Pacific Islanders Alliance)
Youngstown is open until 4 pm today, 8 am-4 pm both days this weekend.
Got a biznote? Email is the best way to get us non-urgent info – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!
You’re invited to a birthday party this Saturday! Two years have passed since Meaghan Haas opeened the doors at Highland Park Corner Store (7789 Highland Park Way SW), and you’re invited to visit 1-3 pm Saturday to be part of the celebration. HPCS has become more than a store – it’s become a community gathering place, helping fill some of the void left by Highland Park Improvement Club’s headquarters being unavailable until rebuilt. On Saturday, Meaghan says, HPCS will celebrate with cake and ice cream – the latter “marks the official return of our soft serve!” She also has a special offer for Southwest Little League players who swing by in uniform after their jamboree on Saturday – $1 off ice cream. HPCS opened in March 2021 with coffee and grab-and-go food; about half a year later, it expanded operations as a “true corner store.” Since then, HPCS has hosted a variety of events, including some recurring favorites like Thursday food trucks (always featured in our daily preview lists). It’s also the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce‘s reigning Emerging Business of the Year.
(Tony Larson and Derek Moon – photo courtesy Revelry Room)
West Seattle entrepreneurs Derek Moon and Tony Larson are putting the finishing touches on the bar they’re opening behind the new home of Moon’s Jet City Labs at 4547 California SW – Revelry Room. We stopped by this morning to talk with Moon about their plan for what was previously speakeasy-style In The Heart. He said they’ve just gotten the last pre-opening approval, so it’s full speed ahead for opening night Saturday (April 1st).
(WSB photos from here down)
The space has many woodwork touches, against the walls, in the center, and at the bar, which has been moved back from its previous location, for more room to work the beverage magic.
Among the unique features at Revelry Room, they plan to highlight Black-owned spirits, wine, and beer providers. The cocktails will be “nice but not super-pretentious,” Moon says, prepared with a process that won’t leave you waiting long once your order’s in. “Elegant but approachable,” he says. And of course the atmosphere is meant to live up to the bar’s name – fun. That’s what the retro mural, across the south wall, still awaiting its final additions, which will depict – what else? – “revelry – the vibe we’re going for in this space”:
On the north wall, a screen can roll down – that might also bring in streams from whatever’s happening in Jet City Labs’ event/pop-up space in front, Moon explains.
There are plans for live entertainment, too – a DJ space in a corner, for example. Moon is hoping to showcase upcoming artists and entrepreneurs. Some guest-chef food pop-ups too, as they’ve had in the space during open-house previews the past few Sundays. Regular fare will include tamales and snacks like cheese curds and jerky. The event space out front has been in action for a while – you might have stopped by during the West Seattle Art Walk, for one – and now it’s time for Revelry Room to join the party. Look for the door off the alley. Hours wil be 4 pm-midnight Sundays-Thursdays, 4 pm-2 am Fridays and Saturdays.
HomeStreet Bank-West Seattle (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) has been spotlighting local businesses and organizations on a monthly rotation, and this morning the two most recent spotlighted entrepreneurs met up for a fun reason. Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce has been featured at the branch this month, and the winner of a recent raffle for a gift box of sauces was the owner of West Seattle Bowl, HomeStreet’s previous spotlight business. So we took this photo when WS Bowl’s Mike Gubsch stopped by the branch this morning to get his prize from Papa Tony’s namesake proprietor Tony Wilson. (Shown with them are the HomeStreet branch’s assistant manager Joyce Leslie and manager Bob Livingston.) Papa Tony’s West Seattle-made sauces, by the way, are now in 32 stores – including Wildwood Market, Highland Park Corner Store, and PCC West Seattle (WSB sponsor) – as well as available on Sundays at the West Seattle Farmers’ Market! Next month, HomeStreet plans to spotlight the Southwest Seattle Historical Society, and you’ll be able to enter a raffle for tickets to its upcoming gala.
(Photo courtesy Elyssa Cichy)
You can’t have an arcade without claw machines! That delivery to the space at 2758 Alki Avenue SW is just part of what’s been arriving at the future home of West Seattle Arcade. It’s been 2 1/2 months since we first told you about the plan for the long-vacant space formerly home to food businesses. After multiple reader requests for an update, we checked in with proprietor Elyssa Cichy. She tells WSB, “We don’t have an opening date yet, but we are making good progress on the city of Seattle permitting, so we’re still hoping for a Spring opening. We have already started to set up birthday-party space and some cool games including racing games, dance games, pinballs, and more!”
We present volunteer opportunities when we hear about them, but some people have yearned for a central opportunity to connect with ways to help. A new one is coming up – West Seattle Nursery plans to present “Doing Good in the Neighborhood” volunteer fairs next month. Here’s how they announced it:
Are you bored? Lonely? New in town? Want to make a difference? Want to make new friends? Become a volunteer!
Come to West Seattle Nursery on weekends in the month of April, meet local organizations that are:
Doing Good in the Neighborhood
And find a place to share your time and talents.
WSN’s Marie McKinsey says a dozen organizations are already signed up to participate, and: “I would welcome inquiries from more local non-profits. Their work doesn’t have to be garden related. We will have a table and chairs set up in our tent on Saturdays and Sundays for them. Organizations have a choice of shifts, 10 – noon or 1 – 3 on a Saturday or Sunday.” You can reach Marie via the WSN contact info at the bottom of their home page.
Spring’s here and get-out-on-the-water season isn’t far away. On one recent sunny day, in fact, kayaks arrived at Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor), where their winter clearance sale continues through this weekend, too. Here’s the announcement and photo sent by the shop in The Triangle:
Hey there sun-seekers,
Spring is here and kayaks have landed! Mountain to Sound has just received a shipment of new kayaks, including top brands such as Eddyline, Old Town, Current Designs, Epic, and Ocean Kayaks. These kayaks are perfect for beginners and seasoned paddlers alike, and we’re confident that you’ll find the perfect kayak for your needs.
We invite you to visit our store locally or online to get the first spring picks of our kayaks as this first shipment won’t last long. Our knowledgeable staff is on hand to help you choose the perfect kayak for your needs and answer any questions you may have.
We also offer kayaking accessories and rentals, so you can make the most of your time on the water. As always, thanks for all the support!
Don’t forget, we are still doing our winter clearance until 3/26/23!
See you out there,
Mountain to Sound Team
Two months after Morgan Junction’s only gas station closed for an ownership and brand transition, it’s partly reopened. After a tip (thank you!), we confirmed that the gas pumps – now dispensing Mobil gasoline – are now functioning. You have to pay at the pump, though, until the station’s mini-mart opens. That could happen as soon as tomorrow, we were told while there.
Three notes tonight:
BAR PREVIEW: Derek Moon, the proprietor of Jet City Labs who took over The Junction’s ex-Lika Love space, is also opening a bar in its former rear “speakeasy” space. For a sneak peek, you’re invited to an open house during tomorrow’s Farmers Market. Drop by Revelry Room, behind 4547 California SW, 10 am-2 pm Sunday.
WINTER CLEARANCE SALE: Mountain to Sound Outfitters (3602 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) invites you to come in for deals:
Mountain to Sound Outfitters is having our annual winter clearance sale now until March 26th! We have some of the best hand-picked winter experts staffed and ready to answer any questions you may have. From just beginning to advanced setups, we have what you need!
Here are some of the highlights of our Winter Clearance:
-Up to 40% off of selected hard and soft goods
-25% off everything else winter in store
-Buy one storage full tune, get one half off (comes with free scrape in the fall)Come see us and support your local West Seattle ski shop!
Hours at M2SO tomorrow are 10 am-5 pm.
HOT TEA: We mentioned Thursday that the Happy Lemon tea shop at Westwood Village had soft-opened. Since then, several readers have mentioned lines out the door. Andrew sent this photo tonight:
So if you’re planning on going any time soon, be forewarned you might spend some time waiting!
West Seattle’s collection of murals will grow thanks to a gift from the late Admiral District business owner Dan Wiseman. Here’s the announcement from the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce:
Past West Seattle Chamber president Daniel Wiseman passed away on February 17, 2023 and the West Seattle Chamber is declaring April 2nd, 2023 (what would have been Dan’s 70th Birthday) “Dan Wiseman Day” to recognize his contribution to our community.
For the past several years the West Seattle community has come together during Summer Fest to paint a mural of sea life. Local artist Stacey Sterling directs the community project, and the murals hang in Mural Alley in the Junction. Dan Wiseman left funds to pay for a mural. The West Seattle Junction Association and West Seattle Chamber are honored to put that money toward this year’s sea life painting. We will hang the art in Mural Alley and place a plaque next to it in Dan’s honor, remembering his support of the arts and of the West Seattle community.
We are so grateful for Dan’s years of service as a Board Member of the West Seattle Chamber, his volunteerism in the community and being a vibrant business owner (Wiseman’s Appliance) in West Seattle. He will be missed dearly.
Mural Alley is the breezeway on the west side of the 4700 block of California SW.
Thanks to Chau for the photo and tip – the international tea chain Happy Lemon has soft-opened its new shop at Westwood Village. Only 2 1/2 months – shorter than the usual new-business timeline – have passed since we first reported that Happy Lemon was on the way to the space vacated by Vatsana’s Thai. Posted hours are 11 am to 9 pm, seven days a week.
Three business notes from The Junction:
(WSB file photo)
EX-VILLAGE WOODWORKS SPACE: More than one year after Village Woodworks closed at 4538 California SW, we have a hint of what might be next for the space. An early-stage city filing this week shows a proposal for a Crossfit studio. The online file doesn’t show owner/applicant info yet, though, so we don’t know if this is a new studio, or an expansion/new location for an existing one; we’ll update when more info is available.
HOT STUFF ON ST. PATRICK’S DAY: Stop by HomeStreet Bank (4022 SW Alaska; WSB sponsor) between 1 and 3 pm Friday to help them support another local business, West Seattleite-owned Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce. Try the sauces and join in a raffle on St. Patrick’s Day afternoon.
FREE FOOD: The new Italian restaurant Dué Cucina (4437 California SW) continues an extended “soft open” period, but they’ve set the date for an official grand-opening celebration – when they open for the day at 11 am Sunday, March 26th, the first 100 people in line will get a free bowl of pasta while enjoying live music from an Italian band.
Aegis Living West Seattle has joined the WSB sponsor team. New sponsors are offered the chance to tell you about themselves – here’s what Aegis Living would like you to know:
Since 2018, Aegis Living has delivered assisted living and memory care and created a special place that many lifelong West Seattle residents – from college professors to Air Force pilots, hospital administrators to restaurateurs, nurses to local business owners, and so many others – now call home.
For example, Doris – a West Seattle resident, former nurse, and wellness blogger – joined Aegis Living West Seattle in January. Doris chose the community not only to be with fellow West Seattleites but also to regain her strength and focus on her own wellness following a stay in the hospital.
“Even at 101, this has been a real growth experience,” notes Doris. “I really enjoy the staff! They are all very friendly and I’m impressed by how professional they are… and this is a very different environment from a nursing home or hospital. It doesn’t have that medical feeling.”
Health and wellness has been a central tenet of Aegis Living’s culture and resident offerings since it was founded 25 years ago – including 200+ monthly life-enrichment activities to ensure residents have many daily opportunities to stay active and engage. Some of the most popular activities include Happy Hour with live music, live speaking engagements and excursions such as visiting the LeMay Car Museum. The building interiors embrace residents’ innate connection to nature with a special focus on water, with Puget Sound and Alki Beach serving as inspiration. The community, set on Admiral Way, is home to saltwater aquariums, a nautical-themed courtyard, local photography, and waterfront views.
The culinary team also delivers both healthful and delicious fare. Culinary Services Director and chef Mark Hipkiss prides himself on providing surprise-and-delight moments each day. Residents enjoy dishes such as Northwest Salmon with Herb & Brown Butter Rub while always finding comforting dishes such as Austin’s Famous Meat Loaf (our sous-chef’s family recipe). Chef Hipkiss has spent much of his career in upscale kitchens such as John Howie Steak and the Metropolitan Grill. However, he has found his calling and purpose at Aegis Living West Seattle, where he connects with residents daily through his inventive and intuitive menus that also elicit fond memories for residents – from Hungarian goulash to specialty gumbo and everything in between.
“My goal is to make successful dishes not only for the residents who requested them but for all of the residents,” noted Hipkiss. “If I don’t get nearly 100 percent ‘buy in’ from the residents on each dish, something needs to change.”
Aegis Living West Seattle’s culinary department under Hipkiss’ guidance is also mindful about the nutritional and medical needs of residents and aims to deliver dishes that not only taste good but meet those needs.
“Our goal is to continue delivering delicious meals and smiles on resident faces, and we do this by putting them and our passion for their care at the center of what we do,” said Hipkiss.
Most central to the full experience offered at Aegis Living are the love and deep care each resident feels and receives from the team. From light assistance to more advanced memory care, each resident has access to 24/7 care managers to provide the level of care they need. The community offers a range of services such as physical therapy and speech therapy as well as psychiatry and services like massage and other gentle healing modalities. Given the range in care options, Aegis gives residents the option to transition care needs without leaving the community and offers space for couples with differing needs to continuing living under the same roof but with varied care plans. Aegis Living also provides short-term stays for residents in need of post-surgery support or just a little extra help while family is away temporarily.
Aegis Living West Seattle continues to be part of the fabric of West Seattle outside of the community walls with active engagement and support of such organizations as the West Seattle Senior Center, the Chamber of Commerce, Rotary, and annual events such as the West Seattle Art Walk and Summer Fest.
“When Dwayne Clark founded Aegis Living 25 years ago, he aimed to redefine what senior living could be,” said general manager Kent Chappelle. “I can say with confidence, we have succeeded in that mission here at Aegis Living West Seattle – we are successful because we genuinely love what we do.”
Aegis Living continues to welcome residents. Interested families can learn more and schedule a tour at aegiswestseattle.com. A second West Seattle location is also underway.
We thank Aegis Living West Seattle 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.
(King County Assessor photo)
Every so often, a check of the commercial real-estate listings yields something of note. Tonight, it’s the 7-11 site at 4312 SW Admiral Way, listed for sale about a week ago for $1,550,000. It’s a (corrected) 8,973-square-foot lot zoned Neighborhood Commercial 55, for potentially up to five stories of mixed-use redevelopment. The listing also notes the site has held a 7-11 for more than half a century – since 1968. Its sale wouldn’t necessarily mean the end of that, though; the brochure for the listing says the 7-11’s lease runs through 2025, with two five-year extension options after that. Property records show the most-recent 7-11 site sale in West Seattle was California/Erskine, which sold for $2.9 million three years ago. Of the other 7-11 sites, three are company-owned – Highland Park, South Delridge, and 35th/Avalon
If you’re part of a nonprofit that could use a $2,500 microgrant, you’ll want to apply ASAP for this program offered by Verity Credit Union (WSB sponsor) – here’s what it’s about:
Local non-profits whose work centers around social, economic, and/or environmental justice and well-being are invited to apply for a microgrant from Verity Credit Union through March 15, 2023.
Verity Credit Union’s Microgrant Program is designed to provide unrestricted monetary support for organizations whose work benefits historically underserved communities within Washington State.
The credit union aims to support organizations that may have limited access to traditional funding due to organizational size, age, or tax-exemption status. We strive to uplift and empower those doing the work of our communities. As such, the microgrant prioritizes organizations with a total asset size less than $250,000.
The deadline for Spring 2023 is March 15th, 2023. A few examples of what the grant can be used for are:
-Rent/Utility costs for organization facilities
-Staff stipends and salaries
-Improvements to operations, such as new technology or software
-Research and development to create new or improve pre-existing programsThose interested can apply at veritycu.com/microgrant-program
Verity has a branch in The Junction, at 4505 California SW (where you’ll find artist Leon Lowman 5-8 pm during tonight’s West Seattle Art Walk!).
(Photo sent by Bryan)
Last weekend, some fans of Luna Park Café were excited to see that sight – signs illuminated, people inside. It wasn’t a quiet reopening, though – the café had a few invitation-only test runs, following six months of closure for maintenance, repairs, and upgrades. Proprietor John Bennett tells WSB the test runs went well, but now there’s one last hurdle to clear: “We’re trying to hire line cooks so we can open next week. Anyone who wants to be part of our team can contact us at lunaparkcafe.office@gmail.com.” Luna Park Café (2918 SW Avalon Way) will celebrate its 34th anniversary this month.
Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, We Sweat West Seattle in The Admiral District. New sponsors get the chance to tell you about their business and themselves, so here’s what We Sweat West Seattle would like you to know:
We’ve read the studies and we’ve invested in the technology. We truly believe that you can extend your mental wellness, physical wellness, and healthspan through the application of our cold plunge and Clearlight®️ Infrared Saunas. All of our appointments are in private suites so you can have peace of mind while relaxing in our saunas and plunge. We provide our customers with electrolyte-enhanced water, lavender cooling towels, and other amenities to provide the best experience possible. We also have an on-site shower and towel service. We have dedicated and knowledgeable staff on hand to assist with any questions and provide tips for newcomers.
Clients seek us out for a variety of reasons, a lot have read about the benefits online and want to see what the hype is all about. For the saunas, a 2015 study determined frequent sauna bathing decreased all-cause mortality rates by 40%, and that study has been making the rounds online again. As for cold plunges, they are skyrocketing in popularity thanks to Wim Hof and the ease of access to his method.
Our clients who regularly visit our saunas boast about the pain relief and incredible sleep they get the night after a session. Our cold plunge clients leave our space feeling refreshed and exhilarated, and for many, the cold plunge has become a life-changing daily routine. And our clients who utilize both? They’re the happiest people you’ll ever meet, and that’s just part of what gives us purpose. When we started we viewed saunas and plunges as a form of pain relief for athletes, but through personal experience and customer feedback, we are quickly learning how powerful and beneficial the mental health benefits of developing these types of routines are too.
Regarding community involvement, We Sweat West Seattle belongs to the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce and the Admiral Neighborhood Association. For the past 8 years, proprietor Ali Atri has been volunteering at the Seattle International Film Festival, and says, “You can expect to see me down there every May, and my wife and I just joined the most exciting group of all recently, we’re new members of the parent club! Our daughter was born in September :)”
We Sweat West Seattle is at 2705 California SW, 206-453-5602, Find out more at wesweatws.com, including information on an introductory deal (see the code in the photo above).
We thank We Sweat West Seattle 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.
The streetcorner space at the Senior Center of West Seattle is hosting another pop-up this week. Artist Reeve Washburn is showing and selling her art, “recent mixed-media work on wood panels, many of which feature hand-created monoprint collage.” She’s there through Sunday, noon-5 pm each day except Sunday (when her hours will be 10 am-2 pm to coincide with Farmers’ Market hours). Plus, on Thursday night you’re invited to a reception during the West Seattle Art Walk (which Washburn has long coordinated), 5 pm-8 pm. She’s “offering complimentary Babycakes from Cupcake Royale while supplies last” that night, as well as “piano backgrounds by Jeremy Bacon, local jazz musician.” (And you can wish her “Happy Birthday!”) If you haven’t been to the space, it’s on the southeast corner of California and Oregon.
(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)
Rapper Macklemore returned to Easy Street Records in The Junction this afternoon for a meet-and-greet signing event to celebrate his new album. Fans were waiting in this street – still closed post-Farmers’ Market – to snap pics:
Previous visits to Easy Street – including 2011 and 2016 – were with his longtime musical partner Ryan Lewis, but this time he’s solo. The new album carries his real name, Ben.
“Ben” was released this week; its first music video, “No Bad Days,” features Macklemore’s 7-year-old daughter Sloane. Easy Street sold out of the early “Ben” sales required to get a chance to meet him today.
Macklemore heads out on a world tour next month.
P.S. Days before Macklemore’s visit, artist Desmond Hansen was seen sprucing up his signal-box mural at 35th/Avalon:
(Thanks to Ian for the photo.) Hansen originally painted it in 2019.
Three weeks after the West Seattle Chamber of Commerce announced that nominations are open for the 2023 Westside Awards, the deadline is just two days away. The categories are Business of the Year, Not-for-Profit of the Year, Emerging Business of the Year, and Westsider of the Year. You can send nominations via this online form. Just get them in by the end of Tuesday (March 7th)! The winners will be honored at a breakfast event May 16th in The Brockey Center at South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) on Puget Ridge.
P.S. See past winners here.
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