West Seattle restaurants: Sugar Rush Baking Company (Coffee to a Tea) remodeling – and adding!

If you’ve been through The Junction the past few days, you might have noticed the windows papered over at Sugar Rush Baking Company (aka Coffee to a Tea). Several people have e-mailed to ask if they’ve shut down. We just reached owner Jodi Baker – who says NO, they have NOT shut down – it’s a remodel.

Actually, more than “just” a remodel.

After eight years in business, Baker explains, it was time for “updating … a fresh new look.” And that means new offerings, too. After reopening on January 2nd – next Wednesday – they will offer lunches “sandwiches and soups, salads, and we’ll continue to do quiche – grab-and-go type (food). … We have a chef now.”

Beyond that, she says, they are applying for a beer and wine license, and planning to bring back music on the weekends. And they might even branch out into roasting their own coffee. “We are incredibly excited,” she told WSB.

Parents who appreciate Sugar Rush for its extensive kids’ area need not worry – it’s staying – but Baker says “we’ll have more food for the kids, too.”

25 Replies to "West Seattle restaurants: Sugar Rush Baking Company (Coffee to a Tea) remodeling - and adding!"

  • sam-c December 27, 2012 (12:14 pm)

    with the new offerings (like the beer and wine) does that mean they will be staying open later too? I’ve always been a little sad they close at 6; I don’t get there as often as I’d like.

  • LeahP December 27, 2012 (12:15 pm)

    Awesome! I love that place… and the kids love it too. Thanks for the update

  • EPanther December 27, 2012 (12:21 pm)

    Any chance of any gluten free offerings? I used to love this place so much….

  • Choo Choo! December 27, 2012 (12:27 pm)

    Don’t lose the kids area! That’s why I always go to Sugar Rush and never anywhere else. Pur kids call them “Train Cupcake Place”.

  • christie December 27, 2012 (2:50 pm)

    i will be there for lunch on the 2nd with the kids – since they are still out on break we need something to do!!

  • Brontosaurus December 27, 2012 (3:53 pm)

    Awesome! Have been a customer for years (kid practically grew up there!). So glad they are adding more food. We stopped going as much when they got rid of sandwiches and just seemed to have quiche (love the cupcakes but need the savoury too). Very happy for them that their business is doing so well.

  • West Seattle Hipster December 27, 2012 (4:58 pm)

    Love to see a loal business expanding their offerings, I would prefer to spend my food dollars in West Seattle instead of going to all the great new eateries in White Center.

    I hope they continue to have gluten filled items, I love me some good gluten.

  • Sonoma December 27, 2012 (5:14 pm)

    I’m a glutton for gluten. Sugar Rush is a delightful place – family-friendly, but not noisy. Yummy cupcakes and lattes, super-friendly service. And the owner’s name is Baker – how perfect is that?

  • J December 27, 2012 (5:21 pm)

    So happy to have the opportunity to spend money, as well as time, at this great neighborhood place.

  • justme December 27, 2012 (7:46 pm)

    This is super exciting. I wish you guys the best!

    I hope you’re not changing anything about your perfectly brewed tea. Can’t wait to try your lunch food.

  • Dakota December 27, 2012 (8:28 pm)

    I really hope that they spruce up the kids’ area. The furniture has gotten old and dirty. Same goes for the toys. I bet they can replace all of their toys if they ask for donations from the community.

  • E December 27, 2012 (9:33 pm)

    Are they planning on extending their groupons that expire so conveniently January 2nd?

    • WSB December 27, 2012 (9:53 pm)

      Don’t know anything about that. We don’t participate in and have no affiliation with any kind of “daily deals,” nor any kind of non-locally managed advertising at all (most deal companies are non-local, as are “Ads by Google” and other things that are prevalent on other sites). I would encourage you to take any concern/question directly to the business – I reached them through the phone number listed on their website, which I believe has their e-mail address as well if you can’t reach them by phone – TR

  • Chef-tell December 28, 2012 (10:23 am)

    Just here to answer a few questions that seem to be on our very valuable customers minds! Yes, we will have gluten free food options. We do not however, have gluten free cupcakes, that will not change. And we will be opening our doors for business as usual on the 2nd of January, just in time for all of you with vouchers to pick up your yummy cupcakes. We are answering the phones as usual and you can call in your orders for pick up on the 2nd. If you happen to call to have those orders filled during the week we are closed then we will work out a suitable option for those people on a case by case basis. I hope that this aswers the pressing questions…….the rest will be a surprise for the 2nd! Oh and one more thing……the play area is having a face lift. We are very gracious of the thought of having toys donated, but are going another route. As we are now going to be offering an array of kid friendly food items we hope that you will find the establishment a great place to come for lunch and a short play time with your children. We look forward to seeing you in the new year!

  • LivesInWS December 28, 2012 (1:16 pm)

    Love this place; look forward to seeing it spruced up a tad — but not too much!

    Do hope they will stay open longer. There’s lots of times I’d love to meet friends there after work but it closes after 6pm.

  • Chef-tell December 28, 2012 (2:09 pm)

    UPDATE: the phone line is down today. We had to disconnect the power to move a few things…..sorry!

  • WTF December 28, 2012 (6:04 pm)

    So nice to see businesses thrive. I wonder however, if the attitude and cordialness of the staff will also get a makeover?

  • Chef-tell January 2, 2013 (9:36 am)

    Good morning, it’s wednesday and we aren’t quite ready to open! We are sorry for the delay. As some of you know, remodeling can have hold ups. We will however be open at 8am Friday the 4th for business. Come enjoy espresso, baked goods, and grab ‘n go lunch! We really look forward to greeting you in our newly created space. With the help of our loved ones we have polished up the shop to a bit more grown up feel and really love it! We hope you love it too! And to the person that asked…..we will try our hardest to improve our customer relations, thanks for bringing it to our attention. See you friday!

    • WSB January 2, 2013 (9:49 am)

      Thanks for the update – TR

  • Amy B January 2, 2013 (6:06 pm)

    I am so looking forward to see what you’ve done! I love this place—my favorite coffee place. I will be very interested to taste what you do if you start roasting your own coffee! I’ve enjoyed the coffee from Vashon Island, so if it doesn’t pan out to do your own, please stay with them. Love your cupcakes and your scones (even if I’m not eating sweets right now.)

  • Chef-tell January 4, 2013 (8:38 pm)

    After a lot of hard work by the staff and our loved ones we opened back up today. We have a few changes and really hope you come in soon to see. We have a bit more work to do in the kids area, but the train table is still there. We also added a made from scratch wholesome grab and go lunch menu for both adults and kids. Coffee and tea service are the same with a remodeled coffee area. The roaster is down the line a short bit. Thanks for your patience and we hope you enjoy Junction Bakery and Cafe. Our bakery will also still be using the name “Sugar Rush”.

  • WSB January 6, 2013 (2:50 pm)

    Thanks for the update – mentioning that separately; we saw the new signage on the alley while walking to the Farmers’ Market today. – TR

  • Gotmusic? January 6, 2013 (3:10 pm)

    I’m glad to hear that you will be starting up a music schedule at some point. I’m so looking forward to a live music venue at the junction.

  • cj January 7, 2013 (2:08 am)

    Very nice! We will be checking it out soon!

  • bridge to somewhere January 7, 2013 (8:59 pm)

    Let me say that the front staff–particularly the young woman and man who usually work at the register and the coffee machine–have always been excellent and very great on the customer service front. Excellent. And I have been there many, many times.

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