UPDATE: Tully’s Coffee on Alki closes ‘temporarily,’ mysteriously

ORIGINAL STORY, 1:17 PM: Thanks to everybody who has tipped us on this. We’ve been checking into the mysterious closure of Tully’s Coffee on Alki Beach since this “temporarily closed” sign went up yesterday afternoon:

Though the sign says they “look forward” to reopening, some who have contacted us are skeptical that will happen, given the recent travails of what’s left of the chain, and someone even put a memorial by the door with “RIP” and flowers, spotted when we went back today to check if it was still closed:

According to the city business-license database, the shop is owned by Global Baristas, as are other remaining Tully’s shops, bought by the group in 2013 after Tully’s itself filed for bankruptcy. Online court records show the state is seeking back taxes from Global Baristas, with a court filing dated this past Monday citing more than $180,000. And records list multiple “unlawful detainer” – potential eviction – filings since mid-October, most recently for a location in Bellevue. Three shops closed last fall, including one on Capitol Hill, where our friends at capitolhillseattle.com investigated extensively. But we haven’t yet found documents mentioning anything specific about this location (2676 Alki SW). We have a message out to the “media contact” listed on the Tully’s website. We’re also trying to find the Alki property’s owners; property records carry both the name of an accountant in Federal Way and the name of the former owner of the Taco Time that was on the site before it became a Tully’s shop in 2000. We’ll update if and when we find out more.

8:25 PM: We never did hear back from the company. But The Seattle Times inquired and reports tonight that a company memo says the stores closed because they were out of coffee. (Thanks to commenter David for spotting that.)

54 Replies to "UPDATE: Tully's Coffee on Alki closes 'temporarily,' mysteriously"

  • West Seattle Hipster March 8, 2018 (1:21 pm)

    I feel bad for the employees and hope the closure is not permanent.

    Lots of potential for that spot, if it does close would love to see a good BBQ place there.  Not another coffee shop.

    • WSB March 8, 2018 (1:24 pm)

      I forgot to mention that of course we also checked permit records while sleuthing and there’s nothing on file.

  • Wsgal March 8, 2018 (1:25 pm)
    Owner of Tully’s Coffee in Seattle is also Stormy Daniels’ legal counsel 
  • Roddy March 8, 2018 (1:33 pm)

    I hope they bring back Taco Time.

    • Trickycoolj March 8, 2018 (2:20 pm)

      Good good fresh fresh. I was thinking the same thing lol!

    • Ken March 8, 2018 (3:55 pm)

      Yes. Bring back Taco Time please! 

    • Marty March 9, 2018 (10:53 am)

      I agree our family misses Taco Time! The sooner the better!

    • Gidget March 10, 2018 (8:22 am)

      That would be great. Great location and nice to have this option at Alki again.

  • curtis March 8, 2018 (1:39 pm)

    Perfect spot for a Taco del Mar or a Bluewater Bistro or similar type burrito joint.

  • Kathy March 8, 2018 (2:01 pm)

    This is one of the few locations on Alki with mostly sunny outdoor seating (during happy hour), the other being Cactus, maybe Duke’s, but upstairs is not always open. El Chupacabra put up a permanent roof shading their new upstairs deck. Pegasus gave up their wrap around outdoor seating area which used to be our favorite place to catch the afternoon sun during the cooler nice days in spring and fall. 

    I would love to sit in the courtyard at this establishment and enjoy a draft beer and snacks in the afternoon sunshine. By the afternoon, though, I am done drinking caffeinated beverages for the day.

    Sorry for the Tully’s fans, it is definitely a nice space, both inside and out.

    • JanS March 8, 2018 (2:33 pm)

      I never even noticed that they had an outdoor space. I know the outdoor space next door at Spud’s, though…

    • North Admiral Guuy March 8, 2018 (5:08 pm)

      Christo’s also offers great outdoor seating in the summertime. Both downstairs and up on the deck, best pizza in West Seattle 

    • melissa March 8, 2018 (7:41 pm)

      Ampersand Coffee, just down the way from Tully’s, has excellent outdoor seating and great coffee.

  • NH March 8, 2018 (2:24 pm)

    The location at Virginia Mason closed yesterday as well. The employees got one days’ notice. 

  • West Seattle Hipster March 8, 2018 (2:39 pm)

    Love the idea a good burrito place, but instead of a chain restaurant it would be nice to see a place that sells great burritos.  I’m thinking something like Fogon on Capitol Hill or Gorditos from Greenwood.  

    • KD March 8, 2018 (7:38 pm)

      Gordito’s … YES!!! { Big Baby Sized Burritos!}

  • schwaggy March 8, 2018 (2:54 pm)

    Lower Queen Anne location had a similar sign on the door yesterday

  • David March 8, 2018 (3:22 pm)

    I also feel for the employees.  But seriously 4 coffee shops on Alki?   (Starbucks, Tullys, Top Pot, Ampersand).  Did we need 4 coffee shops?  Maybe something “new”? How about as tapas (small bites) type place? Or a GOOD sub-shop.

  • jan March 8, 2018 (4:08 pm)

    The Tully’s in the International District is still open, but no pastries, napkins, etc.  Barebones, looks like they are next.  The barista did mention that the lawyer defending Stormy Daniels is the owner and he is busy with that.  Seems farfetched, but ok…  I love Tully’s, especially Alki – would be sad to see them go.

  • waikikigirl March 8, 2018 (4:12 pm)

    Can you really call Top Pot a coffee shop, thought of it more as a donut shop that serves coffee? And anyways hasn’t Tully’s been there  longer than any of those “other” 2 coffee shops (TP and Ampersand) not quite sure how long SB has been there??? Either way I feel for the employees.

  • rpo March 8, 2018 (4:46 pm)

    Didn’t most of the other Tully’s locations close suddenly and without warning last year? 

  • Sue March 8, 2018 (5:06 pm)

    Old Rainier Brewery location was open this morning but closed at noon with a similar sign.

  • Chris Hohn March 8, 2018 (5:11 pm)

    Are there any Tully’s still open?? Myself and some friends still have $$ on our cards!!!

    • Sue March 9, 2018 (10:05 am)

      Nope.   My friends and I are in the same boat.

  • John H March 8, 2018 (5:28 pm)

    The shelves were bare this last week which was a telltale sign that they are going out of business in general.  The building owner had let the space go to heck by not doing any maintenance, perhaps because they were not getting their rent paid.

    Too bad as it was a good place to hang out.  

    There is no good coffee place to hang out on Alki besides Starbucks which is a bit too sterile for me.

    Hopefully another coffee shop will take up the location and put it back to a nice place.  Don’t need another food place on Alki, especially a Taco Time.

  • Chris March 8, 2018 (5:49 pm)

    We do really miss the Taco Time.   We vote for that also, presuming Tully’s is not coming back.

  • West Seattle Lover March 8, 2018 (6:06 pm)

    Perfect spot for Potbelly or Jimmy Johns. West Seattle has enough pho, pizza, Mexican joints.

    • Mike March 8, 2018 (6:59 pm)

      Pot Belly!

    • Catlegs March 9, 2018 (6:28 am)

      Pot Belly!

  • Winner Winner March 8, 2018 (6:07 pm)

    Ezell’s Fried Chicken or Heaven Sent Chicken. 

  • old friend March 8, 2018 (7:48 pm)

    Rest in Peace my  old  friend …  Rest in Peace 

  • David March 8, 2018 (8:01 pm)

    Perhaps this is the reason for the temporary closure:

    https://www.seattletimes.com/business/tullys-suspends-store-operations-for-lack-of-coffee/

    • WSB March 8, 2018 (8:25 pm)

      Thanks – sounds like it. Company spokesperson never returned our message so we had no access to that info, and the Times story was published hours after ours, which it links to. Doesn’t say WHY they are out of coffee, though…

      • Swede. March 8, 2018 (11:36 pm)

        Maybe because they haven’t been paying ‘Keurig’ for the rights to use their name?

  • John H March 8, 2018 (9:50 pm)

    They are out of coffee for the same reason they were out of sandwiches and other merchandise – their vendors won’t send them goods to sell because they are behind on their payments.

    If you don’t have anything to sell then you have to close your doors.

    Death spiral in action.

    • John H March 9, 2018 (7:23 am)

      It wasn’t just coffee – the Alki store was running out of just about everything because it wasn’t restocked.  Likely because no one would sell them anything anymore because they were unable to pay.  Unfortunately there is no way back to business for Tullys unless some company buys them out, but it’s likely far to late for that at this point as they are loosing (or have already lost) all of their retail locations.

  • MACHO MAN March 9, 2018 (2:45 am)

    Wow, lack of imagination is strong with apparent “residents” of Alki.

    Crappy chains, crappy chains, and more crappy chains.  You people should  move to Florida.

    • jack March 10, 2018 (4:36 pm)

      Then, by all means, step up.

    • Mousey March 23, 2018 (9:14 pm)

      I agree.  What’s with all the food chain requests.  That’s disgusting.  A good independent coffee shop with excellent food and coffee, or any other food establishment as long as in is not a chain.  Seattle is definitely NOT a food destination although many Seattleites think they have a great city.  It’s really just a big Tacoma from what I understand.  Hell, put in a dry cleaner.  Even that would be better than a food chain.

  • Lola March 9, 2018 (5:43 am)

    I just saw on the news this morning that yes all Tullys have closed their doors due to a coffee shortage, or rather they have not paid their coffee broker for the coffee they have so they shut them off till they pay their bill.  This was ch 7 news.  And yes they think the attorney for Stormy Daniels still owns the company but they could not confirm this. 

    • WSB March 9, 2018 (6:49 am)

      That story was broken last night (hours after we published this) by the Times, as linked upthread (and also added to our story).

  • BlairJ March 9, 2018 (11:50 am)

    Support your local independent/small chain coffee shop!  Keep one giant coffee chain from taking over the universe!

    • SuperAwesome March 9, 2018 (12:36 pm)

      Starbucks is local and employees thousands of people in this area.  Just because they are successful and have grown world wide doesn’t make them bad.

      • KC March 9, 2018 (1:28 pm)

        It does not make them bad…. But don’t forget that Howey sold the Sonics to Clay Bennett know full well he was going to move them out of state,; without offering the Sonics to a local buying group. That does not make up for anything good Starbucks does

        • jack March 10, 2018 (4:53 pm)

          Starbucks did not buy or sell the Sonics.  What the CEO ‘s  of Starbucks or any of it’s employees do with their own money has nothing to do with Starbucks.  

  • Gidget March 10, 2018 (8:35 am)

    The Tully’s at Virginia Mason Hospital closed this past Tuesday. We have been told that Tully’s will not reopen and that they are now seeking a new vendor for the location. Also heard that the Tully’s at Boeing has also closed. The baristas at my location were given one day notice and told that they would remain open as long as they had supplies. They closed at end of business on Tuesday. 

  • RayWest March 10, 2018 (10:00 am)

    Please–NOT–another pizza or Asian place. Something different. Now that Kokoros is gone, how about affordable and quick Greek or Mediterranean or casual Mexican (something in-between Taco Time and Cactus). Would love something East European (Little Prague, are you listening?). I want piroshki, pelmeni, stuffed cabbage, etc.

  • Kathy March 10, 2018 (2:34 pm)

    I noticed people were bringing their coffee purchased elsewhere and enjoying it on the closed Tully’s sunlit and sheltered from the north wind patio this morning. 

  • Nick March 11, 2018 (12:32 am)

    Dick’s Burgers, c’mon!

  • Rundmc March 11, 2018 (10:56 am)

    Didn’t “McDreamy” aka Patrick Dempsey bail out Tully’s at some point.  Wonder what happened to his investment?

    • WSB March 11, 2018 (11:24 am)

      He parted ways with Global Baristas fairly early on. Lots of links if you google Patrick Dempsey Tully’s.

  • Ann Schumann March 12, 2018 (6:10 pm)

    Nice location for a bar and Italian food – which is lacking on Alki.  Wrap around bar in the front – maybe even music on the weekends.  Or just bar and tapas – have a little dance floor.  

  • Laura Blackett March 26, 2018 (10:45 am)

    I want to open up a taco bar on Alki. I have everything in place. Help me find out how to get this space. Kid friendly. Yummy tacos and margaritas by a West seattle native. 

    • WSB March 26, 2018 (10:51 am)

      Hi there – property ownership is all a matter of public record, including address, etc. Just look up 2676 Alki SW via the King County Parcel Viewer (google to get the url). The property owners are represented by a firm in Federal Way, which you’ll see on that website. It takes a while for these things to be resolved through the courts – or otherwise – so I doubt it would be available right away, but you might as well ask.

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