BIZNOTE: New owners, new name for longtime West Seattle coffeehouse

(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.

9 Replies to "BIZNOTE: New owners, new name for longtime West Seattle coffeehouse"

  • JayDee March 7, 2020 (2:43 pm)

    What happens with Admiral Bird if anything? Or am I confused?

    • WSB March 7, 2020 (3:31 pm)

      We are overdue in reporting on their new name, Bebop Waffle Shop
      https://www.bebopwaffleshop.com/our-story
      For reasons unknown, I thought the two shops had ceased co-ownership a while back but that page suggests it’s more recent.

  • Gyngersnap March 7, 2020 (4:08 pm)

    I love the changes Amber and Todd have made to the space and the food is great! The coffee drinks are the same though – excellent as ever. We Birdies are chirpin’!

  • dhg March 7, 2020 (4:36 pm)

    We will miss Heidi Herr.  We were hoping she’d be participating in the upcoming Fauntleroy Food Fest but now that that has been cancelled, I guess we will have to hope for run-ins.

  • Joe March 7, 2020 (4:44 pm)

    Congratulations! Love the bird. My kids have grown up on bird cookies. What a great neighborhood institution. Wish we had more like this.

  • WSCurmudgeon March 7, 2020 (4:59 pm)

    Since there are quite a few of us WS denizens with close connections to Alaska, the owners of the coffee house may find this info useful. The phrase,”The Birdhouse,” immediately brings to mind to Alaskans of a certain age a unique bar which stood for most of the last century about 30 miles S of Anchorage on Turnagain Arm.  The following article is a short history of the bar.  An exact reconstruction of the bar now exists in Anchorage.  Alaska Public Media has a longer history by Mike Gordon, who owned the original bar for awhile and owns the reconstruction.

    https://www.alaskastar.com/arts-entertainment/2011-08-31/do-you-remember-old-bird-house

  • KimP March 7, 2020 (5:31 pm)

    Thank you Heidi for your engaged participation and support of the Fauntleroy community over the years. Best of luck in your new adventures.

  • M March 7, 2020 (6:20 pm)

    That Vegan breakfast burrito is the truth. 

  • HS March 8, 2020 (11:26 am)

    The Winter Hash Bowl is sooooooooo tasty!

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