BIZNOTE: Top Pot Doughnuts closing Alki café

Thanks for the tips. After almost six years at the beach, Top Pot Doughnuts confirms its Alki café is closing. A company spokesperson answered our inquiry:

We’re saddened to announce the permanent closure of our Alki café following notice from our Landlord ending our tenancy. We are grateful to our friends and customers who have supported our business during these most tenuous of times and are saddened to be leaving this wonderful community. Our guests have made coming to the beach every day a pleasure and we look forward to serving you on Alki until late January and seeing you in the brighter days, months and years to come at all of our other Top Pot cafes.

Top Pot is a locally based chain, founded on Capitol Hill almost 20 years ago. The other space in the building at 2758 Alki SW has gone through a variety of tenants in recent years, from sandwiches to sushi to gelato, but now has a construction sign in the window; the decade-old building has had a permit in the works for two years for, as described in city files, “a second-story, 2-unit apartment addition above an existing commercial building(; p)roject includes a portion of the existing building to be converted into a 1-car garage and 2-car garage addition.”

62 Replies to "BIZNOTE: Top Pot Doughnuts closing Alki café"

  • Ron M January 15, 2021 (12:50 pm)

    Thank goodness, I was just thinking West Seattle needs MORE apartments.

  • christine January 15, 2021 (12:55 pm)

    Nooooooooo, we LOVE Top Pot!  So sad they are leaving! 

  • soadmiralk January 15, 2021 (1:04 pm)

    My guess is a greedy landlord. 

    • John bough January 16, 2021 (12:07 am)

      Greedy landlord?everyone has the right to make money off their investments.  

      • Josh January 16, 2021 (12:23 pm)

        Face it the majority of landlords in this area are greedy. There is no good reason why rents and mortgages are so high in this area other than greed 

      • Fuwa Jcbbb January 16, 2021 (12:33 pm)

        Yes, the real meaning of ‘freedom” is being allowed to do whatever you want with your property, free from restrictions from the evil gubmint. It’s why everything has been getting so much better non stop since Ronald Reagan. A shame Biden will reverse Trump’s plan to clear cut the Tongass National Forest, that sort of Republican freedom always makes the world a better place.

  • LyndaB January 15, 2021 (1:07 pm)

    That’s very unfortunate.  I hope they find another location in WS. 

  • Lynda Bui January 15, 2021 (1:08 pm)

    What about the location where Coastal used to be? The bike shop is no longer there.

    • WSB January 15, 2021 (1:17 pm)

      That already has a future tenant (or did – during the pandemic, things are often in motion), according to various tidbits of information we haven’t assembled into one coherent report yet.

  • helpermonkey January 15, 2021 (1:15 pm)

    come to White Center, Top Pot!! 

    • Esqueezy January 15, 2021 (2:34 pm)

      White Center already has the best donuts in town – Good Day Donuts.

      • Chris K January 15, 2021 (5:26 pm)

        True.  Good Day rocks.

        • JES January 16, 2021 (7:01 am)

          Is Good Day open? Every time I go by they’re closed, worried it was permanent.

          • Lauren January 16, 2021 (4:36 pm)

            Definitely open, and usually has a line out the door (due to social distancing, but still!)

  • kcallaghy January 15, 2021 (2:07 pm)

    NOOOOOO. *sob* I moved from the east coast recently and was so sad to discover the lack of Dunkin out here (I know, classy). Top Pot’s donuts were just as good. Where will I go for donuts now? :(

    • DBurns January 15, 2021 (3:31 pm)

      We LOVE Original Bakery and find them to be the best doughnuts in town! 

      • SteveLargent98116 January 15, 2021 (3:57 pm)

        The Original Bakery has really good doughnuts. They are my favorite doughnut place in all of Seattle.

        • BosShe January 18, 2021 (10:13 am)

          Agree – if the new east coaster lives by the ferry – Original Bakery is the best, family owned, inexpensive, and SO yummy.  

    • SteveLargent98116 January 15, 2021 (3:56 pm)

      I wish we had a Dunkin’ Donuts here in Seattle. 

    • Auntie January 15, 2021 (6:05 pm)

      Lucky Donut on 152nd in Burien. Go early and they are still warm – so fresh!

    • AMD January 15, 2021 (8:34 pm)

      Good Day Donuts in White Center.  You will not be disappointed.  :)

    • Katrina January 16, 2021 (7:55 am)

      These are amazing donuts, different every weekend, served out of the commissary kitchen window on Delridge. http://9thandhennepin.com/

    • LY January 16, 2021 (10:43 am)

      I also loved Dunkin Donuts and wish we had one of those here.

    • BosShe January 18, 2021 (10:10 am)

      No need to hate on Dunkins to share love for TopPot. Love me some DD when I visit home.  

  • Top fan January 15, 2021 (2:08 pm)

    I appreciate that Top Pot stayed open throughout the pandemic. They pivoted to the order window when other coffee shops closed. Thank you.

  • Justind January 15, 2021 (2:21 pm)

    This is horrible news and a big loss for the community. 

  • SB January 15, 2021 (2:21 pm)

    Sad to see that part of the retail building is being converted into garage spots. 

  • trickycoolj January 15, 2021 (3:32 pm)

    Would be nice if they could find a new location in WS. Alki wasn’t particularly convenient for a spontaneous donut run. Some of the other beloved donut places in WS don’t open early enough to pick up before work in my industry sadly. But I guess people who start work earlier than 7am are fewer and farther between these days. 

  • elarem January 15, 2021 (3:37 pm)

    Any development approval should be contingent on retail at street level. What a shame. 

    • Anne January 15, 2021 (4:18 pm)

      While retail on street level would be nice, don’t think approval should be contingent on it. 

    • Shawn-Marie Paris January 16, 2021 (10:46 am)

      Wonder if a review of zoning laws help preserve the feel of unique neighborhoods like Alki?

  • Tina January 15, 2021 (3:45 pm)

    I’m sad to lose my coffee spot?😔, they even stayed open throughout the pandemic….

  • SteveLargent98116 January 15, 2021 (3:46 pm)

    I miss Winchell’s Donuts that used to be here in West Seattle back in the 1980’s. It was where the Admiral Starbucks is located.

  • Joe Z January 15, 2021 (4:13 pm)

    Who else sells a maple bar in West Seattle? I need to know, NOW! 

    • Onya January 15, 2021 (4:41 pm)

      We get Top Pot maple bars from Thriftway on Morgan St.

    • sw January 15, 2021 (5:09 pm)

      Original Bakery has the best maple bars.

    • Michael January 15, 2021 (5:10 pm)

      The Original Bakery next to Endolyne Joe’s makes my favorite Maple Bar. They are in the Fauntleroy neighborhood close to the Fauntleroy Ferry. My second favorite Maple Bar is over in Beacon Hill at a place called the Despi Delite Bakery.

      • Kersti Muul January 16, 2021 (8:43 am)

        They ARE the best. Bernie puts a little coffee in the maple mix..that’s why 

  • professor plum January 15, 2021 (4:16 pm)

    from street level retail into a parking garage?!? on west seattle’s premium pedestrian strip? Really??? NO.

    • Alki Local January 15, 2021 (7:36 pm)

      The building is quite deep and after peeking in on the work in the empty unit next door to Top Pot that is part of this project it looks like the garage units may be at the back along the alley with room remaining for retail in front by the sidewalk.

    • DOWN BY THE BAY February 1, 2021 (3:21 pm)

      The approved plans show that the two existing retail spaces will be
      maintained. The old Top Pot unit will be virtually untouched, while part of the other unit will be partially converted for a 2-car garage. The biggest change is the addition of two luxury apartment units
      as the 2nd floor.

  • KT January 15, 2021 (4:52 pm)

    We have great donuts in white center.https://www.gooddaydonuts.com

    Fun note: 7 years ago I suggested to Top Pot to open a store at Arrowhead Gardens at the Myers Way park n ride….was told the area not up to their brand standard.

  • Coffee-less in Seattle January 15, 2021 (4:53 pm)

    And that ends the chapter on the last great coffee shop in West Seattle with a superb roasted bean that they do themselves. We will miss you Top Pot!!

  • Nancy January 15, 2021 (5:11 pm)

    Not again. Love the afternoon snack spot. It was great to have a spot to meet. Lived on Alki in the 80s. Not all change is good 

  • Sad day January 15, 2021 (5:51 pm)

    It should have been Starbucks next door. CEO sold the Sonics for a change now he is kicking for selling so cheap. No remorse.

  • Morgan January 15, 2021 (5:59 pm)

    Great business opportunity for the enterprising….donuts in admiral!!

    • Admiral resident January 15, 2021 (7:42 pm)

      The former Quality Cleaners space at California & Admiral is vacant. 

      • Naomi Hyland January 16, 2021 (9:23 am)

        That is a great idea!

  • M January 15, 2021 (6:52 pm)

    Nooooooooo!!!

  • Lina January 15, 2021 (6:54 pm)

    Good Day donuts in White Center is awesome!

  • Alayna January 15, 2021 (7:46 pm)

    It sucks that Top Pot is going out.. but they definitely aren’t the best doughnuts in WS.

    I’m surprised no one has mentioned 9th and Hennepin yet!    Best doughnuts I’ve ever had.  They’re only available on Friday, Saturday and Sunday and they only offer 4 gourmet doughnuts that rotate every week (the flavors are based on what the chef procures at the local markets that week!).   You have to preorder online what time you’ll be picking them up so they are made right for your time!  Super hot and fresh.  Can’t wait to get my doughnuts tomorrow <3 

    • BenM January 16, 2021 (12:01 am)

      +1 for 9th and Hennepin!

    • Katrina January 16, 2021 (7:59 am)

      Agreed! They’re amazing. Here’s the website for anyone interestedhttp://9thandhennepin.com/

  • Sam January 15, 2021 (9:57 pm)

    I thought 2021 was supposed to NOT suck

    • Josh January 16, 2021 (12:26 pm)

      Welcome to December 47th 2020

  • WTF January 15, 2021 (11:05 pm)

    Welcome to greed. Seattle needs to put a moratorium on heightened building or charge a premium $$$$$ for FAR.

  • LY January 16, 2021 (10:48 am)

    Don’t leave us Top Pot! Come up the hill to Admiral. We’re going to miss your donuts. I appreciated the fact you had the pick up window open during the pandemic. My little boy loved going in for donuts and hanging out by the fire on cold winter days. Don’t gooooo

  • Josh January 16, 2021 (12:25 pm)

    When is their last day of business going to be? 

  • Eats the Whole First January 16, 2021 (7:28 pm)

    As a donut eater, I am not particularly sad. Donut shops should not take themselves too seriously.&nbsp; Hand forging donuts is expensive work to be sure, but if I’m going to spend that kind of money on donuts I want some liveliness my experience.&nbsp; More like Original Bakery for me!&nbsp;

  • ScubaFrog January 17, 2021 (6:48 am)

    I’m sad to see Top Pot go.  Hopefully the future tenant (per WSB’s post) is still committed.  As an aside, I’m so so so eager for this pandemic which has robbed us of so much to go.  We need strong local business, and this has been tough year, obviously.

  • Sue January 30, 2021 (10:19 pm)

    9th and Hennepen doughnuts are amazing!   AND owning rental property is a business, just like owning a doughnut shop.  Gotta make the best financial decision to keep the business upright.  Have you ever looked at the always increasing Seattle property taxes? 

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