BIZNOTE: Top Pot Doughnuts returning to West Seattle

As noted in the newest West Seattle Junction Association newsletter, Top Pot Doughnuts is returning to West Seattle, three years after they lost their lease and left Alki. When we contacted Top Pot to ask, a spokesperson replied, “The future is very exciting for Top Pot — and we are thrilled to return to West Seattle. While we do not have anything specific to announce … let’s just say that the dough is in the proofer!” They wouldn’t confirm a location, but sources tell WSB it’s believed to be the former Wildflour/Flying Apron space, which recently posted LEASED signage:

Top Pot’s Alki space, open for almost six years, was the eastern half of where West Seattle Arcade is located now.

ADDED: Top Pot confirmed in a May 3 news release that it’ll be in The Junction.

Quiz April 23, 2024 (3:46 pm)

Ohhhhhhhh. Yes.

Derek April 23, 2024 (3:50 pm)

Tremendous news

David April 23, 2024 (4:04 pm)

This is great news – a much better use for the space

Lex April 23, 2024 (4:16 pm)

Imagine if we instead continued to support an amazing, locally owned donut shop that already exists in West Seattle. Dough Joy for life.

Donuts April 23, 2024 (5:27 pm)

Ugh, Top Pot is also locally owned, been around a long time, was in WS first, said they would come back when they could after their lease was up, and now they’re able to return. You might have known all that if you’ve lived here a while. There’s enough love of donuts for all of us to go around.
- Gay Gabrilska April 23, 2024 (8:25 pm)
  
  Yes! Brava!
Colby April 23, 2024 (5:39 pm)

And two very different types of doughnuts. Also, once again, believe it or not, you can support multiple food establishments.
Lorie April 23, 2024 (5:47 pm)

Dough Joy has my heart and soul 💓 Best donuts ever! I also love Top Pot though, so I guess I’ll have Top double my donut intake to support both. Sorry, waistline.
- Maple bar April 24, 2024 (9:39 am)
  
  My thoughts exactly!
Alki resident April 23, 2024 (5:48 pm)

Top pot has been here for years and they’re incredible. They also have different ingredients than Dough Joy and can be enjoyed just as much as any other shop in West Seattle. Its not a competition
Amy April 23, 2024 (5:49 pm)

You know both shops are locally owned? Supporting both is not exclusive.
Todd April 23, 2024 (7:34 pm)

I actually started counting how far I would have to scroll until some Negative Nancy found some reason (and in this case a false one) to complain about this. Gotta love West Seattle residents sometimes. It’s like they’d prefer we dial back the clock to bring back horses and buggies…. oh wait, then there’d be complaints about cruelty to animals.
JP April 23, 2024 (8:45 pm)

Believe it or not, some folks have no desire for a doughnut to be plant based, dairy free, egg free, gluten free, etc. Personally, I think DJ doughnuts are weird and inferior to just about any doughnuts I’ve tasted outside of the grocery store, but that’s just my preference. Welcome back, Top Pot… Bring on the lard! Now if only Original Bakery would come back, my life would be complete…
- ShermanO April 24, 2024 (11:18 am)
  
  Top Pot does not use lard, thank goodness. They say they use “sustainably harvested zero trans-fat palm oil.” But yeah, quite different doughnuts from Dough Joy.
Matt April 24, 2024 (2:00 am)

Imagine doughnuts that don’t cost $5 each.

TT April 23, 2024 (4:21 pm)

Thank God.

Vee April 23, 2024 (5:38 pm)

Yum

Keith April 23, 2024 (5:44 pm)

More donuts, more pizza, more baked goods…. is the Junction trying to fatten us all up? Guess there’s that new gym too, but I wonder what’s *really* going on?? #toserveman #itsacookbook #twilightzone

Socialcontract April 23, 2024 (7:03 pm)

Here for the Twilight Zone references.
Gay Gabrilska April 23, 2024 (8:29 pm)

Gahhh! I love every single letter, space, and character of this ⬆️

Fritter fan April 23, 2024 (5:46 pm)

I appreciated that Top Pot Donuts stayed open during the pandemic. I look forward to their return.

Donut April 23, 2024 (6:39 pm)

Top Pot Donuts 👍👍

Alkibean April 23, 2024 (6:56 pm)

Hot dog! Those sad, dried out ones they try and sell at QFC are a joke.

Dan April 23, 2024 (7:37 pm)

My favorite thing they did at Alki was an excellent soft serve vanilla ice cream in a cup and if you asked, they would add a shot of espresso over it. I guess it’s called Affogato but it wasn’t on the menu. Best Ever. Donuts were good too :)

TTT April 23, 2024 (7:44 pm)

It makes no sense. Dough Joy is a block away. Why wouldn’t Top Pot go to Admiral area? Or Morgan Junction?

aa April 23, 2024 (8:23 pm)

Foot traffic is the answer TTT.
Dale April 23, 2024 (8:30 pm)

Dough joy is cute, and who doesn’t love disco plants, but the doughnuts are not the doughnuts everyone wants.
Timmy April 24, 2024 (10:14 am)

business 101. move near your competition.although i don’t think top pot is competing with vegan donuts so much. they should both thrive

Marc L April 23, 2024 (7:52 pm)

Also worth noting that Cupcake Royale is for Sale – The West Seattle location is $175k!

Chuck April 23, 2024 (7:57 pm)

Gitty-up!

WSR April 23, 2024 (8:39 pm)

Does it have to make sense? There is plenty of room in the Junction for a baked good/pastry business as there are pizza or coffee businesses less than a 1/4 of a block away from one another. As others have said Top Pot also serves a different type of doughnut so I welcome the new addition.

rme April 23, 2024 (10:04 pm)

I live for a Top Pot glazed old fashioned donut. Cakey donuts for life.

ChillinOnChilberg April 23, 2024 (10:45 pm)

I’m concerned this will put Husky Deli out of business.

Wes Sea April 24, 2024 (7:29 am)

Nice callback, @Chillin!
Walterego April 24, 2024 (8:27 am)

I came here for this comment! Welcome Top Pot!
Lynda B April 24, 2024 (8:40 am)

I don’t think it will put Husky Deli out of business. It’s gonna be ok.
Bibliophile April 24, 2024 (9:22 am)

I come to the WSB for local news, but stay for comments section. This is great😂

star 55 April 23, 2024 (11:45 pm)

Will they be baking on site or bringing them from another site? I am hoping for fresh on site.

Samantha April 24, 2024 (6:23 pm)

Yes! That was the only bummer at the Alki location

2cents April 24, 2024 (6:06 am)

Top pot should take over the vacant laundromat on California/ Admiral junction. Those windows are perfect for their aesthetic.

Yer Gma April 24, 2024 (6:52 am)

Let’s not forget Top Pot’s amazing coffee! Hopefully, that’s not a buzzkill.

Bee April 24, 2024 (8:07 am)

Omg please, I need a freshly made old fashioned not so overly sweet, it hurts my teeth, to hide the lack of scientifically perfect texture. TP had real ginger lattes, alfagatto by request, and stayed open during the plague via walk up outside window, love them!!

Lynda B April 24, 2024 (8:54 am)

We’re plant based now so we love Dough Joy. They have a nummy maple bar and apple fritter that are oh so good. Top Pot was our go to for donut treats so it’s great they’re coming back for folks who love them. We used get their old fashioned (including the maple one), maple bar, and apple fritter.Also, shout out to Good Day Donuts and their vegan offerings including hot subs! And also Mighty O Donuts for their mini donuts! The larger ones are nummy, too, but at least I can get a small offering and not feel too guilty. Since I’m going down donut memory lane, the Texas sized apple fritter at Pike Place Bakery is for a party! I haven’t been there in years but it had the right amount of glaze on it. My mom would often scrape the glaze off of Top Pot’s fritters.

Neighbor April 24, 2024 (8:59 am)

Glad they will be back, but bummed they won’t be back on Alki. I thought their shop was something Alki really needed and we loved going there.

DRW April 24, 2024 (9:31 am)

Interesting that now two restaurants have moved from Alki to the Junction.

Bart Rathington April 24, 2024 (10:00 am)

Isn’t Voodoo Donuts going in just a few blocks up the street too?

WSB April 24, 2024 (10:22 am)

They have announced a Capitol Hill location
https://www.voodoodoughnut.com/findus/
Nothing here, though several Junction storefronts are awaiting new tenants …
- Jeff April 24, 2024 (10:28 am)
  
  Why not move lightrail threatened places in these vacant spots? Then everyone wins.
  - WSB April 24, 2024 (10:39 am)
    
    There may be some cases where that could work, but in many cases there’s no space there comparable in size or cost, for, say, Mode, Skylark, Ounces, Alki Beach Academy, to name a few.

Donuts4lyfe April 24, 2024 (10:30 am)

Yay!!!! We’ve missed you, Top Pot!!

KA April 24, 2024 (1:41 pm)

Does anyone else think Dough Joy needs better signage? I drive by there a lot and never knew it was a donut shop!

sam-c April 25, 2024 (10:36 am)

Every time I drive by, there’s a line down the sidewalk, which is a pretty good sign… to me.

wscommuter April 24, 2024 (1:49 pm)

When I saw there were 46 comments on this benign announcement, I figured that Top Pot was going to install a pickle ball court too.

LMAO! April 25, 2024 (12:13 am)

This whole comment made me laugh so hard! Thank you wscommuter, I needed that! I also come here for the news and stay for the comments. This one tops the charts
bee April 26, 2024 (1:23 pm)

Lmbo!! on an aside, have you seen the max commercial,not sure what’s it’s for, but it’s babies playing pickle ball? Omg it’s hilarious lol

Brenda April 24, 2024 (3:19 pm)

All this talk about donuts and now I am craving them and have to go and buy some.

photon April 24, 2024 (10:46 pm)

All these donut comments and not a single shout-out for the best donuts in town, 9th and Hennepin?!? Y’all are really missing out. (But I love me a top pot too)

sam-c April 25, 2024 (7:36 am)

Their donuts are so good! I often find that the most unique flavor combinations are the ones I love more than the typical donut flavors.
sam-c April 25, 2024 (10:34 am)

9th and Hennepin donuts are great. I find their unique flavor combos to be really delicious, even better than those flavors I consider to be more common for donuts.

sam-c April 25, 2024 (7:50 am)

Yay! Welcome back Top Pot. Love their donuts. I hope their hours are early like the other locations; it’s early enough to pick up donuts before heading into the office.