BIZNOTE: Coffee and ice cream on the way to former Alki Starbucks

The new tenant for the former Alki Starbucks space has uncloaked. Jonathan Stebbins says he’s opening Alki Coffee Co. there – and a Ben and Jerry’s Ice Cream scoop shop, too. He’s hoping to open in April – in time for the next beach season – and doing lots of remodeling right now. The new proprietor (a West Seattle resident) says, “My hope is to create a welcoming space that serves the neighborhood and honors the sense of community that makes West Seattle so special.” Roughly 2/3 coffee, 1/3 ice cream is how the space will be split, he tells WSB. Starbucks closed in the space back in August, after a quarter-century. Also of note – West Seattle had a Ben and Jerry’s in The Junction more than 20 years ago, under different ownership; Stebbins is a franchisee on the Eastside, where he has a Zeeks Pizza location too. More details on the Alki Coffee plan when we get them!

P.S. We asked the all-important question for an independent coffee shop – who’s your roaster? Answer: “We are partnering with Local Goods Orcas Roast. We will be working with Rob Kirby over there to create a couple blends specific to Alki Coffee Co.”

35 Replies to "BIZNOTE: Coffee and ice cream on the way to former Alki Starbucks"

  • WSOwl October 28, 2024 (3:42 pm)

    Good news!

  • Vee October 28, 2024 (3:58 pm)

    It would be nice if they had pastries like alki bakery , it would be nice to have that with coffee, lots of ice cream places there already in area so hope it worksAlso I hope it doesn’t turn into another place where people with their laptops pick the nice window seats and hog them all day

    • GenesseeValley October 28, 2024 (4:22 pm)

      Agreed.  Ampersand has solid but unspectacular pastries.  There’s definitely room for some high quality baked goods on Alki!

    • West Seattle Mad Sci Guy October 28, 2024 (6:01 pm)

      Coffee and laptop workers unite!!  We will see you soon 😎

    • anonyme October 29, 2024 (6:34 am)

      Vee, that was my first thought as well.  Really good pastries are a hit any time of year.

    • Susan October 29, 2024 (5:16 pm)

      Seasonal pastries need to be on the coffee shop menu.Ice cream is too seasonal…..who wants ice cream on a cold wet windy day??????

  • CarDriver October 28, 2024 (4:15 pm)

    By my count that’ll be 3 places that serve ice cream in about a 3-block stretch of Alki Ave. Wonder what the price (and quality) difference will be between them.

    • SuperScooper October 28, 2024 (6:31 pm)

      Are you saying that you’ve never had Ben and Jerry’s ice cream? This will be the most predictable quality on Alki!  

  • B October 28, 2024 (4:17 pm)

    Happy to hear! Best of luck to Alki Coffee Co.’s new spot!  Cheers!

  • Thd3 October 28, 2024 (4:57 pm)

    Can we get a bagel shop in west Seattle? what about a salad bar like evergreens? A gal can dream 

    • KM October 28, 2024 (5:19 pm)

      I agree Thd3… we need more variation in WS! Tired of pizza places continuing to pop up :) I would love a place that is similar to Ballard’s Take 5.

    • Anne October 28, 2024 (6:02 pm)

      We’ve had a bagel shop-a great one -ended up closing.

    • Vee October 28, 2024 (6:10 pm)

      Yes to both , bagels Salad, Would do goodOr soup and sandwich 

    • West Marge October 28, 2024 (6:14 pm)

      PCC, Whole Foods, and Met Market all have a salad bar, and seating. And Coffee

    • Lauren October 28, 2024 (10:05 pm)

      The now-vacant MOD pizza on Fauntleroy would be the perfect place!

      • Sal October 29, 2024 (2:06 pm)

        The former MOD location on Fauntleroy is deeply flawed due to very little convenient parking. And also, poor visibility (it’s inconspicuous). If a big company like MOD can’t make a space work (profitable), there’s little hope for the location, at least in terms of food/coffee/etc..  

        • Pam October 29, 2024 (5:34 pm)

          There’s a giant, always empty parking garage below Mod. People probably didn’t care to spend on pizza when there’s a ton of other pizza locations nearby. 

  • GC October 28, 2024 (5:27 pm)

    I think Peel and Press is going to be a bagel shop.

    • Wes C. Addle October 31, 2024 (8:40 pm)
      • The would be the most exciting news in Morgan Junction in probably 5 years.  Especially if it’s another location of Rachel’s who did a pop-up there this summer. 
  • Lisa Ruiz October 28, 2024 (6:29 pm)

    So happy it’ll be a coffee place! And local. :-) 

  • StephB October 28, 2024 (6:58 pm)

    Sounds great! Can’t wait!

  • Oerthehillz October 28, 2024 (7:11 pm)

    Oh boy, Chubby Hubby here I come!

  • Patrick October 28, 2024 (7:17 pm)

    Congrats! I’m surprised it’s not pizza though.

  • Pelicans October 28, 2024 (8:35 pm)

    Oooh, Pistachio Pistacio and Cherry Garcia!   Hope they keep the fireplace.

    • Sal October 29, 2024 (2:08 pm)

      YES, here’s to the fireplace! Seems like a no-brainer to keep it. 

  • Liz Day October 29, 2024 (6:08 am)

    We have missed our community gathering place in the morning and this is great news!

  • Btcof October 29, 2024 (7:33 am)

    Oh no… please partner with a better coffee roaster. Makeworth from Bellingham or Olympia

  • AlkiDude October 29, 2024 (12:07 pm)

    There are already 4 ice cream options on Alki:-Ambersand-Pepperdock-Alki Gyro’sAlki Ice cream & Bubble TeaNot to mention the summer wagon man and ice cream trucks that are down here!Love the idea mentioned about needing a bakery!  Selling Top Pot donuts would be great!  There’s really not a sports bar, so coffee shop until 5pm, sports bar until 11pm?  

    • Alki Local October 29, 2024 (4:15 pm)

      Hmm, perhaps having ice cream next door to an arcade is part of the business plan.

  • G October 29, 2024 (12:24 pm)

    Great news. Hope it’s a place where people can gather and sit a while!

  • Aram Karabetyan October 31, 2024 (8:01 am)

    It will be nice to add a pastry section . Like Sea Wolf Café quality. 

  • Jennifer October 31, 2024 (8:18 am)

       We don’t need another coffee and ice cream place. Molly Moons opening kiddy corner from Husky’s is  already enough. Bad Idea.

  • Alki Needs Coffee November 1, 2024 (4:16 pm)

    I’m thrilled at this news! Ampersand is the only other coffee shop option on Alki, and they have very slow service and not great ambience. We may not need more ice cream on Alki but we definitely need coffee options. 

    • Olivia November 1, 2024 (10:18 pm)

      Natalie’s next door has great coffee and also really good ice cream 😋 it’s always so funny when I see the long line at ampersand and wonder if they know they can get coffee at Natalie’s. Regular iced latte I like better tbh. Also Vietnamese iced coffee and taro cream !

      • Alki needs coffee November 2, 2024 (10:13 pm)

        Natalie’s is great, but like Ampersand it’s just not a cozy and inviting space that makes me want to sit inside and enjoy a cup of coffee. More of a grab and go place for me. 

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