BIZNOTE FOLLOWUP: Molly Moon’s West Seattle update – including location switch

(Reader photo from April, the formerly planned Molly Moon’s space)

Half a year after Molly Moon’s Homemade Ice Cream uncloaked plans to expand to West Seattle by hanging a banner at 4540 California SW, we have updates.

For one, Molly Moon herself tells WSB today that “We hope to open in West Seattle in the spring. It’s been a wild ride with this location and real estate in the Junction. we hope the community believes we’re worth the wait. We’ll try hard to get open around the time the sun stays up until 7 pm again!”

(WSB photo)

Here’s a big part of that “wild ride” – Instead of opening in the ex-Seattle E-Bike space, they’ll be opening in the space that Cupcake Royale just vacated a few doors down, as rumored. When we asked about it previously, they weren’t ready to comment, but they’re confirming the plan now: “It was touch and go and I wasn’t sure it would happen, but we closed on the purchase of the West Seattle Cupcake Royale on Friday. We will file for building permits there and open our shop on the corner of California and Alaska. … Our plans for the corner space are the same — we’ll be making all the ice cream on site, like we do in all of our locations, and creating about 15 – 20 living-wage jobs with upward mobility opportunities when we open. We’re really looking forward to joining the WS community!”

Meantime, they’re looking for a “great tenant” for their originally planned space at 4540 California, for which they have a 10-year lease. If interested, email (updated) hello@mollymoon.com.

K October 21, 2024 (1:20 pm)

Very excellent and exciting news! I love Molly Moon’s.

CarDriver October 21, 2024 (1:22 pm)

If they make Tiger Tiger (available in Canada) I’m in. Otherwise as a WS native I won’t get a stink eye from mom and dad watching from above and will stick with Husky’s.

Jason October 21, 2024 (1:29 pm)

Wooo hoo!! Needed some competition to Husky desperately. I like both. I will be getting Molly Moon’s the day they open!

Reed October 21, 2024 (1:33 pm)

Good, even closer to Husky Deli. A little competition never hurt anyone.

Plf October 21, 2024 (1:35 pm)

Tough competition with Husky so close, bold business decision

Alki resident October 21, 2024 (5:49 pm)

No comparison.
- Lita lemm October 27, 2024 (6:07 am)
  
  Agreed no comparison! Huskys the best!!!!!
walkerws October 22, 2024 (12:31 pm)

It isn’t tough competition. Husky Deli gets community loyalty and nostalgia, but isn’t all that good.

Junction resident October 21, 2024 (1:47 pm)

I seem to remember an ice cream shop on that corner years ago.

Bonnie October 21, 2024 (5:30 pm)

Ben & Jerry’s
West Seattle Lite October 21, 2024 (7:09 pm)

It was a Ben & Jerry’s for awhile. I’m not sure for how long but I’m thinking less than a year.

Also John October 21, 2024 (2:05 pm)

Ouch….that’s a costly move. Two leases.I’m really looking forward to their opening

Ex-Westwood Resident October 22, 2024 (3:55 pm)

One lease, the WS E-Bike location

One Purchase, the Cupcake Royale location.

“It was touch and go and I wasn’t sure it would happen, but we closed on the purchase of the West Seattle Cupcake Royale location… ” (emphasis mine)

landmarklover October 21, 2024 (2:15 pm)

It’s nice MM’s want to be in a Landmarked Building! Any ‘Campbell Chip’ ice cream on the menu?

Mark October 21, 2024 (2:34 pm)

Is this the same place where Ben & Jerry’s was years ago?

WSB October 21, 2024 (2:37 pm)

Yes.
Tommy October 21, 2024 (5:41 pm)

I went to the West Seattle of Ben and Jerry ice cream and the workers didn’t even smile at all and they actually acted rude and I never went back to that Ben and Jerry again, other Ben and Jerry in other locations had workers that smiled and acted friendly. I’m looking forward to the new ice cream shop that makes good ice cream 🍦. Husky’s Deli seems a little on the dirty side especially when you use their back door or bathroom and sometimes the food on the shelves are dusty, at least there were many years ago, not sure about now. I wish Husky Deli would go back to using the sandwich bread that they used to use because I’m unable to eat the type of bread that they are now making their sandwiches with.
- Jenn October 23, 2024 (7:44 am)
  
  They purchase their bread from Bakery Nouveau and Franz

junctioneer October 21, 2024 (3:16 pm)

Excellent. That corner needs a good draw like this. I’d guess the rent is high enough to require some sort of chain with the means? Either way, excited for this. I do wish it was a place that did coffee though, such a great spot to have a cup and watch.

dumbguy October 22, 2024 (12:22 am)

So true about a great spot to sit and watch I used to love to tuck right into the corner and look out at the walk all ways!
Marty Wall October 27, 2024 (1:22 pm)

Starbucks across the street.

N October 21, 2024 (4:00 pm)

Are the competitors to Huskys or different price points. Hopefully they don’t use corn syrup like Husky’s does (sadly).

CarDriver October 21, 2024 (4:32 pm)

Doubt anybody buying ice cream scrutinizes the ingredients before buying. If it was an issue they wouldn’t be visiting any ice cream shop in the first place.
- K October 21, 2024 (9:10 pm)
  
  That is not the case for myself and others I know. Maybe for some!
Bob October 21, 2024 (4:36 pm)

Different price points for sure. Molly Moon’s is more expensive ($13/pint vs $8 at Husky) but the difference in quality between them not even comparable. Definitely not the sickly sweet corn syrup taste you get at Husky
Craig Threlkeld October 27, 2024 (10:38 am)

Corn syrup (NOT high fructose corn syrup) is a different substance. It’s more like honey.Ice cream makers (and sorbet makers) use it to avoid crystals. High fructose corn syrup may kill you, but regular corn syrup will not.

aa October 21, 2024 (4:43 pm)

Molly Moons is a wonderful business. Their ice cream is delicious, they pay their staff a living wage, all employees get free health insurance, she supports local farmers by buying their fruit for delicious ice cream, and she financially supports girls scouts by purchasing lots of thin mint cookies every year for the scout mint flavor. It is not a betrayal of Husky Deli to buy their ice cream on occasion.

Steven October 21, 2024 (7:00 pm)

@junctioneer – coffee right across the street at Easy Street. 🙄

junctioneer October 22, 2024 (11:59 am)

Starbucks you mean? Easy Street is dine in with table service. I didn’t say there were no other options. There’s a ton of other coffee shops up street and downstream. Easy Street’s cafe is not on the corner (nor is it a coffee shop). I’m saying the corner that Molly Moon’s will be on is a unique corner for someone to sit at the junction.
- Sara October 22, 2024 (10:11 pm)
  
  Easy Street is on the corner and you can go right to the bar to order coffee to go anytime. They have great coffee. They do not have window seats on the corner though.

Erin October 21, 2024 (7:51 pm)

Molly, please please please recruit a good tenant in the Seattle e-Bike spot. The community needs/wants to support something other than a bank or real estate firm. Something to make us proud, pretty please!!

ACG October 21, 2024 (11:15 pm)

Agreed, Erin!!
Junction resident October 22, 2024 (5:42 pm)

A good spot for a new Lee’s Asian Restaurant.
Marcia October 23, 2024 (5:58 am)

Molly, I would like to echo Erin’s comment about getting a good tenant for the e bike space, please please please.We want vibrancy in our community.

Daiso Gal October 21, 2024 (9:32 pm)

Yuck! I’ll stick with Husky Deli.

Byron James October 21, 2024 (9:51 pm)

Oh boy, super expensive ice cream.

I love Husky October 21, 2024 (10:29 pm)

The family owning and running Husky Deli is a TREASURE to us all. Love them. If I buy anything at Molly Moon, I will make it a point to buy a comparable purchase at Husky. Let’s remember and support the Husky – always a West Seattle gem!

K October 22, 2024 (6:40 am)

Will you do the same when you buy a sandwich elsewhere? Or chocolates? Or any of the number of things they sell? Look, I love Husky Deli as much as anyone. I would recommend their catering for any event from a weekend picnic to a wedding, but the sycophantic fawning seems a little over-the-top. It’s okay to shop at other businesses. I’m sure the Husky Deli folks shop at other businesses as well. It doesn’t reduce your support for Husky to also support someone else.
walkerws October 22, 2024 (12:30 pm)

Husky Deli is pretty mediocre. I get supporting them, but their sandwiches aren’t the best in the area by any means either. They need to step up their game – it isn’t 2005 any more and food is better now, but they haven’t gotten with the program
- RayWest October 22, 2024 (2:22 pm)
  
  WALKERWS – Husky’s is not a restaurant but a specialty grocer with deli meats & cheeses. The basic “to go” sandwiches and ice cream are not their main focus. I think both Molly Moon and Husky’s can co-exist harmoniously.

WC October 22, 2024 (4:50 am)

Good luck, but West Seattle is fiercely loyal to Husky Deli and this location will fail. Not sure why Molly did not just take over the White Center Full Tilt location. With White Center’s arson struck building finally rebuilt, it will step right back into its era of strong economic development fueled by innovative businesses filling the niche market. Tim’s Tavern, Beer Star, Alpinist, Can Bar, Youngs, Meat the Live Butcher, Moonshot, …

WSresident October 22, 2024 (7:16 am)

A) you are dead wrong, you speak to maybe 25% or WS. There is an entire demographic of people (most people under 50 I’d say) that would prefer to spend their money at Molly Moons. She an amazing community steward, she pays her employees really well (over $25 and hour), they get benefits, source their ingedienst locally, their ice cream is 1000x better than Husky and it’s clean. B) you’re a jerk for wishing any new business Coming to west Seattle to fail. You should be ashamed of yourself to call yourself part of a “community”.
Andros October 22, 2024 (9:26 am)

Backed up by no data. I am all for Molly Moon’s coming over here. Since we lost the wonderful Full Tilt, this is going to be my go-to for ice cream here on out.
Hg October 22, 2024 (11:10 am)

I have a hard time being “fiercely loyal” to a store that’s in the state of disrepair that Husky Deli is. Frankly, it looks dirty in there. They’ve also been closed multiple times when we’ve went for ice cream after dinner, at a reasonable time to be open. Those don’t fully negate all the family does for our community and so I still support them occasionally despite those things.
ProWC October 28, 2024 (4:52 pm)

I agree with everyone else that says WC is wrong but we could also get molly moon’s or salt & straw in WC to replace full tilt. There’s no such thing as too much ice cream as we have proven there’s no such thing as too many pizza options.

DoubleScoop October 22, 2024 (4:59 am)

Salt and Straw was negotiating for that space, but pulled out of the deal with Cupcake Royal after the Molly Moon deal was announced in the WS blog.

Wsresident October 22, 2024 (7:17 am)

Oh thank goodness, not a fan of salt and straw.
- junctioneer October 22, 2024 (12:01 pm)
  
  What’s wrong with salt and straw? Asking genuinely. I thought they were in the same league taste-wise as Molly Moon’s. I saw them as siblings. Except for one is more “local” than the other.
  - Wsresident October 22, 2024 (12:52 pm)
    
    It’s a matter or preference, S & S tries too hard and their flavors end up being weird. They also don’t have as many options Sundae wise, cone wise and it’s not local, it’s a Portland company.
  - Honk October 23, 2024 (12:11 am)
    
    S&S is easily of the same high quality of MM and has much more interesting and varied flavors constantly rotating through (plus a solid lineup of classics for the less adventurous among us). Would have loved to have one in the neighborhood.

Walterego October 22, 2024 (6:02 am)

Wonderful news for the community! Can’t wait to support this Seattle-based, woman-owned business.

Connoisseur Joe October 22, 2024 (9:10 am)

This is great! Talaricos pizza paired with a Molly Moon cone, Huskys scoop, or an A La Mode slice of pie! I’m getting fatter next year 😆

Jillian October 22, 2024 (9:18 am)

I wish they did a Frankie & Jo’s or another shop that offered more vegan options. Usually MM only has one or two flavors. Missing Full Tilt big time because of how much they catered towards allergies. I love Husky but sadly cannot really enjoy it because my poor kiddo has to just watch me eat ice cream without him :(

junctioneer October 22, 2024 (12:02 pm)

We need to get the Frankie & Jo’s alki popup back this summer!?
walkerws October 22, 2024 (12:28 pm)

Frankie and Jo’s is so good, and they’d do great business in the right spot in the Junction. Really hope they open one some day

The Earl October 22, 2024 (9:59 am)

Come on all you West side newbies. It’s husky deli all the way

K October 22, 2024 (11:30 am)

You can support both. Do you eat at Elliott Bay ever? Even though they have sandwiches? Grow up.
Jason October 22, 2024 (12:38 pm)

To each their own. Need more ice cream variety.
WSresident October 22, 2024 (12:54 pm)

I’ve been here 23 years and much prefer MM. 😄husky is filthy, the ice cream is made with corn syrup and they close at like 5pm.

WS Mom October 22, 2024 (10:51 am)

Excited for Molly Moon! I like both, and will be a customer of both, but Husky Deli closes so early in the fall/winter.

RayWest October 22, 2024 (12:33 pm)

Wow, that was a bold move, but the corner locations seems the better choice as there is much more foot traffic. Hope MM finds a good tenant for the other location. Meanwhile, I can’t wait till they open. I don’t think they’re too much competition to Husky’s Deli as their ice cream, as good as it is, is a small section of their business. Seems like there is room for both.

R-n-B October 22, 2024 (9:38 pm)

I’ve been looking forward to a local Molly Moon’s since the news first broke. I’ve been keeping a watchful eye on the previous location, slowly losing hope that it was ever going to happen. For me, this is exciting news.

RKE October 27, 2024 (12:37 am)

Super excited for Molly Moons! The only peanut allergy safe ice cream experience our whole family can enjoy. So excited to not have to trek to QA or U-Village for our fix!

Sorry, comment time is over.