BIZNOTE: Delridge Uptown Espresso closing

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

Thanks to Nathan for the tip that Delridge Uptown Espresso is closing. As soon as we got that note tonight, we went over to see if a sign was posted, as sometimes happens after closure announcements, and found the sign. you see above, saying that December 30th – a week from today – is the official closing date. It’s in a spot that will be disrupted if and when Sound Transit builds the Delridge station for West Seattle light rail, but even in the fastest-moving scenario, construction is still two-plus years away. The shop and other Uptowns have been operated since 2018 by Fonté, which took over after the sudden death of Uptown owner Dow Lucurell. We’ll be checking with them tomorrow about the reason(s) for the Delridge closure and the future of Uptown’s West Seattle Junction shop, which will be one of three remaining Uptown cafés; the mini-chain had six locations when Mr. Lucurell died. (Added: The previous two closures were Queen Anne in 2021, Pier 70 in 2022.)

Steve December 23, 2025 (10:12 pm)

NoooooOOOOoooo!!!!!!!!!

Kelly M December 23, 2025 (10:36 pm)

NooooooOOOOooo!!!!!!!!!

Andros December 24, 2025 (12:03 am)

Hasn’t been good since they kicked out the game store.

Jim December 24, 2025 (1:20 am)

Defund Sound Transit

West Marge December 28, 2025 (2:40 pm)

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Here, Here!!

Erik December 24, 2025 (1:33 am)

I’m not surprised. They’re always so slow. I’d imagine they don’t have enough foot traffic to keep the store open

22blades December 24, 2025 (3:23 am)

Wish the employees the best (that’s quite the timing.) Hopefully they can take their skills to another place.

Marina December 24, 2025 (5:46 am)

Noooooooo!!! :(

CW December 24, 2025 (6:00 am)

Their demise spelled out…

Customer December 24, 2025 (7:14 am)

No!! My husband and I would go to this coffee shop on the weekends. They weren’t super busy but always had someone customers.

Scott Sorensen December 24, 2025 (8:54 am)

I really liked their coffee colored concrete countertops.

Gibby December 24, 2025 (10:24 am)

NooooooOOOOooo!!!!!!!!!

Thomas December 24, 2025 (11:19 am)

Ive stopped here off and on for years. It was neat when the game store shared the spot, but it was rare to see anyone playing. In fact I rarely saw more than a couple customers at a time in the place ever. It’s a shame but it never really felt like a thriving business, certainly compared to Uptown in the Junction.

Mo Rogers December 24, 2025 (11:49 am)

Oh no! Wish this wasn’t happening! Several of us head over there after water aerobics at the West Seattle Health Club. We play Mexican Train and chat! It’s a great meet up spot. Mid-morning times during the week can be very busy! The employees are wonderful and take such good care of us! We will miss you!

aa December 24, 2025 (12:28 pm)

I imagine with that sign, PERMANENTLY CLOSED in all caps and the actual closing date in small print, they won’t be very busy this week.

Admiral2009 December 24, 2025 (12:50 pm)

CW agreed they are not likely to win any spelling bees anytime soon!

Raven December 24, 2025 (3:23 pm)

Building is already listed for rent:https://images1.showcase.com/d2/g-BK0fO0e0URRI3k15YzCbRWzKbRcQRb-69N77O_MyU/document.pdf

IDC9 December 25, 2025 (6:46 pm)

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Who would want to rent that building knowing that Sound Transit will most likely need to knock it down in a couple years to build the light rail? I fear this building will become a vacant eyesore until Sound Transit is ready to start construction.

CrankyWestie December 24, 2025 (4:10 pm)

Well, not a surprise but, a disappointment none the less. Uptown was a major reason my family found Pigeon Point, where we now live. There are precious few gathering places up here and frankly, that was the one where you didn’t need to buy beer (not that beer is a bad thing, but not always what you want.) The vibe at Uptown did change greatly when the game shop left. It kind of felt like they were putting in minimal effort at higher prices: kind of a metaphor for Seattle now? Cynical? Maybe. May I suggest Hagosa’s House Coffee on Delridge?

Foop December 25, 2025 (11:03 am)

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In a lot of way we made it illegal via zoning laws to make more places like this possible on Delridge. The fact we haven’t been lighting up Sakas inbox about allowing more commercial and hospitality in our neighborhoods while the comp plan was being amended; not having more gathering places is on us in a big way
- Platypus December 28, 2025 (9:51 pm)
  
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  100%, we did this too ourselves. The corner store law would be amazing for seattle.
IDC9 December 25, 2025 (6:49 pm)

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It seems this part of Seattle needs a few more family friendly gathering places. Or, at the very least, a few more gathering places where beer isn’t a mandatory part of the expierence.

Tom Walters December 24, 2025 (4:35 pm)

Fonte Coffee Roaster roasts the best coffee in Seattle.

Gubber December 24, 2025 (5:56 pm)

Tough location… too crowded for their popularity. Good decision. Starbucks should do the same w/ the Avalon as it’s a mess.

Neighbor December 25, 2025 (11:26 am)

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They aren’t going out of business because they had too many customers. The Starbucks on Avalon isn’t going to close because it’s too popular. Let’s use some common sense, shall we?
- IDC9 December 25, 2025 (6:50 pm)
  
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  Is the Starbucks on Avalon in the way of the light rail line? It’ll have to close eventually if it is.
  - Joe Z December 30, 2025 (11:21 am)
    
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    The latest plans would skip the Avalon station, so the Avalon Triangle would be unaffected.

DC December 24, 2025 (5:59 pm)

NooooooOOOOooo!!!!!!!!!

Neighbor December 24, 2025 (6:22 pm)

Lots of talk about what will be lost with the light rail but what new opportunities will be created around the train station? Are there plans for apartments and storefronts?

Kyle December 24, 2025 (9:59 pm)

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There are, but not for these businesses. The years gap will mean these ones will close, and new ones leased under new landlords will be more expensive because of the new density.

Marlow Harris December 30, 2025 (12:21 am)

Sorry this place is closing. And sorry the Light Rail station is going in down there. How on earth will West Seattle residents get to the Light Rail if there’s no bus service and no parking at the station? Will people who live in Arbor Heights or on Beach Drive or in the Arroyo’s walk the 3+ miles to the station? There must be 1000’s of families unable to use public transit due to lack of bus service. Why not improve that first (with minimal investment) before building a multi-billion dollar train to …. SODO.

k December 30, 2025 (7:27 am)

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Because there aren’t enough coaches and drivers to have door-to-door Metro service. Everything you listed is an argument FOR light rail. With light rail taking the pressure off Metro’s system through the heavily-travelled corridors, that frees up Metro’s resources (drivers, coaches) to expand into underserved areas. Arbor Heights will never be a priority for Metro as long as they need to move so many people from the Junction to downtown.Also, it sounds like this closure has nothing to do with light rail (which is still years out) and is more likely due to the business choices and lack of customers cited repeatedly in this comment section.
Joe Z December 30, 2025 (11:23 am)

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Northeast Seattle got improved bus service when the Northgate extension opened. The current plan in West Seattle is to reroute one of the rapid rides to Alki.