BIZNOTE: 10-day closure ahead for one of West Seattle’s standalone Starbucks

(WSB photo)

Thanks for the tip! West Seattle’s oldest Starbucks location is closing for 10 days starting next Monday. After a texter told us about the impending temporary closure at 4101 SW Admiral Way, we contacted the company for details. Here’s what a spokesperson told us: “The Starbucks Admiral Way coffeehouse will temporarily close from July 27 through August 5 to allow for installation of a grease trap required by the city. This is a planned facilities project.” The Admiral location is one of four remaining standalone Starbucks in West Seattle after the company pulled out of Alki and The Junction in the past two years.

NW July 23, 2026 (3:48 pm)

Spoke with a local known for many years recently she opened this store as a manager back in early 90s. I recall her mentioning this was the first stand alone Starbucks store to open. Can anyone out there confirm this?

CarDriver July 23, 2026 (6:04 pm)

Space used to be a Winchell’s donuts. Can’t remember if they built the building.

deb July 23, 2026 (7:39 pm)

I remember a donut shop in the building before Starbucks opened.

Lafayette Neighbor July 23, 2026 (9:16 pm)

Winchells and Baskin-Robbins built at same time on that lot, early 1970s.

Percolated July 23, 2026 (9:31 pm)

Why does a coffee shop need a grease trap? Why does a shop that sells food cooked elsewhere need a grease trap? Are tallow and lard the next frap options?

Westwood neighbor July 24, 2026 (4:26 am)

Not sure if this is a serious question, but the anwer is dairy. Dairy products contain fats that are caught in grease traps. Milk, whipped cream, and cold foam namely, which Bux has in excess.
- Percolated July 24, 2026 (9:22 am)
  
  It was a serious question. How much dairy are they pouring down the drain? Isn’t the goal to sell it to the customers?

Erik July 24, 2026 (8:28 am)

Why does it take that long to install a grease trap and why do they have to close?

bill July 24, 2026 (9:24 am)

The city has to inspect the work. If you’ve ever had work done requiring an inspection, that happens on the city’s schedule and could be “whenever.”

In Solidarity July 24, 2026 (9:53 am)

What if all agree to not continue patronizing this location when it reopens because Starbucks is an awful, union busting, over-priced, terrible-coffee-having corporation?

NW July 24, 2026 (10:29 am)

I will repeat my question and will also follow through reach out to Starbucks Google search I did provided nothing. Does anyone know if this was the first Starbucks store to open when they expanded from Pike Place Market? I recall going here when I attended WSHS in the early 90s.

Dysfunction July 24, 2026 (12:31 pm)

Of course someone chimes in on the “awful Starbucks”. Are the small local coffee shops unionized? Do they pay employees more than Starbucks? Do they offer the same incentives Starbucks does to employees, like their college achievement plan that pays for online degree options? Are the drinks meaningfully cheaper than Starbucks? My answers are no to all. But feel free to not go there. And in the meantime continue to pearl clutch from your alter while chasing away companies and rich individuals like Howard Schultz that you also want to tax.

Jeff S August 5, 2026 (12:46 pm)

No need to worship CEOs as kings… we can and WILL continue to tax them.

M July 25, 2026 (8:55 am)

While it is closed down, you can go to Whole Foods and get coffee at half the cost.

T July 29, 2026 (6:52 am)

Whole Foods is a couple miles away. There’s a Met Market across the street, however — similar prices on coffee drinks to Starbucks. And there is also a Starbucks inside the Safeway a block away.