West Seattle, Washington
18 Sunday
11:51 AM: A texter reports, “There is a fuel truck stuck on the median just outside the Shree’s gas station on Delridge south of Brandon, It’s backing up southbound traffic.” Avoid the area for a while.
11:59 AM: You can see the truck in the backdrop of our screengrab from the nearest SDOT camera. Police have just been dispatched.
12:02 PM: Officers arrived to find the truck has gotten itself unstuck and departed.
This week isn’t as busy as last week for community-coalition meetings, but so far there’s one on the calendar: HPAC – the community coalition for Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge – meets in person on Wednesday, 6:30 pm at Delridge Library (5423 Delridge Way SW). Here’s the announcement:
While Highland Park, Riverview, and South Delridge sit along a ridge, we have huge environmental impacts on the watersheds to our east and west. This month our meeting will hear reports from both sides, Longfellow Creek along Delridge and the Duwamish Waterway.
We are super excited to have guest Pamela Adams from BeaverInsights coming to discuss her research and observations of the beaver families living in Longfellow Creek.
It’s easy to pass over or near this urban creek daily without noticing it’s presence, but up and down the creekbed, from Nucor Steel to the Roxhill Bog, several families of beavers, plus other wild critters, have taken up residence and are busily going about their lives. Find out more about them and learn about the benefits they bring to water quality and salmon habitat.
On the Duwamish Waterway side, we will be hearing about progress in the plans for the new West Duwamish Wet Water Treatment Facility, soon to be built near the base of the Highland Park Way hill. King County Wastewater staff will update us on the design and upcoming construction milestones.
As usual, we will have a chance to speak with representatives from the Seattle Police Department about any public safety concerns. The Southwest Precinct building sits directly atop Longfellow Creek, as it runs through an underground culvert below the Home Depot parking lot.
Our meetings are free and open to the public, please join us!
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
Rob Saka has his first 2027 challenger for the City Council’s District 1 seat.
The challenger even has yard signs.
His name’s not on them, though. They’re imploring Councilmember Saka to “Save Curby.”
(Photo from @kidsforcurby on Instagram)
The art on the signs is from editorial cartoonist Brett Hamil. But the idea of putting them on signs and planting them along Delridge was 17-year-old high-school junior Russell McQuarrie‘s.
(WSB photo)
“Curby” is from a Hamill cartoon published in the South Seattle Emerald back in November, referring to the concrete mid-street hardened median near Delridge/Holly, at the center of a “Delridge Safety Project” for which Saka successfully pushed to add $2 million to the new city budget. Because of a RapidRide stop in the area, it prevents left turns, including into the Refugee and Immigrant Family Center Preschool, at which Saka is a past parent.
And that’s just one of many City Council/city government actions of which McQuarrie disapproves. He lives in South Delridge, explains that his family “has always been politically active,” and says his fury was first ignited by sweeps of encampments near his home. “Homelessness is a failure of the state, and these sweeps are punishing people for the state’s failures.”
But no yard signs about that so far. He has chosen instead to spotlight the battle over “Curby.” Even more than the plan itself, McQuarrie says it’s the timing – $2 million in spending when the city has been dealing with a big budget deficit, as well as big challenges like homelessness. So despite being a self-described “broke high-school student,” he decided to print up about 20 signs, putting half of them out for starters. “Everyone I’ve talked to thinks [the proposed barrier removal] is absurd. … It’s interesting to educate people through art.” A teacher who knew Hamil helped him make contact, McQuarrie says, adding that Hamil gave his permission (and incidentally is now selling “Save Curby” T-shirts online). Some of the signs have disappeared since he put them up in the week before our conversation last Sunday, he says, which is why he initially contacted WSB. (We went looking for them after our conversation and spotted signs near the Delridge Library, near Louisa Boren STEM K-8, and near Delridge/Andover).
What would McQuarrie rather see the $2 million go toward? Social housing, light rail, environmental-justice grants, to name a few. Meantime, he’s already busy with a variety of other activism and advocacy – he says he worked on recently elected citywide Councilmember Alexis Mercedes Rinck‘s campaign, and environmental education with the Duwamish River Community Coalition.
Has he brought his “Curby” concerns directly to Councilmember Saka?
He says he has tried multiple times – including four phone calls that “went to voicemail” – and hasn’t reached him or received a reply yet. He says he tried to talk with Saka while at City Hall recently for Councilmember Rinck’s swearing in, but that he was told to schedule a meeting, and hasn’t been able to do that yet. He has brought it up with Councilmember Rinck, who he says agreed it was “absurd,” while also noting that the budget decisions were made before she joined the council.
Meantime, he plans to print more signs, and is looking toward that 2027 council run, while noting “I could go straight into law school” instead. If you have a question for him, he says he’d be happy to hear from you at kidsforcurby@gmail.com.
As for “Curby” itself? We asked SDOT on Tuesday about the timeline and next steps for planning and constructing the “safety project” expected to involve its removal, since it’s written into this year’s budget. Once we get the answer, we’ll update. (We asked Saka himself about the project in this recent interview.)
Back in 2022, King County voters approved a levy for bringing the Conservation Futures program back to its original rate. This week, County Executive Dow Constantine announced some of the land purchases that will lead to, and they include a bit of land in South Delridge. First, from the countywide announcement:
King County Executive Dow Constantine announced $107 million in land conservation awards – approved by the King County Council – that will protect more than 3,000 acres of open space to advance climate resilience, farmland access, environmental justice, recreation access, and habitat restoration.
A few of the 53 projects include helping the City of Auburn build its first downtown park and public space, permanently protecting the lowland forests of Camp Sealth on Vashon Island, creating more greenspace near affordable housing in Seattle’s Georgetown neighborhood, and helping a community-based organization create an urban farm near Sound Transit’s Rainier Beach Station.
The funding package continues the accelerated pace of land conservation in recent years, which is the result of several actions: Voters’ approval in 2022 of Executive Constantine’s initiative to restore the local Conservation Futures Program to its historic funding rate, bonding against future revenues to protect natural areas before they are no longer affordable, and cutting in half the amount of matching funds cities and other partners are required to provide.
The South Delridge purchase is described in the announcement as:
Seattle’s Westwood-Highland Park Urban Village acquisition: Combining new open space with future acquisition of repurposed properties owned by the Seattle Department of Transportation to secure a full acre in a rapidly developing neighborhood and provide more park access near White Center.
So we asked for specifics. County spokesperson Doug Williams replied:
Specifically, the land we’re talking about is to the southeast of the Delridge Way / Southwest Barton Street intersection: maps.app.goo.gl/8S2FkL1hpshqJa6V6
The grant funding will be used to reimburse Seattle for their recent purchase of the vacant square of land you see just to the southeast of the treed triangular land. The idea is to combine the treed triangular land with that vacant land and a street closure (that little chunk of 18th Avenue Southwest on the eastern border of the treed triangular portion) to create a nearly one-acre piece of public open space.
Community advocates had long worked for a park in that area, though their effort has gone dormant. We’re checking on next steps for the site’s future.
(Reader photo from atop the newly strengthened Delridge pedestrian overpass)
1:05 PM: Two weeks ago, SDOT confirmed to WSB that its other bridge-seismic-strengthening project in West Seattle, the Delridge/Oregon pedestrian bridge, was entering its final phase. Today, we’re hearing from multiple readers that the bridge has reopened and the work zone on the street is clearing. We’re checking with SDOT for the official status and will update when we hear back; the status report earlier this month had said they expected to “temporarily” reopen the strengthened bridge in “early 2025” with some short-term closures necessary later for finishing touches.
2:24 PM: SDOT confirms the bridge has officially reopened.
(WSB photos)
1:08 PM: Youngstown Cultural Arts Center is bustling with vendors and shoppers midway through the first-ever Delridge Winter Market!
The hallways and rooms are full of people to meet and creations to browse and buy. Fresh hot food outside too:
This is a don’t-miss event, 4408 Delridge Way SW until 3 pm. More photos when we are back at HQ.
2:38 PM: Among the dozens of vendors – Judith is selling clay creations in the hallway near the entry door (that’s Daniel with her):
Nearby is Ammara:
So many different types of merchandise – including floral creations from Kamayan Farm in Carnation and other growers:
Apparel, body care, coffee, tea, jewelry, many gift possibilities! African Community Housing and Development, which presents the Delridge Farmers Market spring through fall, is hosting this too, and sponsored WSB to be sure more people heard about it. In addition to the vendors, a variety of free resources – from acupuncture to haircuts to cooking demos – awaited visitors, too
Yet another one-of-a-kind holiday event to preview – the first-ever Delridge Winter Market is happening tomorrow, 11 am to 3 pm at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center (4408 Delridge Way SW). It’s presented by the same nonprofit organization that sponsors the summer/fall Delridge Farmers’ Market, African Community Housing and Development. You’ll find fresh, local food, baked goods, artisan crafts, and much more, offered by Black, Indigenous, and People of Color-owned businesses – most of the market’s more than 40 vendors are listed here. Along with what’s offered for sale, you’ll also enjoy live music, and the market will offer what ACHD promises will be “a huge range of free resources including free massage, acupuncture, kids’ haircuts, and cooking demos.” And for those in need, as is the case with Delridge Farmers’ Market, the Delridge Winter Market will offer free bags of produce, first-come, first-served. (Thanks to ACHD for sponsoring WSB to get the word out further about the market.)
The West Seattle Giving Spirit envelops and inspires people all around the peninsula, as local nonprofits fill an array of community needs. Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, some of those amazing nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Today – see how DNDA‘s mission goes beyond its name:
Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association (DNDA) is a community-based organization dedicated to empowering residents of the Delridge neighborhood in West Seattle.
DNDA is more than just a neighborhood organization. We’re a growing community hub offering a wide range of services and opportunities for all families to participate in. From community rental spaces at our vibrant Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, to our commitment to restorative justice, nature restoration, free art programs, and affordable housing development, there’s something for everyone.
One of our core programs is the Summer Youth Program. which offers a variety of activities and experiences for young people ages 7 to 19. For over 5 years, this program has empowered young minds through engaging activities like field trips, sports tournaments, and environmental workshops. This program enriches lives, develops important skills, and fosters lasting relationships. Many participants, having grown up in this program, have now taken on leadership roles, shaping a brighter future for our community. In 2024, we served over 750 young people and plan to expand to serve even more families in the coming years.
To ensure that our youth can participate in these valuable experiences, we are seeking $50,000 to support purchasing and maintaining a transportation van. This van will allow us to remove logistical barriers and transport our program participants safely to and from various locations, expanding our reach and impact.
Your generous donation, in any amount, will directly contribute to providing our young people with the transportation they need to access enriching experiences and opportunities. By supporting DNDA, you are investing back into our community and helping to Integrate Art, Nature, and Neighborhood to build and sustain a dynamic Delridge!
Help us make a difference!
LEARN MORE – SUMMER YOUTH PROGRAMS
QUESTIONS? Phoenix Robbins, 206-935-2999, phoenix@dnda.org
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here (newest to oldest), and watch for the next one on Friday!
The West Seattle Giving Spirit sustains thousands of people in our neighborhoods, as local nonprofits help with an array of community needs Three times a week through year’s end, WSB is bringing you this special holiday-season opportunity to learn more about, and support, some of those amazing nonprofits, in partnership with the Learning Communities Foundation. Today – see how the West Seattle Tool Library can help you in the midst of its second decade:
At the not-for-profit West Seattle Tool Library, our mission is to provide pay-what-you can community access to a wide range of tools, training, and relevant advice. Over the last fourteen years, the West Seattle community has donated thousands of tools, from hammers, shovels, and bolt cutters, to power saws, lawn mowers, ladders, and more. We house and maintain the tools and loan them out to community members. We were one of the first tool libraries in the world; today there are more than 700 nationwide.
This year, over 1,500 members borrowed more than 6,200 tools, and our community workshop hosted hundreds of members for classes and projects.
We’re now offering in-person classes for folks to gain skills with workshop tools, woodworking skills, and home and yard maintenance. Thanks to a grant from Seattle Public Utilities to reduce items going to landfills, we also offer a free “Fix-it Night” every Wednesday to bring broken appliances, tools, and other items back to life. We’re almost entirely funded by donations from the community, such as our suggested donations for memberships and checkouts, employee matching funds, and sustaining annual donations.
Our members regularly share heartwarming stories about the empowerment, resilience, pride, and sense of community WSTL instills in them:
Member: “In our family, WSTL has been an invaluable resource. When we bought our house, it needed many repairs, but hiring professional contractors would have stretched our budget too thin. Instead, we turned to WSTL, where we were able to borrow all the tools we needed, from power drills to ladders. Furthermore, WSTL’s workshops and educational resources empowered us to tackle these repairs ourselves, helping us to save a significant amount of money while also gaining new skills.”
Member: “We borrowed a variety of tools needed to remodel our kitchen. A tile saw for the backsplash, to name one. When we finished, we had our house appraised and saved hundreds on homeowners-insurance premiums required due to a small down payment. Our equity increased a bunch, as we then used a home-equity line of credit from BECU to change out the windows and add air conditioning! It started with a tile saw and other tools from WSTL.”
Member: “When we bought our house, the expenses of buying and moving plus the necessary upgrades for safety ended up being more than we expected. We anticipated trying for a kiddo and knew that we needed to knock out any projects sooner rather than later, but we had no liquid assets to make the tool purchases in addition to the materials. WSTL equipped us to supply a crew of family and friends to paint the whole interior, knock down a wall, repair the floor and wall, and make exterior improvements as well. By the time the kiddo showed up, we’d completed every major project we could do on our own. This allowed us to host family holidays and bring the baby home to a safe environment. We could not be more grateful.”
Please stop by if you need tools for a project, or you’d just like some advice. Be a part of our DIY / Maker Community! We’re located at 4408 Delridge Way SW in the northeast corner of Youngstown Cultural Arts Center, across the street from Delridge Community Center. Our hours are Tue/Wed/Thur 5 pm to 8 pm and Sat/Sun 11 am to 4 pm.
It’s easy to get involved:
·Join us for an in-person DIY class
·Membership, or gift an annual membership for someone on your holiday list
·Donate to help subsidize classes, restock consumables, and maintain and repair our inventory
·Volunteer and support others while deepening your own DIY knowledge and skills
Scroll through our archive of West Seattle Giving Spirit spotlights here (newest to oldest), and watch for the next one on Wednesday!
(WSB photo: Delridge project site, earlier this week)
As we’ve been mentioning in our daily traffic updates, we’ve had an inquiry out to SDOT about the status of the Delridge Way pedestrian-bridge seismic-strengthening project. We just received the update, and it includes word of a configuration change at the project site:
The Delridge Pedestrian Bridge is expected to reopen in early 2025. Crews will be wrapping up retrofits to the bridge’s components throughout December. Over the last year, we have made the bridge stronger by widening its foundation, adding carbon fiber wrapping, making structural reinforcements, rebuilding the ramp landings, and replacing the expansion joints.
If all goes well and the weather allows us to complete our work on schedule, we expect to be able to temporarily reopen the bridge to pedestrians in January 2025. There will still need to be short closures later in the year lasting a few days at a time to install the bridge railings.
Today (December 6), we will be shifting the travel lanes on Delridge Way SW to make room for the next phase of construction. There will continue to be two open lanes, with one lane for each direction of travel. We expect to fully reopen the road in early 2025.
Work on the project started last spring, after the city determined it would keep and strengthen the overpass rather than tearing it down.
(Reader photo)
1:20 PM: A fire call in the 4800 block of 25th SW has just been upgraded to a “full response” and arriving crews have declared it a “working fire.” Updates to come.
1:23 PM: Fire crews believe the fire is centered in the basement. They’ve found it and are putting water on it. Meantime, thanks to the neighbor who sent the photo we’ve added above. Police are blocking off surrounding streets (including Edmunds at Delridge). They’ve quickly declared the fire under control. No word of injuries so far.
1:33 PM: SFD confirms no one is hurt. They’ve searched the building and report it “all clear.”
1:40 PM: SFD has declared the fire “tapped” (out). They’ll be investigating the cause and starting to dismiss units.
ADDED FRIDAY: “Investigators ruled the fire was accidental. Likely caused by faulty electrical,” SFD spokesperson David Cuerpo tells WSB.
5:36 PM: Delridge/Orchard is blocked right now because of this crash. It was originally reported as caused by a hit-run driver in a “dark pickup,” and a bicycle rider was reported injured. We’ll be following up with SFD, but in the meantime, avoid the intersection.
6:19 PM: Still blocking the west side of the intersection.
Two notes about West Seattle encampments:
BEHIND HOME DEPOT: A texter reported that it looked like city crews were engaged in a cleanup at this encampment today, and on behalf of the Unified Care Team, city spokesperson Callie Craighead confirms it:
The area behind the Home Depot on Delridge was resolved today with tents and debris cleared. Over the last several months our contracted outreach partners have been engaging with the individuals residing at this encampment and at the time of resolution, 4 out of 5 offers of shelter were accepted.
This encampment has had multiple fire responses, including a big one this past spring.
SCHMITZ PRESERVE PARK: Multiple readers have reported an encampment inside Schmitz Preserve Park (one of whom sent the photo above), and wondered what the city plans to do about it. Nothing yet, Craighead told us:
UCT is actively monitoring the reported encampment at Schmitz Preserve Park. UCT uses an objective prioritization matrix based on health, safety, and accessibility hazards and shelter availability. Based on the current size and impact of this encampment, it is not scheduled for resolution at this time. We will continue to monitor the area and asses the site for resolution based on changing conditions and the availability of resources.
This time police are searching for a robber on Delridge Way, using a K-9 team. This holdup is reported to have happened in the 7100 block of Delridge – which would be the gas station on the northeast corner of Delridge/Orchard – at 11:11 pm. The robber is described as a white man, 20 to 30, 5’6″, blue face mask, white puffer jacket, and dark jeans. Call 911 if you have any info.
Though the rain hasn’t brought the salmon into Fauntleroy Creek yet, they’ve been seen in Longfellow Creek. The photo above is from John McIntyre, who reports, “Salmon have returned to Longfellow Creek. You can see them at the bridge by West Seattle Fitness if you look south below the large fallen tree trunk that crosses the creek.” That’s the Yancy Street creek overlook, Bonus photo from Longfellow Creek, Manuel Valdes spotted this Great Blue Heron – possibly mulling meal plans:
By Jason Grotelueschen
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
As you’ll notice in the top-left of the photo above, behind the pumpkin patch there is another new addition to the Ounces area: smash-burger vendor Burbs Burgers, which as we reported last month has relaunched and expanded into West Seattle, and it’s now open for business in the portion of the property where food trucks had previously set up:
West Seattleite Bersain Gutierrez is the new owner of Burbs, and told us that business has been solid since they opened as part of Ounces’ Oktoberfest event earlier this month, and said that they plan to be open on same days/times that Ounces is open (6 days per week).
Gutierrez said their most popular signature items are the “Special B” smash burger on a pretzel bun, and the “Burbs Dog” loaded hot dog:
Burbs’ posted menu:
Business hours for Ounces are:
Mon: Closed
Tues: 4-9pm
Wed: 4-9pm
Thu: 4-9pm
Fri: 3-10pm
Sat: 2-9pm
Sun: 12-7pm
Another city bridge-resurfacing project that started in late July is now complete: The deck replacement for the Salmon Bone Bridge across Longfellow Creek in North Delridge. Shortly after Manuel sent these photos (thank you!) with word the bridge was open again, we also got an announcement from Seattle Public Utilities, which led the project. As explained in July, they replaced the decking material with something both enhancing pedestrian safety and more closely resembling artist Lorna Jordan‘s original design:
The new surface is a “weathering steel” product called Cordeck Dots. Meantime, another reason to visit the bridge besides checking out the new surface – we heard unofficial word that salmon spawners have been spotted!
(WSB photos)
We’ve mentioned the Delridge Farmers’ Market (in and around the courtyard at 9421 18th SW; WSB sponsor) every Saturday, but haven’t visited since early in the season, so we just went over to see what’s fresh and what’s new in its final weeks. It’s still brimming with fresh-grown vegetables and fruit, plus prepared food, flowers, and some extras (more on that in a minute). The newer vendors include King’s Mozzarella:
They have Mexican-style quesos as well as different varieties of mozzarella – including habanero, for heat lovers. (What they’re selling today, they made just yesterday!) Next door, Indian ice cream by Sookh:
You can get a bowl to enjoy at the market (there’s seating) or order pints to take home. Today’s flavors include Saffron Pistachio, Alphonso Mango, Cardamom Soy Sauce Caramel, and Turmeric Milk and Pumpkin, Many of the vendors with whom we spoke are from South King County, but yet another newer vendor brought mushrooms all the way from the Olympic Peninsula:
Grower Zach has multiple varieties, including blue oyster, lion’s mane, and enoki. Steps away from his table are vendors offering the fall bounty of greens and roots:
That’s today’s list from Umoja N’Inguvu, growing in Kent, as does Nhia with Blooms and Greens next door – you’ll find collards, red kale, parsley, more.
The market, managed by African Community Housing and Development, not only helps BIPOC growers and prepared-food providers reach buyers, but it also fights food insecurity with a free-food program. And we’re told that on the last market day of the year, October 26, they’ll be giving away 125 frozen halal whole chickens. Visit and you might find nonfood surprises (today, on the south side of the market, you can get a chiropractic adjustment). The market is open until 2 pm today – and then the last two markets before fall/winter break are 10 am-2 pm October 19 and 26.
After summer, before the winter holidays, it’s prime time for nonprofits’ fundraising celebrations. Coming up in less than three weeks, DNDA – which works on art, nature, and affordable housing – invites you to Destination Delridge! Here’s the announcement:
Join us for an unforgettable evening at Delridge Neighborhoods Development Association’s *Destination Delridge* fundraiser! Mark your calendars for October 5th, 6-9 pm, and get ready for a night of fun at Youngstown Cultural Arts Center’s newly renovated Thelma DeWitty theater and dance studio.
This year’s event is a *Casino Night* theme featuring real casino games like Craps, Roulette, Spanish 21, Texas Hold ‘Em, and Blackjack! Enjoy live Jazz music, raffle, live auction and a silent auction with incredible local prizes (think sports tickets and gear, Spirit making classes, NotOccult tattoo sessions, pet and self-care baskets – and so much more!), plus a delicious selection of local foods made by Black-owned businesses, a dessert bar, and an open bar.
We’ve worked hard to make this event accessible to everyone in the community. That’s why we’ve reduced ticket prices to just $50 and are also offering free community tickets (while they last)! All proceeds will support DNDA’s vital work in the neighborhood. So gather your friends and family, and let’s celebrate this beautiful space together!
Head to WWW.DNDA.org/DESTINATION to reserve your spot and be sure to share with your networks. We can’t wait to see you there!
The event venue – which also holds DNDA’s HQ – is at 4408 Delridge Way SW.
8:52 PM: Police are investigating two armed robberies reported in Delridge minutes apart in the past half-hour – whether they’re related is not yet clear. Here’s the early information via police radio – the first one was a street robbery near Delridge/Findlay; the robber is described as Black, male, late teens, braces, black beanie, Nike jacket, dark shoes. The second one was reported to have happened at the Delridge/Andover Subway shop, with two robbers, described as Black, male, 20s, 6′, thin, both in black masks, one with a black hoodie, one in a red hoodie. A K-9 team is joining at least one of the searches, so people in the area will be hearing some “siren trips” (a required warning). If you have any information, call 911. (The robbery near Delridge/Findlay is SPD incident 24-263019, the one near Delridge/Andover is 24-263022.)
10:14 PM: No luck in the searches here but South Precinct police are now investigating a robbery in which the robbers match the description of the two in the Subway holdup here. They might be associated with a vehicle described as a white RAV-4.
ADDED MONDAY AFTERNOON: Police summaries reveal a few more details:
-The street robbery victim reported being held up at gunpoint after they got off a Metro bus in the 5400 block of Delridge. They said they were rushed by the robber, who pointed a gun at the and demanded their earbuds.
-Four minutes later, the robbery at Subway was reported. Police say the robbers pointed a gun at an employee and demanded money from the till; they also got away with the employee’s wallet containing cash, cards, and ID.
(File photos courtesy Cascadia Fresh Market)
Back in May, the West Seattle couple who own Cascadia Produce opened a small grocery store meant to be an oasis in the North Delridge “food desert” – Cascadia Fresh Market (5444 Delridge Way SW). They said they planned a pilot – test run – to see if the community would embrace this neighborhood spot to shop for affordable, nourishing food. Recently we asked co-proprietor Jill Moore what happened and what’s next. She provided this detailed, and hopeful, update, including big news:
Cascadia Fresh Market opened in May of this year with the goal of exploring our “fresh-food bodega” concept on the food-desert neighborhood of North Delridge through the end of August 2024. In that time, we hoped to show that people desired healthier food conveniently located to them and would change their habits to shop there. We also partnered with schools to engage local elementary school communities in introducing good, affordable food to kids and families, and pursued programs like SNAP/EBT, Fresh Bucks, and partnership with the West Seattle Food Bank to make sure all fresh food is utilized to its highest potential.
So How Did It Go?
It was a mixed bag. But most of the things that fell out of the bag were good. There were victories, failures, and a lot of rapid learning. We are more certain than ever that we want to nurture this market space in our community. However, we didn’t achieve consistent profitability during the initial pilot. The people that shop with us are enthusiastic about the mission, the value, and the atmosphere. There is a real value proposition for them – save money, shop conveniently, and support kids in their community all in one fell swoop. But the Fresh Market needs additional shoppers to achieve long-term viability. With margins on produce and grocery items low, many transactions are required to turn the profit necessary to support overhead. We know more time is required to build that shopper base – and that is the big announcement here today.
Cascadia Fresh Market OPEN and in Talks to Extend Pilot
Cascadia Fresh Market is seeking more time in the space to determine if our market experiment is a success. We are in discussion to extend our time in the 5444 Delridge Way SW space until at least June of 2025, so that we can properly establish and assess the business’ future. The new lease/dates have not been finalized yet, but this is our direction and the landlord seems open to this new timeline and mutually beneficial agreement.
Tenders EBT/SNAP and Fresh Bucks Now Accepted
We recently got both SNAP and Fresh Bucks implemented in the Fresh Market – we do hope that will lead new shoppers to the market and push us into sustainability. We are looking for ways to make this known more widely, as well as our daily hours (10 – 7 pm). Our goals during the extended pilot period will include keeping prices low, while bringing in key local foods including ready-made grab n go selections from local food entrepreneurs who also wish to reduce food waste and feed more people. Cascadia Fresh Market will partner our faces off with schools and business and institutions and care facilities – anywhere where people are, there should be access to good food. We are working new programs with West Seattle preschools and elementary schools that include experiential learning about nutrition and food access for vulnerable families. We hope to partner with local senior living facilities and medical institutions to bring fresh food access to communities with limited transportation as well.
The Fresh Market is open every day from 10 am – 7 pm on Delridge.
If any small business can do this, we can. Cascadia Produce is a wholesale food access company with a warehouse and a small fleet of trucks based in Auburn. We (Jeremy and Jill, owners) live 650 steps from the market front door. From our vantage point, there is no shortage of food and no logistical hurdles preventing us from bringing right-size quantities to North Delridge. Our business has all of the resources needed to keep a neighborhood market stocked with good food consistently. We care enough to fine tune and learn new skills (like marketing!). Cascadia Fresh Market has a solid shot at being a sustainable independent business come June.
The Ask: Start at Cascadia Fresh Market and shop out.
If you value convenient grocery shopping in an urban food desert and want to see independent markets flourish and proliferate, we have an ask for you: Will you start your shopping at the Fresh Market and then “shop out” to other retailers as necessary? Try it for a few weeks and see if it works for you/your family. In return for this routine change, we will make sure we always have a wide selection of staple and exciting things at affordable prices. The more people shop, the more variety we can bring in. Express your food preferences to the staff and we will seek the foods that are important to you. This market is in the process of tailoring itself to fit the contours of the community and you can help shape that.
Where even is the Fresh Market?
One of our barriers has been that our storefront is hard to notice from the street. We are on Delridge, but mid-block in the base of a building. Young trees in the parking strip and median are the perfect height to obscure signage and cause cars and busses to pass in a blur without noticing the cool new market in town. Find our sunny little market in the shade of the building at 5444 Delridge Way SW. Cascadia Fresh Market is just south of the Delridge Library, just north of Sree’s gas station, on the East (opposite) side of Delridge Way. There is nearly always open parking directly in front of the store. Other nearby landmarks: the Rapid Ride H line stop on the corner of Findlay and Delridge (same side of the street), Pho Aroma, or any of the small restaurants in the KBM commissary kitchen. All of these locations are within a stone’s throw of our storefront.
Full grocery, full tummy, full heart.
The Fresh Market doesn’t just have veg – we always have staples like eggs, milk, rice, beans, yogurt, etc. We also have spices and drinks (cold brew, kombucha, soda, flavored milks, the works) and all sorts of snacks (ice cream, cookies, chips, pizzas, and more).
The Fresh Market aims to weave together a better, stronger food culture in North Delridge – one that is
inclusive and easy and a place every person looks forward to visiting. There are wide aisles for those
with mobility challenges, and lo-fi games to occupy kids for a few moments of rare shopping peace.
Free Fridge Overflow-eth
Before there was a Free Fridge there was Carrot Man’s Carrot Stand on 25 th . Our family put out free produce during the pandemic and our neighbors didn’t let anything sit long! Everyone felt welcome and excited for free food, even if it needed a little rehab (aka, to be put in a glass of water for a few hours). This resource has simply moved to the refrigerator inside the Fresh Market. It’s not much farther away and everyone is welcome to utilize the fridge. It often sits super full for days. We would rather people take the items immediately so that they are in the best possible shape. The West Seattle Food Bank has sponsored our Free Fridge and together we want you to know – FREE FRESH FOOD IS AVAILABLE EVERY DAY at the Fresh Market. It’s usually fruit and vegetables, but other items make their way there as well. Come check it out. It’s okay to bring a pet on a leash into the Fresh Market.
Cascadia Fresh Market took over the space where Delridge Grocery Co-op ended its retail run last spring.
8:30 PM: For those asking about the big police response along Delridge Way just south on SW Thistle – police were dealing with what was logged as a person-in-crisis situation at an apartment complex. The man at the heart of it was armed. He’s been taken into custody and police recovered the gun. He’ll be taken to Harborview for a mental-health evaluation, according to emergency radio.
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: From the SPD summary of the incident:
At (6:44 pm), Officers responded to a crisis call located at the 8400 BLK of Delridge Wy SW. The details of the call indicated that there was a male in crisis with a firearm saying that he can see clowns and ninjas and that he wanted to hurt them. Officers arrived and contacted the subject on the phone. Officers contained the apartment building. The subject was initially inside of his apartment, but he decided to exit and continuously knock on his neighbor’s door. The subject damaged his apartment windows. Officers also contacted the complainant to determine if a crime was committed. … The subject eventually came outside, and he was placed in handcuffs. Officers recovered three BB guns that looked like real firearms. The subject was transported to the hospital on an (Involuntary Treatment Act commitment).
Teja is looking for help finding the hit-run driver who killed their dog:
On Friday (23rd) at 9.45 pm, a red car traveling pretty fast hit and killed our little dog and did not stop.
Not much of an image, however, I was able to screen shot this from our neighbors’ CCTV. It’s all I was able to find unfortunately. Anyone with CCTV on Delridge Way SW (near the Chevron and the other two gas stations down the road), would most certainly have captured something as I’m sure the car would have travelled up the road. Car was going south along Delridge Way SW (toward the Chevron gas station) and actual point of the road where the hit happened was outside of 6527 Delridge Way SW.
If you have any information – and/or video – that might help, the SPD incident number is 24-238482.
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