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REOPENING: Full Tilt Ice Cream reopens in White Center tomorrow, four months post-fire
January 17, 2022 7:59 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

(West Seattle Blog/White Center Now photos)

Four months after the fire that gutted the Locker Room Bar and Grill, one of the other White Center businesses affected is about to reopen: Full Tilt Ice Cream‘s flagship location at 9629 16th SW reopens tomorrow (Tuesday, January 18th). We stopped by this evening as they finished getting ready.

That wall is an example of what had to be fixed before Full Tilt could reopen – firefighters had to break through it while working to stop the September fire. And they’re two doors down from Locker Room; the damage was even worse at neighboring Huong Xua Deli and, on the other side of Locker Room, Bizzarro Italian Café. No updates on them yet (Bizzarro is still open in Wallingford). Full Tilt will reopen with a few new touches – like this Simpsons-themed pinball machine:

Hours will be the same as pre-fire – 3 to 8 pm.

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White Center water break blamed for Highland Park trouble too
January 9, 2022 7:46 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Highland Park | Utilities | West Seattle news | White Center

The photos are from a water-main break in White Center that is being blamed for trouble including discolored water in Highland Park. The photos are from Tom, who told us via email: “We had a water main break down here in White Center right in front of Mount View Elementary. All of 12th north of the school down to 106th was flooded. I think that the water was also flowing down to Coronado Springs but I never had a chance to see how bad it was down there. Most of us on 12th were pretty busy trying to keep the water out of our houses to limited success. Crews are tearing up the street now to repair and all of us have had our water shut off.”

In Highland Park, residents reporting brown water to Seattle Public Utilities (always call it in to 206-386-1800) report they were told the White Center break is to blame. The SPU water-outage map says it started just before 6 pm.

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CRIME WATCH: Seen this stolen company box truck?
December 18, 2021 11:05 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

Stolen from White Center, but Peyton sent this report and photo to ask for watchful eyes on both sides of the city-limits line:

*STOLEN VEHICLE**
White Ford box truck with 2 LED lights on back and extendable ladder on the side
License plate- C95272L

My dad Sean Sullivan woke up yesterday morning 12/16 to an unimaginable nightmare – his work truck was gone. It was parked in White Center off 14th and 100th in front of the old La Mexicana building. One unit south of WestSide Baby. It was holding an estimated 50-100k worth of tools and equipment. My father started his company about 7 years ago and has worked extremely hard to grow both his company and the tools he had stored in his truck. This is his daily work truck so it had an extensive amount of his important tools as well as his daily working tools, excess parts, extra wire, hundreds of breakers, just about anything you can imagine you would need as an electrical contractor was in this truck. We are hoping someone may have seen or heard something. I can only imagine the heartache my father is feeling having lost what seems like his livelihood..especially with the holiday season right around the corner! If you have any leads or think you may have seen or heard something, please reach out to myself or my father! The police were (alerted) and there is an open case C-21040633 with King County Sheriffs.

Sullivan Electric LLC
Peyton- 425-312-4461
Sean- 206-419-8884

If you see it, also call 911.

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From White Center Now: New restaurant for former Taradise Café space
December 7, 2021 10:57 am
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | White Center

One of the vacant spaces on 16th SW in White Center won’t be vacant much longer. Last night on partner site White Center Now, we reported that the former Taradise Café space at 9808 16th SW – closed since last summer, a few weeks before its proprietor Tara Eckman Scott died – has a new tenant, Que Chevere will be a “Latino fusion” restaurant and bar – with an emphasis on the food, proprietor Felipe Maqueda tells us. See the full story here.

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VIDEO: Meet the newly renamed Dub Sea Fish Sticks, White Center’s summer collegiate-baseball team
December 2, 2021 11:54 am
|      9 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center | WS & Sports

We’re just back from the Edgewater Hotel on the downtown waterfront, where the owner of the former Highline Bears summer collegiate baseball team (a WSB sponsor) chose a maritime setting for the ceremonial reveal of the team’s new name: Dub Sea Fish Sticks. Back in October, we reported that the team had narrowed a field of 200+ suggestions down to two finalists. 5,400+ votes later, Dub Sea Fish Sticks emerged victorious (not surprising, given the reaction to the other finalist, Dub Sea Seal Slingers). Here’s our video of the announcement event hosted by team owner Justin Moser:

The slicker-clad fisherman is just a temporary mascot, Moser says – there’ll be a naming contest soon for the permanent mascot, too.

But the new nickname for the team’s home field, Mel Olson Stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, will, well, stick.

And Moser promised fish sticks will be offered at the concession stand.

The team usually plays home and away games June, July, and early August, but missed the past two summers because of the pandemic. Opening day for next summer is set for June 4th. If you want to be notified when tickets go on sale, join the list at the team’s new website, GoFishSticks.com.

SIDE NOTE: This isn’t just about sports – the team says it’s helped local groups and nonprofits raise $10,000 over the past five years, and the players are required to do volunteer work every week during the season.

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WestSide Baby welcomes 1 million more diapers to address bottomless need
November 17, 2021 9:20 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB photo)

What a relief! WestSide Baby has welcomed shipments totaling 1 million diapers this past week, partly thanks to pandemic relief – with $225,000 received from the City of Seattle’s Coronavirus Local Fiscal Recovery Fund Diaper Distribution program. We were at the West Seattleite-founded nonprofit’s White Center hub this morning as the final installment arrived. Yet as impressive as a million diapers sounds, the need is even greater.

(WSB photo)

Last year alone, WestSide Baby provided families with a record-high number of diapers – 2.4 million. Executive director Sarah Cody Roth notes, “In King County, 23% of families could not afford enough diapers and the devastating economic impacts of COVID have only widened that gap.” The nonprofit has strong community support, but the city contribution has made a huge difference. West Seattle/South Park City Councilmember Lisa Herbold, who chairs the Public Safety and Human Services Committee, calls WS Baby “a regional treasure … helping low-income families survive through the pandemic.” Also invaluably helpful, WestSide Baby says, was its WC neighbor La Mexicana, which temporarily donated warehouse space to help store all those diapers. Now they’re racing to distribute them quickly!

(WestSide Baby photo)

That photo’s from a delivery in High Point. “We have never done anything this big before – we are coordinating the distribution of 700,000 diapers over the next 4 weeks, one of the quickest and largest distributions we have ever done, all in response to emergency need this winter,” said Will Owen, WS Baby’s donation and logistics manager.

Here’s how you can help: Support WS Baby’s holiday-season JOY campaign – have a diaper drive, donate to one, and/or donate money so the purchases – and distributions! – can continue. Follow the link to see what else is on their most-needed list – such as winter coats, warm hats and gloves, and baby hygiene items.

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BIZNOTE: New White Center restaurant opens Saturday
November 4, 2021 7:43 pm
|      14 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | White Center

(Also published on partner site White Center Now)

Thanks for the tips! The sign’s been up for months at 9602 16th SW – now finally The Roll Pod is about to get rolling. The Indian fast-food mini-chain says its White Center location will open its doors this Saturday (November 6th) at 6 pm. Hours will be 11 am to 8:30 pm, 7 days a week. You can preview the menu here. This will be the fifth incarnation for the space in less than five years – 3.14 Bakery, Brass Knuckle Bistro, Biscuit Bitch, and Bloom Bistro.

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VIDEO: Costumes on the run @ West Seattle Monster Dash Family Fun Event
October 23, 2021 11:19 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | West Seattle schools | White Center

Though the full West Seattle Monster Dash 5K is “virtual” again this year, the in-person Kids’ Dash/Family Fun Event is happening right now, until 1 pm. We were at the White Center Cooperative Preschool play area (10806 12th Ave SW) for the first of several “dashes” they planned to run today.

This is a chance to show off your costume. Parents too!

There’s a registration fee, which benefits the nonprofit West Seattle Cooperative Preschools, and includes a Monster Dash T-shirt.

Follow the signs to the back of the school and you can’t miss the canopies. Kids can do crafts as well as participate in the dash (five laps around the sport court).

P.S. As noted in our morning preview, there’s still time – through Halloween – to register for the virtual 5K and enter the drawing for a jersey that the Sounders fan in your life would love. (Here’s how.)

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RENAME THE TEAM! You can vote on two options for former Highline Bears
October 13, 2021 11:35 am
|      25 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center | WS & Sports

Here’s your chance to rename a baseball team! The White Center-based (former) Highline Bears announced earlier this year they were pursuing a new name. Now it’s down to the final two, and they’re inviting you to help choose. From today’s announcement:

Today the Highline Bears summer collegiate baseball team announced the final two possible new team names. The final names are the DubSea Seal Slingers and the DubSea Fish Sticks. The team will now let the community vote online for which name they want to see on the field next summer. Fans can vote online at RenameOurTeam.com, and they can also vote by pre-ordering merchandise of the logo and team name they like best. Voting will remain open for four weeks and the final team name will be announced on November 15th.

Back in June the team announced they would be renaming the team and ran a “Name the Team” contest for 2 weeks. After receiving more than 200 entries, they flew in the baseball-branding company Brandiose. The branding company has helped name dozens of teams in minor league baseball over the past fifteen years, including the Rocket City Trash Pandas and Armadillo Sod Poodles. While in town in July they canvassed the area, ran community focus groups, and brainstormed with the team about what direction they should go. Over the course of the past three months the team has been working on narrowing down all the fan entries, checking trademark statuses on potential names and developing the final two brands,

The team plays more than two dozen games during regular summers (not the past two years, though) with a 40-player roster of college players from around the country, who stay with host families during the season. Their home field is Mel Olson Stadium at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center.

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New leader for White Center Food Bank
October 7, 2021 9:00 am
|      1 COMMENT
 |   West Seattle news | White Center

The White Center Food Bank, which also serves part of south West Seattle, has a new executive director, though she’s not new to the WCFB. Here’s the announcement we received this morning:

The White Center Food Bank Board of Directors has announced Carmen Smith as the new Executive Director of the organization.

Carmen joined us in February 2017 as Community Outreach Manager where she worked her way up through organization development and community engagement division before moving into an Associate Executive Director and then Interim Executive Director for the last several months. Carmen comes to us with a robust background in food equity. From her experience working with international hunger relief organizations to grassroots nonprofits in food justice, she knows that relationships are the most vital part of any organization. Carmen has her Master’s in Public Administration from the Maxwell School. As the Executive Director, she brings this understanding to nurture invaluable partnerships for the White Center Food Bank. The WCFB is amidst several projects, including finding a new location, Carmen’s leadership in this important work has already proven invaluable.

“On behalf of the Board of Directors, please join us in welcoming Carmen to her new role as the Executive Director. Her passion and dedication to the work at hand is obvious and inspiring.” said Gabbi Gonzales, White Center Food Bank Board President.

(Photo from whitecenterfoodbank.org)

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YOU CAN HELP: Crowdfunding for White Center’s fire-damaged Huong Xua Deli
September 25, 2021 7:47 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB/WCN photo, September 13th)

Less than two weeks after the 3-alarm fire that destroyed the closed Locker Room in downtown White Center, its neighbor to the north, Huong Xua Deli, is still struggling to recover from damage. (Our photo above shows what it looked like inside hours after the fire.) So their neighbors to the north, Full Tilt Ice Cream proprietors Justin Cline and Ann Magyar, have launched a crowdfunding page for community donations to help Huong Xua reopen. The page features this message from the deli’s owners:

My name is Kevin Bui and my wife is Phuong Nguyen. I came to the US when I was young. Growing up, I didn’t have that many opportunities and wealth. I had to work to support me and my family. Even through the struggle, our culture brings happiness and everybody together. That is why I wanted to open a small business to share some cultural foods such as Bánh Mì, Bún Bò Huế, thịt Heo Quay (Roasted Pork) and many more foods. When we inherited the business from the previous owners, everything was still the same but got slower from the pandemic. Not too long ago, our Roasted Pork Sandwich got rated #1 as the best Bánh Mì in the Puget Sound from The Seattle Times. I could say this was a blessing. Our business got more customers coming from all over the state. Everything was going well until a fire that was spread to our Deli. There were 3 fires that happened in a span of 5 months, but this time, Hương Xưa Deli was affected and damaged by the water and fire retardant. Our friendly neighbor from Full Tilt, started this fundraiser to help us rebuild our deli. Our family’s income depends on this business. Anything will help, thank you all for your support, I hope we can rebuild a new Deli as soon as possible located in the spot where we are right now to serve to our lovely community in White Center.

You can donate by going here.

P.S. Bizzarro Italian Café, south of the Locker Room, remains closed too (their Wallingford location remains open). King County Sheriff’s Office spokesperson Sgt. Tim Meyer told us that investigators believe “smoking material” started the fire, as was the case with the April fire that closed the Locker Room.

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UPDATE: 3-alarm fire in downtown White Center
September 13, 2021 5:44 am
|      47 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | White Center

(Added: Video by @houndoomer on Twitter. Language caution)

ORIGINAL REPORT, 5:44 AM: Another big fire callout in downtown White Center, and Seattle Fire units from West Seattle are being sent to help. 16th SW is being blocked south of Roxbury. We’re on our way to find out more.

(WSB/WCN photos/video)

5:58 AM: As our first photo shows, the logged address is correct – the old Locker Room Tavern at 9633 16th SW, damaged by fire back in April.

6:10 AM: No word yet if anyone was injured, or if the adjacent businesses are damaged.

(Video added)
This is the third major commercial-building fire in White Center in a little over two months, after the July 5th fire that gutted seven businesses a bit further north on 16th SW (ruled arson) and the fire at the old Atlas Electric building on September 1st (still under investigation).

6:18 AM: The fire’s not out yet – still visible flames and smoke inside the building.

6:34 AM: Public-information officers on scene say this is a 3-alarm fire – they’ve called in the extra help because of the proximity of other businesses. (video added, briefing by PIO Pat Pawlak:)

They’re working to try to keep it from spreading to the adjacent businesses (Bizzarro Italian Café to the south, Huong Xua Deli to the north). No injuries reported.

8:07 AM: After a break to return to HQ to upload video, our crew is back at the fire scene. Some of the responding units have been dismissed. We talked to a Bizzarro Italian Café rep, who says they’re closed Mondays anyway so they’ll be evaluating any effects. Same goes for Full Tilt Ice Cream two doors down – owner Justin Cline tells us there’s some water damage but they’re also usually closed Mondays, so they have time to deal with it. 16th, meantime, is likely to stay closed another two hours or so.

9:04 AM: Lot of cleanup to be done inside Huong Xua (above). Meantime, more than three hours after the fire started, firefighters are still on scene:

12:08 PM: 16th SW has reopened.

12:35 PM: We just checked back with Fire District spokesperson Shauna Sheppard: No cause determined yet.

1:31 PM: Another update from Sheppard: Early indications are that the fire was NOT deliberately set, but the investigation continues.

8:56 PM: We went by tonight; Bizzarro (whose website says they’ll be closed “a few weeks”) and Huong Xua are both boarded up, and the Locker Room is simply rubble. A commenter posted this link to a crowdfunding page for the Locker Room’s proprietors, saying they were about to start rebuilding from the April fire damage.

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UPDATE: 2-alarm fire in White Center
September 1, 2021 8:44 am
|      27 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | White Center

(Added: Video by Rob Jacobs, just before firefighters arrived)

FIRST REPORT, 8:44 AM: Thanks for the tips. There’s a big fire in White Center – the fire-response log says it’s a 2-alarm commercial fire near 17th SW and SW 98th [map]. Homes are being evacuated west of there. We’re on our way to find out more; avoid that area.

8:55 AM: We’re on scene. This is the long-vacant commercial building between the Gerber auto shop and dental office.

9:10 AM: No reports of injuries so far.

9:21 AM: We talked to firefighters at the scene, Most of this is “knocked down” but there’s one hot spot in debris inside the building that’s still smoldering, so that’s where their attention is now. They confirm no one is hurt. Meantime, checking property records, the exact address for the building is 9811 17th SW.

9:39 AM: The building’s past incarnations include Atlas Electric and the White Center News newspaper; it was listed for sale last year and sold early this year.

10:05 AM: Thanks to the readers who note this building also caught fire two years ago; we covered that on our partner site White Center Now – the 2019 fire was ruled arson, We’ll be checking back at today’s scene in a bit.

11 AM: Just back from there. Still smoldering; streets still blocked. The Gerber auto shop next door is closed while they assess potential damage, as the north end of their building is adjacent to the one that burned.

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PHOTOS: White Center Block Party to fund fire recovery
August 29, 2021 1:12 pm
|      3 COMMENTS
 |   How to help | West Seattle news | White Center

1:12 PM: That’s the scene on 16th SW south of Roxbury, closed for a block party until 5 pm to raise money for the half-dozen-plus businesses affected by last month’s arson, as mentioned on today’s preview list. Eat, drink, shop, wander – we’ll be updating.

1:42 PM: Just back from a quick tour of the block party – we’ll be adding photos shortly. First, some info: To get in on the raffle/silent auction, go to the breezeway by The Plant Store, midblock – that’s where we found DJ Bugzy Beatdown.

The entertainment schedule for the rest of the afternoon:

Now until 2:10 – selfdoubt
2:30-3:15: Junior on the Prowl
3:30-4:30 DJ DeVonne
5:00 DJ Bugzy Beatdown returns

That’s all midblock. You can also check out B.O.C. Music (3:30-4:30) and Monty Banks (5 pm) at Drunky Two Shoes and then at Southgate Roller Rink, DJ Dan Steely at 5 pm and Kids on Fire at 6 pm.

Another big attraction besides street-fair-style shopping, food.

There’s a seating area in the middle of 16th where Chef Brady Ishiwata Williams, who’s about to open Tomo, is grilling.

You can also dine outside Buho and Bizzarro Italian Café.

At the south end of the block, the Home Skillit is offering street food including Louisiana hot links and Seattle Dogs.

This is all community-organized; we talked to White Center Pride about what people can do to support the businesses that are still working to get back on their feet.

Come down today, wander around, find out about the new locations some have found, they said. (Their booth is on the east side of the block – look for the rainbows.) Some of those new locations are already open – La Tipica Oaxaqueña moved to the southwest corner of 16th/Roxbury – and some hope to be open soon, like John’s Hair and Nails, moving to 10261 16th SW.

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UPDATE: Man shot, killed by Seattle Police serving warrant in White Center
August 5, 2021 6:03 pm
|      31 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | West Seattle police | White Center

6:03 PM: Seattle Police SWAT was serving an arrest warrant in White Center near 20th and 100th when shots were fired. We don’t know yet who fired but the person who was shot was described as a suspect. We are at the scene and will update.

6:06 PM: If you’re in the area, police have set off a ‘flashbang’ before entering the house to see if anyone else is inside. The shooting happened outside.

6:17 PM: The person who was shot has been taken to the hospital. (Correction: Police later said he was declared dead at the scene.) Officers are now searching the residence. The area’s been taped off, including SW 100th.

6:42 PM: SPD Chief Adrian Diaz is here. Officers are still trying to ensure the house is clear.

6:55 PM: They’ve set off another flashbang, to try to rouse anyone inside. Now a TV helicopter’s in the area.

7:24 PM: We and other media are awaiting a briefing from an SPD public-information officer.

7:55 PM: SPD says the person shot by officers has died. They confirm they had gone to the house to arrest a suspect in a Seattle murder case from earlier this year. Assistant Chief Deanna Nollette said the man who was shot and killed had come out of the house with a gun and it appears he shot first; they are not yet confirming that the man they shot is the one they were there to arrest. We recorded the briefing on video and will upload it shortly. (Added: Here’s the video.)

The distinction that the warrant was for a Seattle case is important because it rules out the recent unsolved White Center/North Highline murders – those were outside the city limits.

MIDNIGHT: SPD Blotter says the man who was shot was 22 years old and was the suspect officers had gone there to arrest.

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WEEKEND PREVIEW: ‘Peace Peloton’ bicycle ride Saturday from Columbia City to White Center
July 29, 2021 6:21 pm
|    Comments Off on WEEKEND PREVIEW: ‘Peace Peloton’ bicycle ride Saturday from Columbia City to White Center
 |   Fun stuff to do | West Seattle news | White Center

One year ago, we covered the start of a “Peace Peloton” bicycle ride from Alki to the Northwest African-American Museum. Peace Peloton rides have continued, in support of Black-owned businesses and economic justice, and West Seattle neighbor Katelyn, a PP event organizer, wants to make sure you know about a ride this Saturday (July 31st) from Columbia City to White Center – so in case you haven’t seen it already in the WSB West Seattle Event Calendar, here’s the flyer! Riders will stage at The Patio in Columbia City between 3 and 5, then take off for White Center – a seven-mile ride – at about 5:15 pm, ending at Beer Star (16th/98th). The RSVP link is on this page.

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From White Center Now: Celebration of Life this Saturday for Tara Eckman Scott
July 13, 2021 7:49 pm
|      10 COMMENTS
 |   Obituaries | West Seattle news | White Center

On Monday, on our partner site White Center Now, we reported on the death of 51-year-old Tara Eckman Scott, proprietor of White Center’s Taradise Café. Since she lived in West Seattle and had previously worked at the long-gone, long-beloved Charlestown Café, some WSB readers suggested we report her passing here too. A memorial has been growing outside the Taradise, and tonight her family has announced a public celebration of life in the café parking lot for 4 pm Saturday (July 17th). The announcement also says they’re accepting donations (via Venmo) to keep the café going; as we noted in an earlier story on WCN, it has been closed for more than two weeks after a problem described as a basement flood.

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UPDATE: 16th closed south of Roxbury after driver hits gas line
July 9, 2021 6:07 pm
|      21 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | West Seattle traffic alerts | White Center

6:07 PM: King County Sheriff’s Deputies are blocking off 16th SW in White Center south of Roxbury after a report of a crash and possible gas leak at 16th/98th. Updates to come.

6:24 PM: Deputies have just told dispatch “the gas is off” but the closure will continue for a little while until Puget Sound Energy arrives. Our crew has just arrived and a fire captain tells us they’re talking with nearby businesses to get them to “air out” as the leaked gas dissipates.

6:39 PM: Added photo of the car that hit the gas line on the north side of Beer Star’s building.

6:50 PM: Deputies just told dispatch that all but the 16th/98th intersection can reopen; cleanup there will take a while longer.

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FOLLOWUP: White Center fire was arson, King County Sheriff’s Office now says
July 9, 2021 1:37 pm
|      13 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | White Center

(WSB/WCN photo, Monday)

1:37 PM: Thanks for the tips. We’ve confirmed with the King County Sheriff’s Office that the fire which gutted the LumberYard Bar and seven other businesses in downtown White Center early Monday is now being investigated as arson. Though the original tentative determination was that it was likely accidental, KCSO spokesperson Sgt. Tim Meyer tells WSB that they received “new evidence” that led investigators to “reclassify it as arson.” Though the LumberYard has posted on social media that “This most likely is also a hate crime,” Sgt. Meyer would not speculate on a potential motive. Anyone with any information should contact KCSO.

1:50 PM: We went over to the fire scene to see if we could find out more; no one’s around, but we did photograph the signs asking for tips – 800-55-ARSON. That’s reiterated in this statement we’ve just received from the White Center Pride Committee:

The White Center Pride Committee is deeply disturbed and saddened to learn that the fire at The Lumberyard Bar on July 5th has reportedly been reclassified from an electrical fire to arson. The possibility of this being a hate crime targeted at an LGBTQI+ gathering space is also being investigated. Not only was The Lumberyard Bar destroyed, but also 7 other businesses, many of which were minority owned.

We will continue to stand with all of the businesses and individuals that were impacted by this horrible act. Our community is strong and will never back down in the face of adversity. We implore anyone with information to reach out to the King County Sheriff’s Office with any information at 206-263-2070 or 1-800-55-ARSON.

The fire broke out after 1 am on Monday. No injuries were reported. But along with the LumberYard, it devastated neighboring businesses The Boxing Gym, La Tipica Oaxaqueña, John’s Hair and Nails, Rat City Tattoo, Nuggi, and Dottie’s Doublewide.

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WHITE CENTER FIRE: Cleaning up and carrying on. Plus – ways you can help
July 6, 2021 9:04 pm
|      2 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | White Center

(Also published on partner site White Center Now)

(West Seattle Blog/White Center Now photos by Patrick Sand)

36+ hours after the devastating fire in the heart of White Center’s business district, we found determined business owners at work this afternoon, cleaning up and carrying on. Above, La Tipica Oaxaqueña was doing business outside their fire-damaged space.

Out front of the LumberYard Bar, where investigators say the fire started in the basement (though as of this afternoon they still hadn’t announced exactly how), we found proprietors Nathan and Michale:

They told us they’re grateful for the overwhelming support they’ve received, including crowdfunding that’s already maxed out at $100,000+. They told us they’re determined to stay in White Center, though they’re looking around for a new space.

Also seen on 16th: A county inspector:

The county was working to determine which spaces were safe to reoccupy and which were not. Those that aren’t will have to get an independent engineer to assess safety once repairs have been made.

HOW YOU CAN HELP: As mentioned above, the LumberYard has maxed out on GoFundMe – but other campaigns have not. Here are links:

*Here’s one for the Boxing Gym
*Here’s one for staff of the affected businesses
*Here’s one for Nuggi, a boba-tea shop that was opening soon
*Here’s one for La Tipica Oaxaqueña
*Here’s one for Dottie’s Doublewide (that page notes it had new owners who were preparing to reopen)
*Here’s one for John’s Hair and Nails
*Here’s one for Rat City Tattoo

Also benefiting the new owners of Dottie’s, Endolyne Joe’s in West Seattle (9261 45th SW) plans to donate 50 percent of its 4-9 pm proceeds this Thursday (July 8th).

Other fundraisers? Please let us know – westseattleblog@gmail.com – thank you!

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UPDATE: City, county team up to fight 2-alarm White Center fire; LumberYard Bar gutted, other businesses damaged
July 5, 2021 1:54 am
|      49 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle fires | West Seattle news | White Center

1:54 AM: Big Seattle Fire response for what’s described as a structure fire at 16th and Roxbury. We’re on our way to find out more.

(West Seattle Blog/White Center Now photos by Patrick Sand)

2:07 AM: The fire is being fought by King County units as well as SFD, per radio communication – we’re still waiting for word from our crew regarding the fire’s specific location, as the real-time log has not been updated beyond “16th/Roxbury.”

2:29 AM: The public-information officer on scene tells us it’s in the commercial building on the west side of 16th just south of Roxbury. Still trying to determine which business(es).

2:37 AM: Our photographer has confirmed the building that holds LumberYard Bar and Rat City Tattoo is involved. We’re told a city crew was first on scene of this – Engine 11 (based in Highland Park) was on a medical call a short distance north on 16th when someone ran up and told them a building was on fire.

3:10 AM: The fire’s not entirely out yet – firefighters are still dealing with hotspots and trying to ensure the fire hasn’t spread. No reports of injuries, and it’s too soon for the investigation to begin into the cause.

3:48 AM: Not out yet. Firefighters from multiple departments are still working on it from both sides of the building (16th and 17th). Of note: This is a 2-alarm fire, according to the public-information-officer team.

4:32 AM: The LumberYard’s Instagram feed notes it was closed Sunday night because of a power outage. We don’t know details of that outage, but the City Light map shows 32 customers now out in that area because of the fire, so this may affect businesses beyond the ones damaged by the fire itself. We’ll of course be following up.

ADDED 10:37 AM: We went back this morning – in the view above, you are looking into the building from the alley side. Fire crews are still there:

We talked to Chief Mike Marrs of Fire District 2, which includes North Highline and Burien. The investigator finally got into the building a few hours ago to try to determine the cause.

Other businesses to the north were damaged – including broken glass. Firefighters were expected to be on scene, with 16th remaining closed in that block, until noonish. We will check back again.

11:58 AM: As linked in comments, a crowdfunding campaign has been set up for the LumberYard.

1:45 PM: Fire District 2 public-information Shauna Sheppard says they do NOT believe this was caused by fireworks. So far they’ve traced the origin to the LumberYard’s basement, and they believe it was accidental, though the specific cause remains under investigation.

7:54 PM: Along with the crowdfunding link for the LumberYard, here are three others for those affected: For the Boxing Gym; for staff of the affected businesses; and for Nuggi, a boba-tea shop that was opening soon.

ADDED TUESDAY: More crowdfunding – this time for La Tipica Oaxaqueña, and for Dottie’s Doublewide (that page notes it had new owners who were preparing to reopen).

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From White Center Now: Take a swing at renaming a baseball team!
June 22, 2021 12:28 pm
|      4 COMMENTS
 |   West Seattle news | White Center | WS & Sports

(WCN/WSB photo from June 2019)

If you’ve gone to a Highline Bears baseball game at Steve Cox Memorial Park in White Center, you know it’s a fun time, more up-close-and-personal (and affordable) than a major-league matchup. The Bears have to play mostly on the road this year because of the pandemic but they’re taking the opportunity in the meantime to get ready for a re-branding: They’re looking for a new name, and accepting suggestions through the Fourth of July. The full story’s on our partner site White Center Now.

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From White Center Now: Shooting on 16th SW kills 2
June 11, 2021 4:11 pm
|      100 COMMENTS
 |   Crime | West Seattle news | White Center

(Texted photo)

4:11 PM: We’re covering this on partner site White Center Now but wanted to let you know here because deputies are blocking 16th SW in the heart of downtown White Center and may extend the closure to Roxbury: At least one person has been shot on 16th SW just south of SW 98th. No arrest reported so far. Updates to come.

4:39 PM: We’re continuing to update the WCN report; the investigation is likely to keep the center of downtown WC blocked for hours to come.

Multiple shell casings have been found and other apparent victims have shown up at Harborview Medical Center.

5:27 PM: Our crew is still at the scene and we expect a briefing soon by KCSO’s spokesperson; we’ll add the update on both sites when that happens. Also, if you’re noticing a helicopter in the area, that’s TV.

5:50 PM: KCSO’s Sgt. Tim Meyer confirms that, as we reported on WCN, four people were shot – and he says two have died. He would not confirm anything else, though, not even whether anyone was in custody. (Added – our video of his briefing:)

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