West Seattle, Washington
09 Saturday
The West Seattle Junction Association-presented Wine Walks have been a huge success – and now WSJA is expanding the concept. Tomorrow (Friday, December 1, 5-8 pm) brings the first Wine & Chocolate Walk event, happening in the “lower Junction” area, and we’re told tickets remain!
$20 gets you eight tastings of wine and/or chocolate. Under-21 participants are welcome too (no wine for them, though). Online ticket sales are over but tickets will be available at the check-in location, Bohemian Studios (Fauntleroy/Edmunds) – the official event page lists not only the participating wine and chocolate providers, but also the nearby “lower Junction” businesses where you’ll find them. This is the first event of this year’s Hometown Holidays festivities!
Still deciding what to do tonight? You can visit the Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) tasting room and try two just-released Washington red wines that are both new and not-so-new:
(Photo courtesy Viscon Cellars)
Winemaker Ben Viscon explains, “These are new vintages of some of our longtime customer favorites – our new 2021 Heart Box Red Merlot, and our 2021 Rhyme and Reason Syrah.” The Viscon Cellars tasting room – where you can also enjoy wine by the glass – is at 5910 California SW, open 5-9 pm tonight and 1 pm-6 pm tomorrow (Saturday, November 11).
(Photos by WSFB board member Nicole Lutomski)
The Hall at Fauntleroy was full of tastiness last night as the West Seattle Food Bank fundraiser Taste of West Seattle returned to its original format, with dozens of local food and beverage purveyors serving tastes and sips to attendees. While WSFB was the biggest winner of the night, some of the participants went home winners too, as attendees got the chance to vote on their favorites. WSFB development director Breanna Bushaw sent us the list:
Best Savory: Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes
Best Vegetarian: Aroy Mak Thai
Best Beverage: Aroy Mak Thai – yes, they won two!
Best Sweet: Dolcetta Artisan Sweets
Best Pour (Wine & Beer): Darby Winery
If you missed the event, you can of course support WSFB any time – here’s how.
Thanks for the tips. Almost four years after opening Nos Nos Coffee at Upton Flats in High Point (35th/Graham), Khalid Agour has sold the shop to his longtime coffee provider, QED Coffee. Contacted by email, QED’s Matt Greenfield explained why it’s been a low-key transition and what’s ahead:
Having worked as Nos Nos’s coffee partner for years, when Khalid approached us about taking over Nos Nos we were both excited and honored. Nos Nos has a special place in the community and my partner lives only a few blocks away, so it is also part of our personal neighborhood. We took over Nos Nos on somewhat short notice because we did not want to see it sold off to some random “no longer local” group.
In the short term we will be transitioning to QED signage in the next few weeks and will slowly be expanding Nos Nos’ beverage and food options. However, it is our intent to keep most of Nos Nos unchanged. We were lucky enough to retain the same kitchen staff and our in-house food options will continue to be the same.
So Nos Nos may be transitioning to QED, but we intend to retain the things that made Nos Nos the special place that it is.
QED actually had a West Seattle shop for a while last decade, in the space now occupied by (for a few more weeks) Youngstown Coffee.
P.S. Nos Nos founder Agour continues to work on an expansion of his original West Seattle establishment, Itto’s Tapas on the north end of The Junction (California/Genesee). He says that “will be more of a wine bar with different food than Itto’s.”
(WSB photo from 2019 Taste of West Seattle)
This year, the Taste of West Seattle – benefiting the West Seattle Food Bank – returns in its original format, one big event with dozens of food/drink purveyors offering “tastes” to attendees. Original venue, too – The Hall at Fauntleroy (9131 California SW). WSFB is now selling tickets for the Taste of WS, which is set for Thursday, September 28th. $125 VIP tickets get you in first, at 5:30 pm; $75 general admission starts at 6 pm. Here are the participants the WSFB has announced so far:
Aroy Mak Thai
Bakery Nouveau
Circa
Darby Winery
Dolcetta Artisan Sweets
Dream Dinners
Elliott Bay Brewing Co.
Ghostfish Brewing
Mission Cantina
Papa Tony’s Hot Sauce
Pecos Pit Bar-B-Que
Ringa
Seattle Sorbets
Shoshinbakery
Shug’s
Sopranos Antico
T2 Cellar
The Good Society Brewing Co
The Locöl Kitchen & Bar
Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes
Viscon Cellars
…and more to come!
It’s a 21+ event, and usually sells out, so if you’re interested, go here to get your ticket(s).
Thanks to Dave for the tip. A beloved West Seattle Junction business is entering a new chapter, with a change of ownership – though you could say it’s staying in the family. The Beer Junction‘s longtime proprietor Allison Herzog announced the change via email this morning (we’re excerpting it with permission):
(Photo courtesy The Beer Junction)
Yesterday was my last day as the Owner of The Beer Junction. I’m very happy to say that Corey, our General Manager, and his wife, Shanel, purchased the business and are the new Owners effective today. The store will open a little late today (we’re targeting 4:00 pm, but maybe earlier!) to finalize a new Point of Sale system and The Beer Junction will continue under new leadership.
If you’ve followed our story, you’ll know I have a lot of love and memories at The Beer Junction. It has been part of my life for thirteen years, through good and bad times. The bad times: losing Morgan to cancer and learning to run the store without him. That was the hardest. But also: Fear of going bankrupt in the early years. Fear of going bankrupt again during Covid shutdowns. Fixing broken fridges. Losing internet service (why does it always happen on a busy Friday?)
But those are outweighed by the good times: the West Seattle community, who was here with me through it all. The friendships and relationships I’ve made that I will carry with me. You know who you are. Brew day for our anniversary beer each year. Inside jokes with employees and customers (too many to list!). And the amount I’ve learned—about beer, about business, and about myself.
To be clear, this is not goodbye. I still live in West Seattle. I still plan on visiting The Beer Junction for a pint or two. I’ll just be on the other side of the bar.
After I made the decision to sell the store, it was important to me that it continue much as it is today, under someone with beer knowledge and experience running a bottle shop/beer bar. It didn’t take long for me to find that person—it was obvious that it was Corey. If he’s ever given you a beer recommendation or if you’ve attended one of the recent tasting events he’s hosted, you’ll know how knowledgeable he is. Like me, he is a Level 2 Certified Cicerone, but I must admit his beer knowledge far surpasses mine. And before he worked at The Beer Junction, he was the General Manager at the well-respected Teku Tavern. Corey has already made positive changes since he has taken over as General Manager here, and I am grateful that The Beer Junction is in good hands.
Allison’s late husband Morgan Herzog opened The Beer Junction in July 2010 in a small commercial building that was demolished for the construction of Junction 47, leading to the shop’s move to 4511 California SW less than two years later.
Meantime, new proprietor Corey says in the announcement, “I am thrilled to continue the legacy and the great work that has been done at The Beer Junction. … I can’t wait to continue to provide our community with great beer, excellent service and a place to feel at home.” He explains that he had long dreamed of opening a beer bar, before coming to work at The Beer Junction, and so this now makes that dream come true. You can read the entire announcement, and see photos from the shop’s history, by going here.
Also – you’re invited to a sendoff celebration for Allison on Wednesday, September 6th starting at 5 pm. And in the short term, as mentioned above, the shop is opening late today for some point-of-sale-system work – they’re hoping for 4 pm-ish.
First – a reminder that Highland Park Corner Store‘s first-ever “Pouring West Seattle” event – six local wineries at one venue – is just two days away. Details are in our preview from a week and a half ago. You can get discount advance tickets for the 4-7 pm Saturday (August 19th) event – while they last – by going here.
Second – tickets have just gone on sale for the next West Seattle Wine Walk in The Junction. It’s happening 5-9 pm Friday, September 29th, at merchants all over The Junction. This twice-yearly event routinely sells out in advance so you might as well get in on it early by going here.
Highland Park Corner Store has announced a dream event for West Seattle wine fans:
HPCS proprietor Meaghan Haas tells WSB, “We’re really excited about this one. We now carry wines from all of the wineries here in West Seattle – part of our effort to support other West Seattle businesses. They told us they’d never had a tasting event where they all were together under one roof, so we decided to host one with them! And add in a couple of nearby wineries that are owned by West Seattle families.” It’s happening at HPCS 4-7 pm Saturday, August 19th. Participating wineries:
– Darby Winery
– Nota Bene Cellars
– Pine Lake Cellars
– T2 Cellar
– Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor)
– Welcome Road Winery
Tickets are $20 advance, $25 day of event, available at highlandparkcornerstore.com. 21+ only – they’ll be verifying when you arrive at HPCS (7789 Highland Park Way SW).
Back in May, we brought you first word that White Center’s Future Primitive Brewing would open an outpost at 2536 Alki Avenue SW. Thanks to Ian for the tip that Future Primitive has just announced it’ll open there this Friday (August 4th). Hours will be 11 am-10 pm seven days a week.
(WSB photo, July 2020, post-Tug closure)
According to a liquor-license application, the former home of the Tug Inn may return to its tavern roots. The tavern-license (beer/wine) application for 2216 SW Orchard is in the name of Deluxe Beer Bar and Grill. We haven’t succeeded in reaching its prospective operators yet, but we did reach the owners of Bee’s Plumbing, which bought the site in 2020 and moved their business in until outgrowing it and moving to the former South West Plumbing location in North Delridge. They tell WSB they’re “in the process of renting the old bar out to a company who is going to open a restaurant.” (They’re already renting part of the site to a towing company.)
Thanks to Chau for the tip! BedHead Coffee has reopened on the southeast corner of 16th/Holden in Highland Park. When we reported last fall on its closure, its founder told WSB that she had sold her interest to her former partner and wasn’t sure about its future. But now BedHead is back in business. The barista there when we went over this morning said their hours are 6:30 am-2 pm weekdays for starters, until they hire someone to run the stand on Saturdays.
They have plans for a menu expansion, but coffee is the focus for now as they get going again.
If you’ve been to Alki in the morning or early afternoon recently on a Saturday or Sunday, you might have noticed the new coffee cart outside Driftwood (2722 Alki SW). Jackie from Driftwood emailed to tell us that it’s Numa, a new mobile coffee business launched this spring by West Seattleites Nathan and Seth. They’re operating as a pop-up 8 am-2 pm weekends throughout the summer. The proprietors have been best friends since college and a combined five years of experience in the coffee-service business, for companies small and large. Their philosophy is that “coffee is a gift to be stewarded well while service is an opportunity for creativity and goodwill.” According to the Numa website, they’re serving coffee from Olympia and Passenger. As for the name – they explain that “Numa is the Greek word for spirit.”
Several people have asked about work under way at 2536 Alki SW, the site vacated by West Seattle Brewing at the end of last summer, when a redevelopment project was expected to start soon for the site holding this small building and the home of Ampersand Coffee next door. That hasn’t happened; Ampersand has stayed in its location, and now another brewery is preparing to open an outpost next to it: White Center’s Future Primitive Brewing. After noticing via state records that they had applied for a beer/wine license for the Alki space, we inquired both there and at their WC location, and got confirmation that Future Primitive is opening at the beach. After some renovation work, they’re hoping to be open sometime in June, and once they open, we’re told, hours will be 11 am to 9 pm, seven days a week. Future Primitive opened its headquarters in White Center more than four years ago. As for whatever happened to the project on the Alki site, described previously as a renovation of the two commercial spaces with a residential addition above them, we have an inquiry out; city files show no new documents filed for more than a year.
(Tony Larson and Derek Moon – photo courtesy Revelry Room)
West Seattle entrepreneurs Derek Moon and Tony Larson are putting the finishing touches on the bar they’re opening behind the new home of Moon’s Jet City Labs at 4547 California SW – Revelry Room. We stopped by this morning to talk with Moon about their plan for what was previously speakeasy-style In The Heart. He said they’ve just gotten the last pre-opening approval, so it’s full speed ahead for opening night Saturday (April 1st).
The space has many woodwork touches, against the walls, in the center, and at the bar, which has been moved back from its previous location, for more room to work the beverage magic.
Among the unique features at Revelry Room, they plan to highlight Black-owned spirits, wine, and beer providers. The cocktails will be “nice but not super-pretentious,” Moon says, prepared with a process that won’t leave you waiting long once your order’s in. “Elegant but approachable,” he says. And of course the atmosphere is meant to live up to the bar’s name – fun. That’s what the retro mural, across the south wall, still awaiting its final additions, which will depict – what else? – “revelry – the vibe we’re going for in this space”:
On the north wall, a screen can roll down – that might also bring in streams from whatever’s happening in Jet City Labs’ event/pop-up space in front, Moon explains.
There are plans for live entertainment, too – a DJ space in a corner, for example. Moon is hoping to showcase upcoming artists and entrepreneurs. Some guest-chef food pop-ups too, as they’ve had in the space during open-house previews the past few Sundays. Regular fare will include tamales and snacks like cheese curds and jerky. The event space out front has been in action for a while – you might have stopped by during the West Seattle Art Walk, for one – and now it’s time for Revelry Room to join the party. Look for the door off the alley. Hours wil be 4 pm-midnight Sundays-Thursdays, 4 pm-2 am Fridays and Saturdays.
Thanks to Chau for the photo and tip – the international tea chain Happy Lemon has soft-opened its new shop at Westwood Village. Only 2 1/2 months – shorter than the usual new-business timeline – have passed since we first reported that Happy Lemon was on the way to the space vacated by Vatsana’s Thai. Posted hours are 11 am to 9 pm, seven days a week.
Just out of the WSB inbox, a big party starts tomorrow at The Admiral District’s award-winning The Good Society Brewery and Public House:
We are celebrating turning 3 and we’ve got some good stuff lined up for you!
On Friday we will release our 3rd Anniversary DIPA, 3rd Time’s a Charm. We added Phantasm and used a thiol-boosting yeast to release some awesome tropical notes. Combined with the boozy 8.7% abv, it’s reminiscent of sitting on the beach with a drink in hand!
We are also release Rye Hard 2: Rye Harder. We took Rye Hard, our Imperial Rye Stout we brewed late in 2021, aged it in rye whiskey barrels, and then blended it with a young batch. We will have a sixtel of the original on as well.
On Saturday, we are doing weekend versions of Music Bingo and Trivia! We love these events and often hear how folks have trouble making it to these events during the week, so here’s your chance! Come win some prizes!
We also partnered with our friends at Shug’s Soda Fountain to bring you ice cream sandwiches and beer floats!
The Good Society opened on Valentine’s Day 2020 on the southwest corner of California and Lander.
Kendall Jones and Kim Sharpe Jones brought back the Beer Church Turkey Bowl tonight after a pandemic hiatus – and they report an even better turnout than pre-pandemic. The lanes at West Seattle Bowl were sold out in advance.
They were selling raffle tickets for items celebrating the Beer Church’s namesake beverage:
Most important of all, the Turkey Bowl is also a food drive, collecting nonperishable food and other items needed by the West Seattle Food Bank:
The Turkey Bowl has brought in literally tons of food over the past 20+ years. Tonight was also a release party for Beer Church Pale Ale, made with local brewers from the West Side Beer Trail – if you missed the party, ask for it at those establishments sometime soon!
Animated Café proprietor Melanie (aka “Ana”) just sent word that her coffee trailer is now open at its new location, a week later than originally hoped, so we went over for photos. We reported on the move 2+ weeks ago. Animated Café is now on the same Triangle lot as the ChapulÃn Oaxaqueño taco truck, at 4518 Fauntleroy Way SW [map]:
She first opened her coffee stand last winter at its original location in Westwood. She offers a deal on weekends where customers who come dressed in the spirit of the weekend “theme” get $2 off; the November schedule is in our previous report.
By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor
At Camp West, soon to open in the ex-West 5 space in the West Seattle Junction, they’re taking the camping theme seriously – yet lightheartedly.
When you walk into the space at 4539 California SW, you’ll notice foldable canvas chairs at the tables by the front window. Temporary placeholders for furniture yet to arrive? No, they’re intentional. “They’re really sturdy!” insist two of the proprietors, Toni Uy and Patrick Haight, presiding over ongoing preparations and training when we visited Thursday afternoon, 5 months after we first reported the plan for the space.
Then there’s what you’ll get for water on your table – not a glass carafe, but a metal thermos.
If you’re drinking something harder, the cocktail might have a name like One-Eyed Squirrel (aloe, vodka, lime juice, and a decorative eyeball, a favorite at Camp West’s sibling in Tacoma, Camp Bar). Plan to pair your drink with food? Unique items include the Snackle Box, a mini-tackle box stocked with meat, cheese, olives, and bread.
Next to it in our photo is one of the mini-grills deliverable to tabletops for roast-it-yourself S’mores.
But let’s broaden the perspective for a moment, as, unless you hadn’t visited the space before, you’ll be mentally comparing at first:
One thing prominently absent in that view – the railing down the middle, removed in the remodel, no longer needed because Camp West is 21+. The north wall is now lined with booths, and the wall over them sports faux greenery, except for the section nearest the front, which is decorated with a variety of items from antlers to an axe to this photo of a well-known West Seattleite camping:
Over the front tables, the south wall has a mural by Andrew Miller, who also painted the one on the alley behind Camp West. That goes up to the bar, which features unique lantern-style lighting:
The focus there (see the beverage menu online) is on signature and classic cocktails, with a “heavy whiskey selection.” (And more whimsical names, like Sweaty Lumberjack.) You also will find four beers on tap – including of course the locally renowned Manny’s – plus a selection of canned beverages, even the 16-ounce Rainier.
At the back of Camp West, you’ll find a tent – seating 8+ for a semi-private celebration spot.
The back is also where there eventually be one lone video screen, not for sports or entertainment, but to support the rustic/outdoor ambience – skiing videos, old Rainier Beer commercials, etc.
In addition to the aforementioned Snackle Box and S’mores, Camp West has a broader menu than its Tacoma sibling – “a lot fancier” is how Haight puts it, but not too fancy. You can see the food menu online too – from burgers and other sandwiches to entrees including seared steelhead and mushroom cassoulet. Camp West has brought “a lot of new equipment” to the kitchen.
So the big question – when will they open? Right now they’re training staff via “friends and family” sessions. Then they’ll open to the public somewhat gradually, with the plan to be fully open by Wednesday, November 23. Hours for starters will be 4-10 pm Wednesdays and Thursdays, 4-midnight Fridays and Saturdays, 4-9 pm Sundays, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
(Photo courtesy South Seattle College)
West Seattle’s booming wine scene now has the full participation of the South Seattle College (WSB sponsor) Northwest Wine Academy once again, after more than two years. It’s reopening to the public tomorrow – here’s the announcement:
South Seattle College and the Northwest Wine Academy (NWWA) are excited to announce the NWWA Tasting Room, Wine Bar and Retail Store is reopening on Nov. 4, 2022. Hours of operation will be 1-6 p.m. on most Fridays and Saturdays.
The tasting room has been closed for the past few years, and NWWA looks forward to welcoming the community once again to share amazing local, student-produced wines.
We are also pleased to introduce the Academy’s new Winemaker and Winemaking Instructor John Darin to the program and community. Darin’s extensive background in winemaking and cellar logistics has been developed after years of working with a diverse spectrum of grape varietals and winemaking practices. His experience, as well as his time working with many industry leaders, brings critical first-hand knowledge from the winemaking industry directly to the classroom.
Hours and dates of operation
The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room, Wine Bar and Retail Store is open again as of Nov. 4, 2022! Hours of operations will be (most) Fridays and Saturdays, 1-6 p.m.
November: Open Nov. 4-5; 12; 18-19 (closed Nov. 25-26 for the holidays)
December: Open Dec. 2-3; 9-10; 16-17 (closed the remainder of the month and reopening in January)
Please note: At this time only credit and debit cards are accepted for purchases
The NWWA is on the north side of the SSC campus (6000 16th SW) – look for it on the east side of the north parking lot.
Four updates from West Seattle purveyors of beverages and/or food:
ANIMATED CAFE MOVING: Tomorrow is the coffee trailer’s last day in the Tony’s Market lot at 35th/Barton. Proprietor Melanie – aka “Ana” – has been there since launching her business last winter. After a week in transition, she hopes to reopen Animated Coffee in its new location – at 4518 Fauntleroy Way SW, same lot to which El Chapulin Oaxaqueño recently moved – by November 5th. One change: “We will be walk-up only to start but hopefully we can support drive-thru in the future.” If you haven’t been to Animated Café lately, she’s been doing themed weekends in which people dressed for the theme get $2 off their order, Her schedule for November:
5th-6th: Second Halloween (wear it one more time!)
12th-13th: Royal Weekend (everyone is royalty this weekend)
19th-20th: Apocalypse Weekend (Mad Max style)
26th-27th: Thanksgiving Weekend (Get Creative)
LA RUSTICA TEMPORARILY CLOSING: The Italian restaurant at 4100 Beach Drive will be closed for much of November. From proprietor Kat:
La Rustica will be closed the first three weeks of November, so if you want to get your fix in before we close, head down today thru Sunday. Because we are doing some work on our kitchen floors, we don’t have a set reopen date but are taking reservations starting the Friday after Thanksgiving. If we reopen before that, we will be sure to let you know. Thank you all for your support, patience and love.
BEDHEAD COFFEE: After a reader inquiry about the status of the coffee shack at 16th/Holden, we contacted founder Michelle. She tells WSB it closed at the end of September, three months after her former partner bought out her share of the business. Whether it might reopen, she didn’t know.
PORTAGE BAY CAFE, WEST SEATTLE: We’ve been reporting on this breakfast/brunch mini-chain‘s plan to expand into West Seattle, taking over the former Agave Cocina space at 4725 42nd SW. Proprietor John told us he hopes to open in January, and that’s now underscored by a sign on the door:
(Thanks to Arlene for the tip.)
Thanks for the tips. 3 1/2 years after opening at 35th/Webster, Best of Hands Barrelhouse announced today that it will close as of November 30th. From the announcement made via social media:
As many of you know we were only open for normal operations for a year before the pandemic hit. Unfortunately, among other things, the toll of the pandemic, the slower than expected recovery, and the skyrocketing costs of everything from CO2 to raw ingredients has made it unsustainable for us to continue to operate even with our current skeleton crew. We’d like to thank everybody for their support and interest through the years.
If you have any questions or know of anybody looking for two talented brewers, please don’t hesitate to reach out to nicholas@bestofhandsbarrelhouse.com
Thank you West Seattle!
Best of Hands opened in the cow-topped former Corner Deli spot in March 2019.
Thanks to Eric for the tip. Till Dawn is soft-opening today at 5048 California SW, but note that it’s a very soft open – mostly for coffee (Boon Boona), no food or games yet. But at least it’s an opportunity to see inside what its founders intend to be a “super-nerd bar”:
Once Till Dawn is up to full speed, its regular hours will be 8 am-10 pm Tuesdays-Sundays. (We first reported on this plan for the former vehicle-licensing space last October.)
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