Just as 5 pm arrived, a long line of West Seattle Wine Walk ticketholders filled the sidewalk on the west side of California SW north of SW Alaska, waiting to check in at Jet City Labs (one of two Wine Walk check-in spots tonight). Once their tasting tickets were in hand, they had more than two dozen venues to visit, almost all businesses with guest wineries. Spruce Hill Winery from SODO (WSB sponsor) was in the house at Rush Hour:

Jo and Ava were pouring Spruce Hill’s 2023 Sauvignon Blanc, 2022 Granache, and 2021 Rainforest Red. Down the street at CAPERS, Viscon Cellars (also a WSB sponsor) poured tonight:

Viscon’s wines tonight were “Perseverance” Viognier, “Porch” Rosé, and “The Weekday” Cabernet Sauvignon. We also revisited Emerald Water Anglers, learning its new location at California/Alaska is fully open – tonight EWA (also a WSB sponsor) hosted Wandering Wolf Cellars:

The Wine Walk – which sold out of all 1,000 tickets – is a fundraiser for the nonprofit Junction Association. Watch for word of next year’s first Wine Walk (and other events)!

Share This

Share This

Share This

10:54 AM: Thanks for the tips. When Starbucks announced last month that it would permanently close its Alki shop, the final day was announced as this Sunday, August 11. But now there’s a note on the door (as shown in our photo above) saying the doors will close for the last time at 6 pm tonight (Friday, August 9). We have an inquiry out to the company asking about the change. When Starbucks announced the shutdown of the 2742 Alki Avenue SW store after 25 years, the company said only that the decision was the result of a process in which they “evaluate our store portfolio annually to determine where we can best meet our community and customers’ needs.”

11:39 AM: Starbucks spokesperson Sam Jefferies says the “change” is because he initially told us (and other media organizations, according to our online check of others’ stories) the wrong date – he now says it was always planned as today.

Share This

Starbucks is adjusting the operations of two stores in the West Seattle area.

We evaluate our store portfolio annually to determine where we can best meet our community and customers’ needs. This includes opening new locations, identifying stores in need of investment or renovation, and making decisions about store closure or relocation

After careful consideration, we’ve determined it is best to close the store at 2742 Alki Avenue. Our last day at this location will be August 11, 2024. All Starbucks partners (employees) working at that store will have the opportunity to transfer to one of our nearby locations in Seattle.

In alignment with this closure, we are happy to share that our store located at 4408 Fauntleroy Way SW will undergo a renovation and will close from July 29 until September of 2024. The store will reopen with an updated design, including the new Siren System.

ADDED: The Alki store’s been open since 1999. Its most recent renovation was nine years ago, in 2015. Its closure will leave five standalone Starbucks stores in West Seattle (Admiral, Junction, Avalon, Morgan, Westwood) as well as multiple grocery-store stands. The last standalone store Starbucks closed in West Seattle was in Jefferson Square in 2008; that one was open less than a year, and was one of hundreds of closures at that time, but the company tells us the Alki closure is the only Seattle closure they’re planning at this time … As for the beverage scene on Alki, after this closure, Ampersand will be the only coffee-focused shop in the heart of the beach, though several other places offer coffee as a sideline, and there’s a new tea shop on the way to Alki (Happy Lemon).

8 PM P.S. As noted in comments, there’s now a “Save Our Alki Starbucks” online petition.

Share This

Join us Friday, August 2nd – Sunday, August 4th for our first-ever West Seattle Wine Weekend! West Seattle’s wine community continues to grow and we’re ready to showcase all it has to offer with an incredible weekend full of wine, friends, and community. Your ticket includes 4 tasting pours at each participating location (see below), 10% off all bottle sales, and more exciting offers!

Visit each location at your own pace over the course of the weekend (within each of their hours of operation) to be entered into a chance to win a bottle from each (over a $250 value)!

Participating Locations:

Darby Winery
Viscon Cellars
Pine Lake Cellars
Welcome Road Winery
Itto’s Vino
Sebastiano’s Natural Wines

The venues’ hours are listed on the webpage where you can buy your $50 ticket(s), while they last (West Seattle wine events tend to sell out)!

Share This

(We check the map daily, as it’s been the only way the center “announces” new additions; this status change for the 2501 SW Trenton space is new today.) Still no sign on the exterior of the building at the center’s northeast corner, though.

We’ve renewed our inquiry with Total Wine to ask about timeline. This will be the chain’s third store in Seattle city limits, after Interbay and Northgate.

Share This

The Northwest Wine Academy Tasting Room at South Seattle College offers a serene retreat from city life, nestled beside the college arboretum, a community garden, and the Seattle Chinese Garden. It’s located in the Puget Ridge neighborhood of West Seattle. Step into a lively space where students craft unique wines, providing a tasting experience brimming with Pacific Northwest flavors, from the bold notes of black cherry and blackberries to the subtle nuances of woody oak, vanilla, and more. By supporting the Wine Academy, you are supporting our students’ journey to build their skills and find fulfilling work in Washington’s bustling wine industry.

Whether you prefer the outdoors in summer or the cozy indoors year-round, indulge in our affordable tastings priced at just $8 per person for a flight of four varieties. Join our vibrant community at one of the Northwest Wine Academy‘s regular events, where we not only showcase wines but also engage in activities such as painting, plant potting, cookie decorating, and delightful food pairings.

Elevate your experience by becoming a member of our Wine Club after attending one of our events. Our club offers various membership tiers, ranging in prices, and includes shipments of 4 to 12 bottles twice a year. Members also enjoy exclusive discounts on all other purchases throughout the year. These experiences go to help fund student led projects, new equipment, and support the health of the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College.

Interested in hosting an event in the tasting room or have questions regarding visiting us for a tasting? Contact: WineInfo@seattlecolleges.edu. We can provide you with room rental fees and our current catering menu! 

The Northwest Wine Academy is in the north lot of the SSC campus at 6000 16th SW. Follow the Northwest Wine Academy on Instagram to learn more about our upcoming events and offerings, including food truck pop-ups ran by our Culinary Arts students.

We thank the Northwest Wine Academy at South Seattle College for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news via WSB; find our current sponsor team listed in directory format here; email patrick@wsbsales.com for info on joining the team!

Share This

10:03 PM FRIDAY: Thanks to Hayk for the photo. The temporary-closure sign on the door at Shadowland didn’t explain the reason, so we emailed Shadowland’s Ben Jenkins. He says the “unforeseen circumstance” is a pipe break in the basement, and they’re working to get it fixed “fast.” The bar/restaurant at California/Oregon is in its 17th year.

1:19 PM SATURDAY: Shadowland will reopen this afternoon, according to a comment below.

Share This

Thanks to Alison for the tip! Last year, the boba-and-more tea chain Happy Lemon opened a shop at Westwood Village (in the spot long held by Vatsana’s Thai Restaurant). 15 months later, they are opening another West Seattle shop, according to signage that just went up in the windows at 2718 Alki Avenue SW. That space has been vacant for six years, since Alki Cleaners ended its 19-year run. It’s had at least two preliminary plans since then – in 2021, a potential market, and last year, early-stage documents in city files suggested a pet store. Neither of those advanced, and now the Happy Lemon signage has turned up (no permit applications yet, though, but the new location is listed in the city business-license database). We have an inquiry out to Happy Lemon requesting details. The Happy Lemon website shows 20 Puget Sound-area locations already, from Lynnwood to Olympia.

Share This

Tonight’s sold-out West Seattle Wine Walk, organized by the WS Junction Association, not only brought out more than a thousand people to taste wine and visit businesses, it also gathered donations for WestSide Baby. More than 50 wineries and businesses participated – we visited three of the WSB sponsors who were participating. Ben from Viscon Cellars was pouring at CAPERS Home:

You can visit his tasting room Thursdays, Fridays, and Saturdays at 5910 California SW. To the north, Ava and Jo from Spruce Hill Winery (open Fridays/Saturdays in SODO) were pouring at Kendall Dental:

And Emerald Water Anglers (42nd/Oregon) hosted Momento Cellars:

The Junction Association announces events like these months in advance, so be sure to snap up your ticket(s) next time as soon as you hear about it, so you don’t miss out – you’ll see the news here as well as wsjunction.org.

Share This

Darlene Hampton has officially opened Jarays Grill and Lounge in the former Tug Inn/Bee’s Plumbing space at 2216 SW Orchard, just north of Home Depot. We took a look inside just before opening:

Hours weren’t finalized at the time but we have them now: For starters, open Wednesdays noon-midnight, Thursdays through Saturdays noon-2 am, closed Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays.

Jarays will offer drinks, food, and entertainment. Darlene texted us this week’s menu – you can see it here.

Share This

The Beer Junction is thrilled to announce the launch of its new brand identity, marking an exciting chapter in the establishment’s journey since opening its doors in 2010.

The centerpiece of the rebrand is a contemporary logo depicting the familiar sight of a hand gripping a beer bottle, with the cap bursting off the top, symbolizing the release of the beverage and the joyful anticipation of that first sip.

This dynamic image encapsulates The Beer Junction’s role as a facilitator of memorable beer experiences. It represents the art and ritual of properly pouring and appreciating a finely crafted beer, capturing the essence of the establishment’s passion for fostering beer culture and community. …

The new logo was designed by artist Casey Callahan. Another Beer Junction note – they’re planning to open the outdoor “patio” for the season next weekend.

Share This

Tote bag, souvenir glass, and the chance to try a wide variety of local wines! That’s what you get with your ticket to the West Seattle Junction Association‘s next Wine Walk, 5-9 pm Friday, May 17. It’s usually sold out in advance but this time they’ve expanded the number of participating businesses and wineries – 30 wineries, 26 businesses! – and therefore the number of tickets available, so we’re mentioning it today to let you know that some tickets are still waiting to be snapped up! You can go here to see the list of wineries (which includes WSB sponsors Viscon Cellars and Spruce Hill Winery) and to buy your ticket (good for 14 tastes). Then on Wine Walk night, check in when you’re ready to start, and go to the venues of your choice!

Share This

You might have noticed renovations underway in the former beauty-school space at 4811 California SW. Two new food-and-drink businesses are moving in – you might even say they’re three businesses. We talked with co-owner Rosanne Zhu, who’s opening Upwell Wine and Coffee, sharing the space with Walter’s Wine Shop, operated by co-owner Chris Tanghe, who holds the rare and prestigious title Master Sommelier. Both are longtime West Seattle residents. Walter is their mascot, shown in the photo below with Rosanne, Chris, and the future Walter’s delivery (in West Seattle) van:

(Photo courtesy Upwell Coffee & Wine/Walter’s Wine Shop)

Rosanne and Chris have more than two decades each in the hospitality industry, she notes. (She too is a certified sommelier, and attended culinary school at South Seattle College [WSB sponsor].)

She says Upwell will be a “coffee shop by day, wine bar afternoons and evenings.” She’s the chef and explains the food plan: “The all-day menu at Upwell coffee shop will include pastries, sandwiches, salads, composed cheese plates, fruit cups and the like. For the Upwell wine bar three nights a week, we will serve a mainly seafood-based menu with charcuterie and snacks. I grew up in a ‘hunting family’ so there will be pheasant confit, lamb’s tongue, and other oddball meat choices as well.” As for the coffee, the official house roaster will be Herkimer, and Upwell will have other coffees in rotation.

Walter’s will be a full-service wine shop and “a community space to learn about wine, with educational classes taught each month … we want to make wine fun, free from pretense, and accessible to all,” Rosanne says. In addition to operating Walter’s Wine Shop, Chris plans to continue his “day job,” which also involves wine, with the educational nonprofit GuildSomm.

Upwell and Walter’s will have slightly different hours, though Rosanne promises that if you want to buy a bottle of wine before or after the 11 am-7 pm hours that Walter’s will be open, Upwell will be able to ring it up. Upwell will serve “food and coffee seven days a week from 7-3, and wine and snacks three nights a week from 4-10.” It will be an all-ages space.

So, the big question: When will they open? Their contractor has been running ahead of schedule, according to Rosanne, so now it’s mostly a matter of liquor-license timing; they’re aiming for June 1.

Share This