West Seattle, Washington
24 Saturday
Quick notes on temporary closures:
LA RUSTICA: Thanks for the tips! The Beach Drive bistro is closed this week. A sign on the door and note on their website says it’s for “bathroom repairs” and that La Rustica will reopen Tuesday, February 6. (They also note that even during the closure, you can book a reservation – Valentine’s dinner, anyone? – online.)
WEST SEATTLE BREWING: After a few weeks of closure, a sign on the WS Brewing door at 4415 Fauntleroy Way SW, and note on their website, says they plan to reopen this Thursday, February 1. They’re reportedly been remodeling and promise “huge things coming!”
DUKE’S: No date announced yet for the Alki seafood restaurant, which is getting repairs after pipe-break trouble during the subfreezing weather earlier this month.
(Image: Freepik)
“That’s all I drink, so that’s all I sell.”
That’s how Sebastiano Tecchio summarizes his plan to open a natural-wine shop/bar at 3278 California SW.
It’s where he managed Molly’s Bottle Shop for more than two years. Molly’s closed recently, and Sebastiano’s is taking over the space.
The proprietor explains that “natural wine” – not necessarily organic – is a way of describing both the way the grapes are grown and the wine is produced, without chemicals/additives. Sebastiano says only one percent of wines are “natural,” but that’s still a wide enough selection that he’ll be able to offer a variety of types – frequently changing, because they’re generally small producers whose offerings are in flux.
He was a wine importer in New York for more than decades, and ran a gallery there for a while too – along with working as a fine-art photographer – so he plans to be part of the West Seattle Art Walk. Sebastiano also sees that as a way of showing support for a community that has embraced him already: “What I love about this place is the community that formed here – I’ve made so many friends.”
Some are helping build the bar, in fact. (Other changes to the space will include transforming its little loft into an office area.)
He’s hoping to be able to open in about a month, in the area that’s grown into so much of a mini-business district, he says it ought to be nicknamed “Hinds Junction” (after the nearest crossstreet). Once Sebastiano’s is open, hours are likely to be Wednesdays-Thursdays 2-8 pm, Fridays-Saturdays 3-9 pm, Sundays noon-6, closed Mondays and Tuesdays.
(Photo courtesy Viscon Cellars)
Drink local! New in time for Christmas dinner and New Year’s toasts, West Seattle’s Viscon Cellars (WSB sponsor) has debuted a sparkling wine. Winemaker Ben Viscon says it’s their first-ever sparkling wine. You can read about it here. It’s available through the Viscon Cellars tasting room/wine bar, which is open 5-9 pm today and 1-6 pm tomorrow (Saturday, December 23rd), 5-9 pm next Thursday and Friday (December 28-29) and 1-6 pm next Saturday (December 30), at 5910 California SW.
(Reader photo sent by Caitlin)
Fans of Café Osita (7349 35th SW) – closed since the pandemic’s peak – have noticed in recent days that the paper has come off the windows and the coffee shop/eatery appeared ready to reopen. We’ve been going by often in an attempt to catch up with the proprietors, and finally were able to talk to them a short time ago. Yes, it’s indeed reopening under original ownership; they’re not sure exactly when, maybe a week or two, but they’re close. And they have plans to expand into the space next door, too, by taking down a wall – the current space will then become the kitchen. The shop had been open more than a decade before the shutdown.
Three West Seattle food/beverage business notes:
WESTWOOD PANDA EXPRESS UPDATE: Back in October, we reported that Panda Express is moving into the ex-Pet Pros spot next to Westwood Village QFC, according to the shopping center’s site map (which is the only place WWV’s new-ish owners usually “announce” new tenants). The Chinese-food chain hasn’t responded to our inquiry yet but there’s further confirmation of the plan – it’s now appeared in the city permit system.
HOTWIRE’S MANAGER MOVING ON: Hotwire Coffee wants to be sure ustomers have a chance to say goodbye to longtime manager Nicole Crisostomo – this is her last week.
Hotwire says Nicole is “moving on to a new opportunity” after 10 years at Hotwire. “Nicole has played an integral part in our journey with Hotwire, first as loyal customers and then in 2016 as owners. She was part of the deal when we took over the business and promoted her to manager,” explains co-proprietor Jeffrey Silva. “We will miss her and wish her the very best with her next adventure!”
HOLIDAY FOOD: Husky Deli is again offering to prepare a full holiday dinner for you – ham, mashed potatoes, green beans, rolls, and ice cream, serves 5 – $150, last order December 22nd for pickup on Christmas Eve. … If you’d rather buy something to cook yourself, Lady Jaye‘s annual Meat Market, with wagyu beef and more, is one week from tomorrow – 4-8 pm December 19.
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 Chapulín 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.
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