West Seattle, Washington
26 Saturday
They’re popular for pastries … and now you can delight in their desserts after-hours!
Snapdragon, on the ground-floor corner of the Center for Active Living (4217 SW Oregon), just expanded its hours to open its doors as a champagne-and-dessert bar some nights: Thursday, Friday, Saturday nights, to be specific, from 4 pm until 9-ish, and tonight was Night 1.
Snapdragon is the offshoot of a beloved bakery on Vashon, and started West Seattle operations as a pop-up, eventually putting down roots.
Today we’re welcoming a new WSB sponsor, Mara Haveson. Our new sponsors get to tell you about themselves and what they do – here’s Mara‘s story:
West Seattle’s #1 realtor in 2024 and managing broker of Compass West Seattle, Mara Haveson’s path has been marked by a steadfast commitment to excellence in the real-estate industry.
Mara‘s career began in Pittsburgh, PA, when she earned her real estate license at the young age of 18. By 19, she had bought and flipped her first house, and by 21, she had closed everything from single-family homes to industrial properties.
In 2001, after honing her skills in the Steel City’s competitive real estate market, Mara made the move to the Pacific Northwest. Here Mara aligned herself with one of the biggest brokerages in Seattle and is now one of the top-producing brokers in the Puget Sound area, with a consistent annual sales volume of over $35 million.
With a vision to create something truly special for her beloved West Seattle community, Mara established her own Compass satellite office in 2020, right in the heart of the action. This satellite office isn’t just a branch; it’s a beacon of expertise and integrity, offering personalized service to clients across the Seattle region.
Mara Haveson places a high emphasis on taking the time to truly understand each of her customer’s unique housing needs, an important component in the negotiations process when seeking a broker. With a track record that speaks for itself, and a portfolio of successful sales that showcase Mara’s ability to command top dollar for her listings, her attention to detail, personalized approach, and unwavering commitment ensures that every transaction is seamless and rewarding.
“I love seeing my long-term clients come back time after time as their lives progress.” Mara reflects, “A client may have bought her first condo with me, then came back to buy her first family home with me, and now she’s ready to step up to a home with a view. It’s very satisfying.”
As the #1 broker by sales volume in West Seattle for 2024, Mara‘s dedication to delivering exceptional results for her clients, in West Seattle and beyond, is stronger than ever.
Stop by the Compass West Seattle office (4531 California SW) or reach out to her team at marahaveson.com to connect about buying or selling in West Seattle!
We thank Mara Haveson for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Call or text 206-293-6302.
It’s time for your nominations for this year’s Westside Awards! Here’s the announcement:
The West Seattle Chamber of Commerce is now accepting nominations for the 2025 Westside Awards, recognizing businesses, organizations, and individuals making a significant impact in West Seattle.
Each year, the Chamber highlights those who contribute to the strength and growth of our local economy. Community members are encouraged to submit nominations in the following categories:
• Westside Business of the Year – Recognizing an established business (3+ years) demonstrating success, growth, and community involvement.
• Westside Emerging Business of the Year – Honoring a promising new business (under 3 years) making a strong impact in the community.
• Westside Not-for-Profit of the Year – Celebrating non-profit organizations dedicated to social good and community service.
• Westsider of the Year – Recognizing an individual who has made a lasting impact through leadership, volunteerism, or service.Nominations are open online here and will close on Tuesday, March 14, 2025.
“The Westside Awards celebrate the businesses, non-profits, and individuals who help shape West Seattle as a strong and connected community,” said Rachel Porter, Executive Director of the West Seattle Chamber. “Those nominated represent the passionate dedication that drives local business innovation and success.”
The Annual Westside Awards Breakfast will take place in person on Wednesday, May 14, 2025 at the Hall at Fauntleroy, where the Chamber will recognize the winners and finalists.
A look at past winners can be found here: loom.ly/EjWEFFs
ORIGINAL THURSDAY REPORT: Just under four years after bravely opening during the pandemic, the eatery/music venue The Spot (2920 SW Avalon Way) is closing. It’s been a semi-long farewell, but proprietor Philip Sudore confirmed today that this is the final weekend:
This Sunday will be our last Brunch shift. The landlords decided not to renew our lease. … I will miss the strong community that organically grew at The Spot. All the love and support that was shared between everyone that walked in our doors. So many bands started as a result of hanging out at The Spot. So many amazing relationships and partnerships started in our little place. It was a safe place for Families to bring their kids to experience and participate in live music while enjoying great food. It was also beautifully a safe place for people to come and share their art. I am so honored I was able to share in this with everyone!!!
Before Sudore, a musician himself, took it over, the space was a coffeehouse for many years. It’s owned by the same property owners/preservationists as the neighboring building that houses Luna Park Café; we have a message out to them. (Thanks for the tips on this.)
ADDED FRIDAY AFTERNOON: Here’s the response from the ownership firm (we’d also asked about the building’s signage) in its entirety:
The Spot came in at a difficult [time] during COVID and we wish them the best with their future business plans. The classic signage has been on this site for decades, we are committed to preserving it and are currently working to restore the neon. Another small business is already slated to open in the coming months, we are excited to welcome them into the space.
Three biznotes so far today:
GOOD SOCIETY TURNS FIVE: Nick at Good Society in The Admiral District sent word they’re getting ready to celebrate:
It’s been five years since we first opened our doors and shared our beer with you! The world looked a lot different on February 14th, 2020. But with your help, we persevered and made it this far. In those five years we have shared hundreds of thousands of beers, wine, cider, non-alcoholic beverages, pretzels, and pizzas together.
We’ve brewed thousands of barrels of beer across over 250 batches and over 130 recipes. We’ve won 22 medals for our beers including gold medals at the most prestigious and competitive competitions in the world – and we won Small Brewpub of the Year at the Great American Beer Festival. With your help, we’ve given back over $44,000 to our community and we survived a global pandemic.
This weekend we will drop GS5, our fifth anniversary beer. This year took the opportunity to work with a bunch of advanced hop products from Citra, Mosaic, and Simcoe hops. We also added Nectaron and Azacca to the mix for an insanely aromatic and juicy IPA.
But there’s more! We will also have casks of our oatmeal stout infused with chocolate and coconut on the bar at each location beginning Friday until they are gone. We will also have cakes at both locations from our friends Lovely & Dapper including one made with our stout. Saturday in West Seattle we will be doing our Smash After the Mash smash burger pop up from 4-7 PM. Saturday in Queen Anne we will have Anniversary Trivia at 3 PM. And on Sunday in West Seattle, the Westies Run Club will be running at 11:30 AM and Anniversary Trivia at 3 PM.
If you haven’t been to Good Society yet, they’re at California/Lander.
PAPER BOAT BOOKSELLERS MOVE UPDATE: Readers have asked how Paper Boat Booksellers‘ move to The Junction is going, since they’ve been closed now for almost three weeks. Co-proprietor Desirae tells WSB that it’s indeed taking longer than they had plane and hoped: “Our shelving was delayed by 2 weeks due to the weather out East putting our contractor behind but he’s almost finished up. We are hoping to open the week of the 17th if all goes well.”
VILLAGE GREEN TO HOST CAREGIVER RESOURCE FAIR: The full title of this just-announced event is actually “Overwhelmed Caregiver Resource Fair.” At Village Green-West Seattle (2615 SW Barton; WSB sponsor) 11 am-2 pm next Tuesday (February 18), they’ll have specialists in home-care services, financial planning, real estate, decluttering/downsizing, senior living, and more for you to talk with. Just drop in.
Here in the heart of winter, it’s time to think about summer, especially if your family needs to line up camps for your kid(s). Our newest WSB sponsor, West Seattle CampFinder, is all about that – here’s what they want you to know about their service:
Finding the right summer camps for your kids just got a whole lot easier! West Seattle CampFinder is your local, comprehensive resource for discovering more than 600 summer camps from more than 60 local organizers. West Seattle CampFinder makes it simple to find camps and activities right here in West Seattle that meet your family’s needs.
West Seattle CampFinder was created by West Seattle mom Michelle Kusowski: “In 2023, I found myself spending hours gathering camp information, sharing information with friends, setting up reminders for registration dates, and hoping it all came together.” Thinking that there had to be an easier way and with the encouragement of family and friends, she decided to build it. West Seattle CampFinder was born.
The goal of West Seattle CampFinder is simple: to save families time by offering a centralized place for West Seattle summer-camp information, allowing parents to spend less time researching and planning and more time enjoying life. Now in its second year, West Seattle CampFinder has camp information, registration dates, helpful reminders, filter options, and more! And there’s more to come!
Check out the website at www.westseattlecampfinder.com and join as a member to access the resource. Follow us on Instagram at instagram.com/westseattlecampfinder for more updates and tips.
We thank West Seattle CampFinder for choosing to advertise their service by sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB. Interested in doing the same? Call or text 206-293-6302.
No, not together.
CUPCAKES: We got word from Cupcake Royale that starting this week, you’ll be able to pick up online pre-orders across the street from their old West Seattle location, at Ala Mode Pies (4225 SW Alaska). Hours 10 am-9 pm Tuesdays-Sundays – again, preorders only, via the CR website.
PIZZAS: Starting today, Mioposto in Admiral (2141 California SW; WSB sponsor) is serving up heart-shaped pizzas through Valentine’s Day and a bit beyond, with a beneficiary:
From February 9th through 16th, we’re baking up Heart Shaped Pizzas, available in Pepperoni, Cheese, or Margherita. 20% of proceeds will go to El Centro de la Raza, supporting their amazing work in our community. El Centro de la Raza has been a vibrant community hub for over fifty years, providing social services, education, and advocacy to empower the Latino/a community in Seattle and King County.
Mioposto hours are on this page.
ADVANCE AUTO PARTS: The auto-parts store at 4505 38th SW has been in a long goodbye for weeks, but now it’s set the closing date: March 7. This closure is part of a larger decision to shut down nine stores in the Seattle area, including locations in Tacoma, Seattle, Lakewood, Auburn, Bellevue, Burien, Federal Way, Kent, and Puyallup. Hundreds of locations across the Pacific Northwest and California will also close. Until the store closes, an everything-must-go sale is currently being held, with discounts of 50% to 95%. (All sales are final.) The company has cited ongoing supply-chain issues to several news outlets, including difficulties in inventory management and logistics, as key reasons for the closures.
As the day goes on, we’ll be looking ahead to some of what’s up this weekend (besides The Big Game). Just got this from Jill Moore, who had said she’d do pop-ups in the space where her trial run of Cascadia Fresh Market recently ended:
(May 2024 Cascadia Fresh Market photo substituted for original graphic)
I am hosting a Produce Pop up at Cascadia Fresh Market (5444 Delridge Way SW) on Sunday, Feb 9, from 12 pm – 7 pm.
I am bringing in a bunch of fresh food; a mix of national farm surplus, local farm bounty, and regular wholesale favorites. Avocados, potatoes, fruits, onions, leafy greens, brassicas, etc. I’d like to ask you to go light on fresh food shopping at the big retailers and instead stock up at the market this weekend! Support fresh food access!
(Jill is co-proprietor of Cascadia Produce, so she has a pretty good produce pipeline.)
By Aspen Anderson
Reporting for West Seattle Blog
Tram Luu has opened her second West Seattle business, Tram’s Nail Salon, at 5631 California SW, in the mini-business district between Morgan Junction and The Junction. This new location is just a mile down the road from her first business, Tram’s Salon, which opened 14 years ago and offers both hair and nail services.
Her new shop was previously Amy’s Nails. Luu stepped in to assist the previous owner; during the spring and summer months, when demand for nail services is high, her original salon could not accommodate everyone, prompting her to search for a new space.
Luu updated the salon with all-new equipment, including manicure and pedicure chairs. She repainted the walls, replaced the carpet, and even raised the ceiling, giving the space a fresh look with neutral tones, in contrast to the previous neon-colored walls. “Everything is brand new,” Luu said.
All of the original staff from Amy’s Nails have joined Tram’s Nail Salon, she says, along with several new hires. Luu’s primary goal with the reopening was to ensure that the previous owner and employees, many of whom have children in college, could stay employed.
Though Tram’s Nail Salon opened last month, it’s still celebrating the grand opening, with all services 20% off Monday through Thursday this month. Walk-ins are welcome. The salon is open Monday through Saturday from 9 am to 7 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm.
(Thanks to WSB reader Judy for tipping us about this new business!)
Three quick biznotes tonight:
CIRCA CELEBRATION: Tomorrow (Thursday, February 6) is party time at Circa (2605 California SW; WSB sponsor) – co-proprietor Gretchen sent the announcement:
Tomorrow is Circa’s 27th birthday! We are giving out free funfetti birthday cake all day & night and $2.70 Manny’s Pale Ale pints all day and night. Fun decor & late ’90s music!
Circa’s hours on weekdays are 9-11:30 am for breakfast, 11:30 am-2:30 pm for lunch, dinner starting at 5.
SUNFISH SIGHTING: Tom Trulin sent the photo with word that Sunfish is open, for those who were craving its food during its annual winter closure:
Sunfish is at 2800 Alki SW.
CHANCE TO CREATE WITH CLAY: West Seattle-based Pottering has rare openings in a class for pottery beginners next Monday (February 10).
You’ll get to make a spiral bowl, described as “large enough to hold charcuterie snacks, dip, crackers, and other assorted delights,” in a fun evening class, 6-9 pm at The Clay Cauldron (5214 Delridge Way SW), $40. Sign up here.
Thanks to Jeff for the tip. An eviction notice is posted at West Seattle Brewing (4415 Fauntleroy Way SW), warning that the King County Sheriff’s Office (which handles evictions) plans an eviction action there as soon as this Friday (February 7).
Court files show that this has been in the works since last August, with the first “unlawful detainer” notice served in September. The building’s owners allege that they are owed $35,000 in back rent and fees (with current monthly rent listed in documents as $5,329). The documents say West Seattle Brewing has been leasing the building since 2012, with lease renewals offered in 2017 and 2022 but the owners choosing to stay month to month. No one was there when we went by a short time ago to verify the tip about the notice, but the venue’s website suggests awareness of possible closure, as events last weekend are listed as “last Friday party” and “might be the last Saturday party.” The venue has most recently focused mostly on music. We have an email inquiry out to ask about future plans. They had just completed a remodel a year ago.
That photo sent by Ray reminded us that we should remind you the Admiral Bank of America branch is closing as of one week from tomorrow. B of A announced the February 11 closure plan way back in July of last year. As we noted then, it’ll be the second Admiral Junction bank-branch closure in less than a year, after Wells Fargo shuttered there last March. That building has since sold, and the ex-bank space in it remains for lease; that’s the plan – as you can see from the signage – for this building too. As for B of A’s two remaining West Seattle branches – in The Junction and at Westwood Village – both are in the city building-permit system right now for various exterior work such as bollard upgrades and parking-lot maintenance.
Three Little Birds proprietor Jennifer Young sent that photo to show that her shop’s new location at 3270 California SW is ready to go, and it’ll be open to shoppers tomorrow (Saturday, February 1) – 10 am to 5:30 pm. “Grand Opening Event coming soon!” At the new location, Three Little Birds will be in the same building as Young’s other shops, Alair and Dylan. She announced the new location about a month ago. Meantime, the spot that Three Little Birds vacated at 4736 California SW is now listed as available for lease.
Though the bowling business has had its challenges, it’s a growth industry for the owners of West Seattle Bowl. They’re about to add another bowling facility to the family – co-owner Mike Gubsch told WSB that they close tomorrow on the purchase of Secoma Lanes in Federal Way. We learned about this while photographing Mike at HomeStreet Bank-West Seattle (WSB sponsor) this morning for the prize drawing ending WS Bowl’s spotlight this month at the bank:
(WSB photos. Above, WS Bowl co-owner Mike Gubsch at center, with HomeStreet’s Sharon Lingbloom and Andrew Tento)
As we’ve noted before, HomeStreet spotlights a local business/organization customer every month, and bank visitors can enter a prize drawing held at month’s end. (Today’s drawing was for a $100 WS Bowl gift card!) So we asked Mike what’s new, and he told us about the Federal Way deal. Secoma Lanes will keep its name, he said – it has almost as much history in its community (more than 60 years!) as WS Bowl has here (more than 75 years, as noted on this T-shirt displayed during the HomeStreet showcase!).
P.S. West Seattle Bowl is hosting a big tournament this weekend, the Espresso Cup.
Today we welcome a new WSB sponsor, the West Seattle restaurant Circa (2605 California SW). When new sponsors join, they get the chance to tell you about themselves – so here’s Circa‘s story:
With nearly 27 years in the Admiral District, Circa is a community hub filled with cheerful regulars, from-scratch cooking, and the best service in town.
Co-head chefs Bill and Gretchen Evans have owned Circa for the past 9 years, although Gretchen worked as a server for a decade before purchasing. Born and raised in New Orleans, Bill brings his own style and quality to many dishes at Circa, while Gretchen’s PNW roots keep things local and dialed in. Their 3 teenage boys attend West Seattle High School and keep them constantly engaged in and working with the West Seattle community at large.
Circa is open 7 days a week at 9 am! Weekday breakfast has a variety of dishes, from omelets & scrambles to pancakes and country fried steak. Beignets and Anson Mills white corn grits show Bill’s southern influence. Biscuits & Gravy and our vegetarian Potato Works can’t be beat. The Standard breakfast is anything but, with Stiebrs Farms eggs, Daily’s bacon, and house-made biscuit or coffee cake as a bread option.
At 11:30 they go right into lunch, where you can try many specialty sandwiches, salads, fish-n-chips, and soups (including Bill’s famous Gumbo YaYa). Happy hour starts at 2:30 and runs until 5:00 M-F!
Every Thursday, besides the regular menu, Circa offers the very popular 3-Course Thursday Lunch menu for $27! You choose between 2 appetizers, 2 entrees, and 2 desserts. Different every week. Always delicious and very fun. A great deal, too.
Weekend brunch brings all the specialty breakfast dishes and plenty of lunch items and runs from 9 am-2 pm (dinner resumes at 5:00). Fried oyster benedict, crab cake benedict, Eggs Sardou, all kinds of omelets, and much more. Weekend brunch has been served at Circa since 1998, so it’s always lively and the coffee stays hot and full by the fantastic and long-term waitstaff.
Thank you for your patronage, West Seattle!
We thank Circa (2605 California SW) for supporting community-collaborative news by sponsoring WSB. If you’re interested in joining our sponsor team too, call 206-293-6302 – thank you!
Longtime WSB sponsor Canna West Seattle wants you to know about new hours for the shop at 5440 California SW, starting this Saturday (February 1). Canna CEO Maryam Mirnateghi tells WSB that the new hours are:
Friday and Saturday, 8 am-11:30 pm
Sunday, 8 am-10 pm
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, 8 am-11 pm
(Friday and Saturday hours are unchanged, while the other nights are slightly earlier closings.) The shop was founded in 2016 and offers curbside service, happy hours, and medical consultations as well as a wide selection of merchandise. P.S. There’s a store app that Maryam says you “can use to keep informed of upcoming events and promotions” – downloadable here.
The latest wave of business openings includes a sizable dose of the arts. Today, we have news that Low Tide Arts is about to open a studio in the Fauntleroy Church building, with a “studiowarming” chance to visit this weekend. The founder, teaching artist Kim Hamlet (right), says Low Tide Arts will be a “nonprofit community art studio … offering art classes, workshops, and open studio hours for youth and adults.” Kim is a West Seattle resident who “spent 15 years working as a graphic designer before transitioning to teaching art and founding Low Tide Arts.” The motivation for Kim’s first business? “The goal of giving back to the creative community here in West Seattle.” You can visit Saturday (February 1) between 11 am to 5 pm. Fauntleroy Church is at 9140 California SW.
That’s a chocolate waffle that a WSB reader reports getting at Happy Lemon on Alki as its second customer during a soft open today. It’s been 7 1/2 months since we reported the chain planned to open its second West Seattle shop at 2718 Alki SW, which had been vacant since a dry cleaner closed six years ago. (Friday, January 31, is official opening day, according to this page. Our tipster says they’re planning specials Friday and Saturday.)
Today we’re welcoming a new sponsor, BECU, getting ready to open another Neighborhood Financial Center in this area, this time in White Center. New WSB sponsors have the opportunity to tell you about themselves – so here’s BECU’s message for you:
Hey, West Seattle, a new BECU Neighborhood Financial Center (or NFC) is opening soon near you! We’re proud to find a new home, right in the heart of White Center — on the corner of Southwest 107th and 16th Avenue Southwest — that will make financial services more accessible for over 16,600 residents in neighborhoods like Highland Park, Delridge, White Center, and Top Hat.
As Washington’s largest not-for-profit, community-driven credit union, BECU is committed to bringing better financial access and wellbeing to South King County. At our White Center NFC, you’ll find BECU member consultants who can provide personal guidance to help our members navigate their unique financial situation. The center will offer a full range of services; including personalized, account management, mortgages, support for small businesses, and ATMs. Members will also have access to digital tools like Video Banking, online savings tools, and free Financial Health Checks, where our team will review your finances with you one-on-one. In addition, the new NFC will provide a space for financial health classes, community events, and other educational programming. Our goal is for the NFC to become a valuable community resource that promotes financial empowerment through both in- person support and virtual solutions that meet our members’ ever-evolving needs.
In keeping with BECU’s mission as a not-for-profit cooperative, this new NFC also reflects our dedication to community support and philanthropy. BECU is proud to support the local White Center Food Bank. We previously awarded funds to the White Center Food Bank as part of our annual People Helping People Awards program, enabling initiatives like the BIPOC Food Distribution Project with the Silent Task Force. BECU has also extended support to other local organizations, including Freedom Church, Highline College Foundation, and the Renton Regional Community Foundation — all of which have an ongoing history of positive impact on White Center residents.
Through these efforts, BECU seeks to strengthen the social and financial fabric of your community, underscoring our commitment to creating lasting, meaningful change for our members. Visit us at BECU.org to become a member today. We can’t wait to serve you in person soon.
Federally insured by NCUA.
We thank BECU‘s new White Center NFC for supporting community-collaborative local news by sponsoring WSB. Interested in sponsorship? Please call us at 206-293-6302.
(WSB photo by Aspen Anderson)
On Sunday, we noted that The Home Depot in Delridge planned a 20th-anniversary celebration today, but didn’t have details of what you’d find if you stopped by. So we went over this morning and discovered you’re invited to enjoy free hot dogs and cupcakes. The party’s on until 2 pm at 7345 Delridge Way SW.
This just might be the longest-running holiday-season collection drive in West Seattle – Dave Newman State Farm Insurance Agency (3435 California SW; longtime WSB sponsor) has been cpllecting coats and other warm clothing, plus nonperishable food, for the West Seattle Food Bank. The bins at the office remain open for dropoffs through the end of this week (Friday, January 31). Office hours are 9 am-5 pm every weekday except Tuesday, when it’s 9 am-2 pm. One reminder for donations: “For undergarments and socks, please donate only new and unopened packages of clothing items.”
From the WSB inbox today:
My name is Lena C. with the West Seattle Home Depot; we wanted to invite our West Seattle Community to our birthday party tomorrow, January 27th from 10 am to 2 pm. We would like to thank our 20-year partnership with our surrounding communities, as without you all we still wouldn’t be here. So please, join us – 7345 Delridge Way SW. By the way, I opened this location as a longtime resident of West Seattle and look forward to almost retiring from this location. Come share your memories with us. Hope to see you there.
We’re waiting for word back on activities planned tomorrow.
P.S. If you’re a relative newcomer – the site previously held a Kmart.
Barely a month after Funky Janes Consignment closed at 4455 California SW, the space has a new tenant. Signs in the window announce that Emerald City Drama Club will be there soon. We talked with proprietor Jessie Kuehm this afternoon by phone to find out more about her plans. She’s been teaching performing arts for about 12 years, she told us, but this will be her first standalone location. Her classes will be mostly for kids K-8; along with classes in acting, musical theater, and moviemaking, she also offers summer camps and even “D&D campaigns.” (As in Dungeons & Dragons.) If you have one or more kids in school locally, you might know Jessie already – she’s directing the Alki Elementary musical, for one, and teaching afterschool enrichment at some other schools.
Why a storefront? Jessie is hoping to take advantage of the “open space,” perhaps even install a curtain so Emerald City Drama Club can do some performances for students’ families, though she might also stage performances at larger West Seattle venues. And she also has ideas about turning it into a “third space for young people” – somewhere to hang out, maybe events like movie nights and book clubs. Right now, she’s expecting to be in the space teaching classes by the end of March for starters. “I’m so excited to have this spot!” she told us, especially because it’s within walking distance of her West Seattle home.
| 16 COMMENTS