You, too, can have an office inside the Broadway Market

There is a lot going on inside the Broadway Market above QFC, it turns out. Tucked in a little nook on the second floor of the Capitol Hill shopping center, sits a casual coworking space run by Rob Nicolai. Inside, visitors will find a large cozy green sofa, 16 desks, a conference room and a kitchen. On certain days, they might even be greeted by a friendly dog or two.

Nicolai founded the space known as My Branch Office nearly four years ago. After relocating last year, the business has settled into its new location.

Like other coworking spaces in the area, My Branch Office aims to give members more out of their workday and workspace.

“Coworking is a person’s purposeful decision to not work in isolation,” Nicolai said. “It’s a community of people.” Continue reading

Century Ballroom dances through 20 years on Capitol Hill

Many things have changed around the Century Ballroom since it first opened in 1997 in Capitol Hill’s Odd Fellows Building, but the vision Hallie Kuperman had 20 years ago remains.

“I wanted to mix the worlds of people who partner dance,” she said, adding that she aimed to create a LGBTQ safe environment where people could dine, dance, and drink.

When Century first opened, Kuperman was very focused on queer only classes. She has broadened Century’s community in the decades since but said, “It’s still important to me to have the gay community find this place.”

“What I hear over and over is the asset that Century is to the community,” she said. “I believe dance as being healing for people — in the bigger picture I feel we’re creating a safe place.” Continue reading

As First Hill Streetcar turns one, Broadway business owners mixed on extension

img_1880When CHS broke the news late last year that the City of Seattle was pressing pause on the planned two-stop extension of the First Hill Streetcar on Broadway and that the Capitol Hill Chamber of Commerce was supportive of the decision, we heard from a few Broadway business owners disappointed in the news. Next week, the First Hill Streetcar turns one. We’ve talked with a few of the businesses up and down the street and found owners and managers torn over the benefits of more public transit on the street along with better infrastructure for pedestrians and bicycles versus the chaos and cost of constructing the extended line.

“Automobiles and cities are natural enemies,” David Schomer, owner of Espresso Vivace, tells CHS. “When you add transit and take out automobiles, people come out… the city becomes safer.” Continue reading

San Francisco and Seattle mayors compare notes on homelessness — ‘We did not plan to grow affordably’

screen-shot-2017-01-12-at-3-53-37-pmEach individual needs a different approach when it comes to homelessness, Seattle Mayor Ed Murray and San Francisco Mayor Ed Lee agree.

The two mayors discussed what they’re doing about West Coast homelessness during a public forum Wednesday at Seattle University. journalist Joni Balter and Seattle University master of public administration director Larry Hubbell directed the discussion that covered challenges in funding, effectiveness of current and past services and new approaches taken in Washington and California. Though one theme seemed to echo throughout each topic: taking a holistic approach.

“It’s important to talk about how we got here, not just what we do now,” Mayor Murray said. “We did not plan to grow affordably, which is why we’re in this crisis.” Continue reading

Retail vet Retrofit Home celebrates construction-free bump in Pike/Pine shopping

A new Retrofit sofa takes a rest on the mostly construction-free E Pike (Image: Retrofit Home)

A new Retrofit sofa takes a rest on the mostly construction-free E Pike (Image: Retrofit Home)

As Seattleites make a mad dash to finish their holiday shopping, the owners of Retrofit Home are enjoying what they say is heavy foot traffic in Pike/Pine and high sales.

“We’re having an incredible season,” said co-owner Jon Milazzo.

Milazzo’s business partner Lori Pomeranz said they started to see traffic increase for holiday shopping around mid October, which is earlier than ever before. The CHS advertiser has been in business at 1103 E Pike since 2005.

Milazzo and Pomeranz attribute their higher sales and success this holiday season to multiple factors. The first: a lack of construction in their part of the neighborhood. They said it’s the first in many years that there isn’t a lot of construction going on around their location on the corner of 11th and E Pike.

“Pike/Pine has really become a walking neighborhood again,” Milazzo said, adding that there is more parking available and no loud construction noise. Continue reading