(Image: Bequest Coffee)
Mill Creek’s “most resilient coffee shop in town” is expanding to E Madison bringing some happy news to a stretch of the street where residents are still recovering from a recent tragedy.
A cafe space below the Aegis Living Madison community left empty by a pandemic closure is the new home for an expansion of Mill Creek’s Bequest Coffee.
Bequest — which made headlines in the local Mill Creek View newspaper (PDF) last year for surviving the pandemic “with no government aid” — is known for its coffee shop menu complete with smoothies and acai bowls, fresh baked pastries, sandwiches and salads, and more. In Mill Creek, Bequest is also an evening hangout with beer and wine but there is no liquor license application lined up, yet, for the Seattle expansion.
The Mill Creek View says the married couple Vinny and Andi Meinhart Gomes behind the shop are joined by Bequest “matriarch” Lily Edwards as owners. “As community is a top priority for them, they ensure that their 100% organic Arabica coffee beans are ethically sourced by using only Certified Fair Trade beans,” the View reports. “Their website also praises Lily for her servant heart. When not at the shop, she is volunteering at her church.”
(Image: Bequest Coffee)
The happier news comes as the area continues to mourn the death of 80-year-old Bari Hill after the Madison Park resident was struck and killed by a hit and run driver on E Madison at the busy corner near the neighborhood Safeway. Police tell CHS that they have recovered the suspect van from the collision but have no additional information to release at this time and have made no arrests in the case.
Bequest debuted in Mill Creek in 2020 as the pandemic hit but is now ready to expand to this busy area of Seattle. The space was previously home to Queen Bee Cafe that closed during the COVID-19 crisis. The cafe had opened in 2014 as the new building and new senior housing community debuted near 22nd and Madison.
Thanks to Aegis and nearby housing from Mount Zion plus other nearby apartment housing, the area has a robust senior community.
Major changes are underway along E Madison and at the 22nd Ave intersection where a new RapidRide G bus stop will be added as part of the Madison Bus Rapid Transit project currently under construction.
Bequest Coffee will open soon at 2200 E Madison. Learn more at bequestcoffee.com.
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