Tag Archives: coffee

Piedmont Café brings new life to historic space on First Hill

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Freshly brewed coffee and baked goods now greet passersby on First Hill thanks to Piedmont CafĂ©, a new addition to the neighborhood’s hangouts that echoes with the area’s time before the massive health complexes and high-rise apartment and condo buildings. Nestled in a historic building with a storied past, the cafĂ© is bringing life to the long ago hotel lobby.

“This building was formerly a hotel,” co-owner Charles Scott explained, pointing out the unique layout of the space. “This part was once a plant shop and formerly a storage facility.” The new cafe space now takes over what was the original lobby for the hotel. “For the last 60 years, I guess since ’62, it was sold and made into the Tuscany Apartments. Part of it was even the cafeteria for the charter school a couple blocks away.”

The Seneca Street site was once the Piedmont Apartment Hotel, “with exuberant colored tile and elegant ornament” from one of Seattle’s most prominent architects, the city’s entry on the historically significant structure reads.

Scott and his partner took on the challenge of transforming the historic building into a cozy and inviting cafĂ©. “We built out the bar, added a floating wall for the storage area, and built out the dish area.” Hoping to keep the space feeling old and comfy, all the furniture was bought used, except for the two couches. “We resurfaced the tables and restored a nice hutch we got from Gig Harbor.” Continue reading →

With echoes of its ‘grand lobby’ past, Piedmont Cafe now open on First Hill

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(Image: Piedmont Cafe)

Enough of closures and looking back. Here is something new — though its inspiration is steeped in the past.

The Piedmont Cafe is now open on First Hill as part of an overhaul of the historic building now known as the Tuscany Apartments.

The Seneca Street site was once the Piedmont Apartment Hotel, “with exuberant colored tile and elegant ornament” from one of Seattle’s most prominent architects, the city’s entry on the historically significant structure reads. Continue reading →

Capitol Hill ‘self-pour’ wine bar Rapport closed ‘indefinitely’

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Thanks to reader Todd for the picture

“Self-pour” wine bar Rapport has closed indefinitely on Capitol Hill as people involved in the business say they are seeking options to reopen the E Roy venue that carved a popular hangout out of a former Starbucks concept cafe on North Broadway.

A person with knowledge of the closure said the shutdown was due to a personal family decision with the ownership and that there were hopes of possibly working out a new deal for the cafe and wine bar’s lease.

Rapport’s last night of business was December 29th. Continue reading →

Knitting together crochet, coffee, and community, Stitch Cafe now open on Capitol Hill

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With yarns from around the world waiting for busy hands and Upright Tree Coffee brewing, Stitch Cafe is now open for Capitol Hill crafters and those in need of a visit to a “cozy little corner of the world.”

The cafe’s October artists wall is a showcase of what is possible with creations from artists our.common.thread, Stitch Tits, and Peach Needle Art Studio.

CHS reported here in July on the plans for the offee and crochet cafe from first-time owner Sarah Chae who said she was hoping to create a space where the neighborhood can gather to craft — the kind of space she has been looking for in Seattle. Continue reading →

Fuel pulls plug on Broadway coffee bar — UPDATE

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Fuel only lasted a year on the Broadway grind. The coffee chain says it will shutter its walk-up counter on the street this week.

“We have made the tough decision to close the walk-up in order to focus on our three other locations (Capitol Hill, Montlake, and Wallingford),” the company’s announcement of the closure reads. “This is not a decision we take lightly, and we are bummed to be leaving Broadway so soon after opening there.”

Fuel took over the walk-up last fall, overhauling, improving the space, and adding a colorful burst of neon to Broadway in the stand made famous for decades as Vivace’s walk-up bar.

Continue reading →

Cherry Street Coffee owner says Capitol Hill cafe closed for good after tangle with Sawant over minimum wage tip credit

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A small Seattle coffee chain has closed its Capitol Hill location amid an ongoing labor dispute with its workers backed by former Seattle City Councilmember Kshama Sawant.

Cherry Street Coffee owner Ali Ghambari tells CHS he has reversed plans to reopen his E Pine cafe and is instead looking for a new tenant to take over the space and the lease.

CHS reported here as Ghambari said he planned to reopen the Capitol Hill coffee shop later this month after Sawant and Cherry Street workers held a one-day “strike” that temporarily shut down the four-location chain over demands for “a living wage, an end to workplace sexual harassment,” and, the group said, an end to Ghambari’s “petitioning to roll back Seattle’s historic minimum wage victory.” Continue reading →

Sawant calls for support for Cherry Street Coffee workers in ‘strike’ over working conditions, minimum wage tip credit — Owner says Capitol Hill cafe set to reopen

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(Image: Cherry Street Coffee)

Former District 3 representative on the Seattle City Council and leader of the Workers Strike Back labor activism group Kshama Sawant is backing workers at Seattle’s Cherry Street Coffee in what she says is a strike over working conditions and the local chain ownership’s lobbying for changes in the city’s minimum wage.

“Socialist, former City Councilmember, and founding member of Workers Strike Back, Kshama Sawant, will stand alongside Cherry Street Coffee House workers as they walk out on strike demanding a living wage, an end to workplace sexual harassment, and an end to their bosses’ petitioning to roll back Seattle’s historic minimum wage victory,” the group said about a planned Friday morning press conference outside the Olive Way Cherry Street location. Continue reading →

SĂĄbado gigante — Capitol Hill’s Bonito CafĂ© y Mercadito announces September 14th grand opening

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(Image: Bonito Café y Mercadito)

One of the more anticipated new Capitol Hill food and drink ventures has announced a grand opening date.

Bonito Café y Mercadito will be ready with an Espresso Tónico for you as the doors open this month at E Olive Way and Melrose with a grand opening planned for Saturday, September 14th.

CHS reported in February on the plans from Daniel and Ismael Calderon to bring the Latino cafe and shopping experience to Capitol Hill after forging the Aqui Mercado events in Pioneer Square.

“The Mercadito part pays homage to our roots of Aqui Mercado,” Ismael told CHS earlier this year. ”Within our cafe obviously we’re going to sell coffee, but our focus is helping BIPOC small businesses to have an opportunity to showcase their product and talents in a storefront environment.” Continue reading →

Tougo Coffee owner closes shop after 17 years to reunite with son abroad

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(Image: Tougo Coffee)

Tougo Coffee, a second home for many and a hotspot for community gatherings on Yesler Terrace, closed shop this summer after 17 years serving Seattle. Owner Berhanu “Brian” Wells plans to move to Japan next year to reunite with his son, Tougo.

“Tougo Coffee has been a fabric that has been woven together by the locals to Seattle, and global community,” Wells told CHS. “We are grateful to have served Seattle families and friends for 17 years. It’s been our absolute pleasure and honor that you allowed us to be your bodega.”

Wells recently launched a GoFundMe, and donations will help pay for legal, governmental and intermediaries hired to assist with the visa process, like the translation of documents and any challenges related to obtaining a visa.

“The ultimate goal here is for me to reunite with my son, Tougo, and I really need your help,” Wells said in the GoFundMe. Continue reading →

New Stitch Cafe will knit together coffee and crochet on Capitol Hill

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Stitch Cafe is bringing coffee and crochet, an unexpected creative combination, to E Pine on Capitol Hill.

This new cafe is filling a gap in the neighborhood for both crafters and coffee connoisseurs alike—a space for people to share their love for fiber arts, learn a new hobby, and enjoy a coffee all at the same time.

Sarah Chae began working on Stitch Cafe over a year ago, joining forces with business partner, Shimon Masaki, owner of Upright Tree Coffee Roasters which will be the coffee supplier for Stitch.

The project hit the ground running when they found the right location, a space on E Pine formally home to Poco Bar & Lounge. Chae connected with Poco owner Jesse Rhodes, and purchased the business to proceed with Stitch.

“I wanted to have a cozy environment where you can go to do a craft, and I noticed Seattle was missing that,” said Sarah Chae, owner/founder of Stitch Cafe. Chae is passionate about the importance of third spaces, public and social locations that are not work or home. Continue reading →