As the city begins to reopen and recover from the COVID-19 pandemic, we want to encourage the people of Seattle to venture out and support small businesses. To jumpstart this process, we’ve launched a social media campaign called Rediscover Seattle that features profiles of local businesses and landmarks to help folks discover new places in their communities.
Below are places and people we’ve highlighted so far. Do you have a favorite local business or location you want to shout-out? Share it on Instagram using #RediscoverSeattle
José’s Taqueria
“When the pandemic hit, it was horrible, things just went down, and it felt like rock bottom. Now, I am finally seeing more people out, spending money and it’s great. It is good for the businesses, all of us. I hope it keeps picking up.”
-Alberto Morales, owner of José’s Taqueria, Lake City.
The two things most important to Alberto Morales are food and family. He named his Lake City Taqueria after his brother and son and serves mostly traditional Mexican food with a Peruvian twist. Originally of Incan descent from Peru, Morales honed his cooking skills working in a diverse array of restaurants with chefs from around the world. Learn more at www.josestaqueria.com
Central Café and Juice Bar
“We opened January 18, 2020, right before the pandemic. When we first opened our big business was the high schools, Garfield and Nova. They have two lunches per day for each school and we were getting lots of kids in here, but then things shut down. The last year has been challenging, like for everybody, but we’ve been flexible, changing what’s going on and just learning so many things as we grow.”
-Bridgette Johnson, owner of Central Café and Juice Bar, Central District
When Bridgette and Kevin Johnson opened Central Café and Juice Bar in a quaint 1920’s brick building on Cherry Street, they were excited to build a community hub. A place where people could gather to hang out, share a tasty treat, and meet their neighbors. When COVID-19 restrictions were implemented, Johnson quickly shifted, expanding the kitchen into the former indoor seating section to focus on their catering business and building a covered patio area. Learn more at www.centralcafeseattle.com
Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery
“We were really making great progress before the pandemic. The community completely embraced what we were trying to do. All of our events were packed and then COVID just paused everything.” -Jake Prendez, Owner/Co-director, Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery
“Closing the doors and not being able to offer this space to community was very hard on us, and the community. I think people felt lonely. Now we are getting to the point where we are able to host events and workshops and bring back the welcoming space for the community to gather. It feels so good.” – Judy Avitia-Gonzalez, Co-director, Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery
Jake Prendez and Judy Avitia-Gonzalez opened Nepantla Cultural Arts Gallery on the West Seattle/White Center border in February 2019 with the goal of making Latinx and Chicanx art accessible to the community. There are three parts to the gallery including exhibition space with monthly art displays focused on marginalized communities and communities of color; a gift shop with a unique collection of apparel, jewelry, and handmade gifts; and a community space for art workshops, youth art programs, open mic nights, and guest speakers. Nepantla celebrated their full re-opening with a neighborhood block party with live local artists, low-riders, and music, and are also excited to open their doors to community gatherings again. To learn more about Nepantla and upcoming events visit: www.nepantlaculturalarts.com
Seatango Foods
“This happened very fast and feels like a miracle. Yeah, I can say miracle. With COVID, it was scary opening when other people were closing.”
Monica Di Bartolomeo, owner of Seatango, Lake City.
For Argentinian couple Monica Di Bartolomeo and Ariel Firpo, food has been an integral part of their lives for as long as they can remember. Monica grew up in the kitchen helping her father who was an Italian-Argentinian chef. Both Ariel’s mother and grandmother were pastry chefs and they taught the duo how to make old-fashioned facturas (Argentinian pastries) from scratch. Inspired by this deep connection to food, the pair opened Seatango in September 2020 to bring authentic Argentinian pastries, empanadas, and other savory dishes to the Seattle area. Originating in the Food Innovation Network’s Spice Bridge food hall, the couple expanded to Lake City in June and also offer catering services. Learn more at www.seatangofoods.com
Oxbow Park
Located in the heart of historic Georgetown, this small park sure has a lot of sole. The prominent Hat n’ Boots sculpture now homed in Oxbow Park were originally designed in 1953 for a western-style gas station in the neighborhood. The station welcomed a stampede of customers, quickly becoming the biggest selling station in the state. However, when the development of I-5 began diverting traffic away from the area the station was eventually forced to close its doors. That’s when the passionate and tenacious Georgetown residents stepped in to save their quirky roadside attraction. In 2003, the ragged Hat n’ Boots were moved four blocks north to their permanent home in Oxbow Park, and in 2010 the repairs and restoration were complete. If you haven’t seen this unique artwork we encourage you to head on down to see fun bit of Seattle’s past and pay a visit to the many small businesses Georgetown has to offer.
Goodies Mediterranean Market & Man’oushe Express
“We were fortunate early in the pandemic that people were cooking and eating at home, so we were still able to serve our community.”
-Jay Hosn, owner Goodies Mediterranean Market and Man’oushe Express, Lake City
Jay and Nicole Hosn opened Goodies Mediterranean Market in 2009 to share the warmth and hospitality central to their Lebanese culture and bring the culinary wisdom they absorbed in Lebanon to Seattle. The market offers a wide variety of Middle Eastern ingredients including seasonal fresh produce, halal lamb, freekeh, and much more. They initially served manaeesh (Lebanese flatbread) in a small corner of the market, but the popularity and demand grew quickly. The family opened Man’oushe Express above Goodies in 2014 to expand their love of cooking and culture to the wider community. Learn more about @goodies_med_market at www.goodiesmedmarket.com and @manoushe_express at www.manousheexpress.com
Café Campagne
Though you may catch Chef Daisley Gordon delivering food on his electric bike, reinventing the culinary wheel isn’t necessarily the aim of the @cafecampagne owner. As a legacy business in @pikeplacepublicmarket, there is no shortage of history from which to draw inspiration. His eclectic menu is influenced by his Jamaican roots, extensive travels in India, and classic French and Italian cuisine. Gordon sources local produce and puts an emphasis on craftmanship and creating a welcoming atmosphere. Chef Gordon has been at Café Campagne for nearly all its 27 years as a Pike Place cornerstone and became sole owner in 2016.
When asked about his future plans, Gordon says he hopes to continue cooking delicious food for his patrons and visitors to the Pike Place Market for many years to come. Learn more about Café Campagne, and Chef Daisley at: https://cafecampagne.com/.
Gather Consignment
“Things are going amazing compared to last summer. There are just a lot of events happening and a lot of people getting out there, and people are still looking for their zoom shirt and their bobbly necklace because no one knows what’s really going to happen in the fall.”
-Megan, Owner of Gather Consignment, Columbia City
Since 2009, Gather Consignment has been providing a place for people to find quality used clothes in the heart of Columbia City. Nestled between a butcher and a bakery, Megan says the shops on the block really help fuel each other’s business as customers often pop while waiting for an order next door. Although she is owner, Megan says she truly works in service to the more than 6,000 women who bring in clothes and accessories to consign. Each year she holds a large warehouse-type event for the clothes that don’t sell with proceeds going to a selected charity. While this event has been on hold through the COVID-19 pandemic, Megan has been focused on highlighting influential women in the community working toward change. To learn more about Gather visit www.gatherconsignment.com
Flo Ware Park
Quintessential African American community Seattle activist Flo Ware let a life of service, passion, and tireless devotion to the under-represented. She provided a strong voice on the behalf of children, the elderly, and people suffering from poverty in the Central District and was an influential leader in the Poor People’s Campaign. Throughout her life, she served on innumerable national and local boards and received more than 75 awards for her community work, including the Martin Luther King Jr. Humanitarian award. An outspoken advocate for children, Ware was an organizer for the Foster Parent Association and raised 20 foster children in her home. After her death in 1981, a small urban park at the corner of S Jackson St and 28th Ave S was named after her to memorialize the work she did for the community. The Central Area park has a basketball court, picnic area, playground equipment, and artwork honoring Flo Ware for her community service.
The Copy Shop
“I thought I was going to have to go out of business, seriously, it was really tough for me. I put so much into this business and my community means a lot to me. Now that things are moving again, I’ve been doing a lot better and seeing more business.”
-David Jones, owner of The Copy Spot, Columbia City
The Copy Spot, formerly Gorilla Graphics, has provided design and printing needs to the greater Seattle community for nearly nine years. Located in the heart of Columbia City, The Copy Spot provides a wide array of services from a simple copy to large format prints. Jones has truly put his heart and soul into his business and appreciates being able to support other small businesses, organizations, and individuals with their printing needs. While most of his main income streams were halted by COVID-19 closures, a series of well-timed funding opportunities and unwavering community support has helped him stay afloat during the pandemic and remain optimistic about the future. Learn more about The Copy Spot at: www.gorillagraphicsllc.com
Resistencia Coffee
“We get a lot of support from neighbors and that has been a very positive experience through the pandemic. Honestly, it’s been heartwarming. Right now, we’re just still ebbing and flowing. There are a lot of changes happening for sure, so we’re just trying to keep up with it and are really grateful for all the patience of our customers.”
-Shizuno, Resistencia Coffee, South Park.
Located in the heart of South Park, Resistencia has served as a community gathering spot for just over three years. In addition to frothy drinks and local eats, the neighborhood coffee shop is all about resisting gentrification and building community, particularly for the Latinx community in South Park. The eatery provides a space for local artists to sell their wares and participates in a food justice youth program – in partnership with Cultivate South Park, Young Women Empowered, Urban Fresh Food Collective – where they teach barista skills to South Seattle teens. Learn more about Resistencia at www.resistenciacoffee.com.
