After years of franchising a Haagen Dasz on the corner of 43rd and University Avenue (“The Ave”) in the University District, Lois Ko knew it was time to open an ice cream shop based on her own vision. She wanted to create an authentic, “farm-to-cone” experience for her customers that… [ Keep reading ]
Listen: Origin Story – Combat Arts Academy Walking into Combat Arts Academy in the Delridge neighborhood of West Seattle, you wouldn’t know that owner Sonia Sillan never intended to run her own small business. A culmination of timing and her mother’s push for her to learn self-defense as a child… [ Keep reading ]
Listen: Origin Story – Bich Kieu Jewelry Bich Kieu Jewelry is a family-owned custom jewelry retailer and repair shop that has been doing business in Seattle for over 25 years—though the business is much older than that. “This is fourth generation—my great grandparents were in the jewelry business in Vietnam,”… [ Keep reading ]
Listen: Origin Story – Seattle Capoeira Center If you haven’t heard of Capoeira—an African cultural art from Brazil that combines self-defense, dance, acrobatics and music—then Seattle Capoeira Center owner Syed Taqi wants to change that. “The goal is like, thousands of people playing Capoeira. Hundreds of people walking around with berimbaus, like [people walk around with] yoga… [ Keep reading ]
Listen: Origin Story – QueenCare QueenCare in Seattle’s Columbia City neighborhood is much more than a beauty supply store. Opened in December 2018, QueenCare employs young women of color and provides them with mentorship, job training and support. On top of all of this, they sell amazing-smelling, all-natural skincare products at the same… [ Keep reading ]
Listen: Origin Story – Works Progress Coworking spaces are an increasingly popular option for small businesses, freelancers and entrepreneurs, and north Seattle businesses don’t have to look far to join a great coworking community. Works Progress is a coworking space located in Seattle’s Greenwood neighborhood, owned and operated by… [ Keep reading ]
Listen: Origin Story – Judy Fu’s Snappy Dragon Judy Fu’s Snappy Dragon has been a staple of Seattle’s restaurant scene for decades. The nine-time winner of King 5’s Best of Western Washington Best Chinese Restaurant and one of CNN’s 50 best Chinese restaurants in the United States, Snappy Dragon… [ Keep reading ]
Listen: Origin Story – Estelita’s Library The books in Estelita’s Library are not organized by author’s last name, genres, or by any other particular system. “For us the structure is very simple,” says Estelita’s founder and curator, Edwin Lindo. “The door tells you what section of the bookstore this is. It’s Estelita’s Social Justice Library.” The… [ Keep reading ]
Listen: Origin Story – Cortona Café Cortona Café is “a café in Seattle’s Central District that puts community first.” Located on the corner of East Union and 25th, Cortona is a cozy two-story café, art gallery and event space curated for community conversation. Owner Isolynn Dean—who mostly goes by Ice—is… [ Keep reading ]
Ada’s Technical Books, established at their current location in 2013, embraces Seattle’s nerdy population, old and new, and is dedicated to building community in the neighborhood in partnership with the 15th Ave Merchants Association. Owners Danielle and David Hulton combine bookstore, café, coworking space, tech paradise, and event space all… [ Keep reading ]
