Black Coffee Northwest

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Black Coffee Northwest
Black Coffee Northwest logo.png
Restaurant information
EstablishedOctober 18, 2020 (2020-10-18)
Owner(s)Darnesha and Edwin Weary
Street address2300 S Jackson St
City Seattle
StateWashington
CountryUnited States
Other locations Shoreline (former)
Website blackcoffeenw.com

Black Coffee Northwest (sometimes abbreviated Black Coffee NW) [1] is a Black-owned coffee company based in the Seattle metropolitan area, in the U.S. state of Washington. The business has operated coffee shops in Shoreline and Seattle's Ballard neighborhood, and is also a whole bean roaster. [2] [3] Black Coffee Northwest plans to open a shop in Seattle's Central District in 2024.

Contents

Black Coffee Northwest also serves as a community hub, [4] and provides barista training and internships. [5] Eater Seattle has said the business created a space "for art, mutual aid, and activism", [6] and Seattle Metropolitan has said Black Coffee Northwest "blends brews with cultural salon talk". [7]

The menu has included the "Karen", a caffè mocha with white chocolate named after the pejorative term and meme of the same name. [8] [9] Before opening their roastery, Black Coffee NW used beans from Boon Boona Coffee, another Black-owned coffee company based in Washington. [10]

The company participated in a "Black Black Friday" campaign organized by Seattle Black-owned businesses in 2023. [11]

History

Shoreline and North Seattle

Darnesha and Erwin Weary opened Black Coffee Northwest in Shoreline in October 2020. [12] [13] The business operated inside a building leased by Bethany Community Church. [14]

Black Coffee Northwest has been subject to arson, theft, and vandalism. [15] [16] [17] Ahead of the originally planned grand opening, a Molotov cocktail was thrown at the building. [18] [19] Two brothers were charged with unlawful possession of a destructive device. [20] The business sought financial support from the community following the incident, and opened weeks later. [21] [22] In January 2021, a swastika was drawn on the cafe's exterior. [23] [24] [25]

In November 2020, the cafe hosted a voter registration drive. The business had extended hours on Election Day and, according to Eater Seattle, offered "$0.45 off orders for customers who say that they've voted 45 out". [26] In 2021, the business hosted an anniversary party and various activities leading up to Halloween. [27] [28] The business also hosted "Coffee Chats" and tutors for students. [29]

Black Coffee Northwest had 14 employees, as of November 2021, most of whom were women of color. [30]

The shop closed in June 2023, after the shop's landlord evicted them over more than $22,000 in missed rent. Owners cited the landlord and gentrification as reasons for the closure. They confirmed plans to continue operating and intend to open a shop in the Central District in 2023. [9]

The business opened a second café in Ballard in 2022. [31] As of 2023 the Ballard cafe is no longer in operation. [9] As of January 2024, Black Coffee NW operates on the North Seattle College campus. The on campus café is known as Black Coffee Northwest at the Lily Pad Café. [32]

Central District

2023 photograph of the building in Seattle's Central District which Black Coffee Northwest plans to occupy, as evidenced by window signage June 2023, Seattle - 21.jpg
2023 photograph of the building in Seattle's Central District which Black Coffee Northwest plans to occupy, as evidenced by window signage

In 2023, Black Coffee Northwest announced plans to re-open in the Central District, in a building which previously was a Starbucks location. [9] [33] [34]

See also

References

  1. ↑ Owen, Tess (October 15, 2020). "Shoreline's Black Coffee NW is so much more than a cup of coffee". Seattle Refined. Archived from the original on November 2, 2021. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  2. ↑ Ho, Tia (February 27, 2023). "In Heavy Rotation at Black Coffee NW: Social Impact and Youth Leadership". KEXP. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  3. ↑ Moeller, Kayla (February 13, 2023). "Coffee shop supporting Black-owned businesses - CW Seattle". CW11 - KSTW. Archived from the original on February 14, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  4. ↑ Scott, Gee; Reutin, Ursula (October 7, 2020). "Black Coffee Northwest opening delayed by arson, but 'heart of the place is alive'". MyNorthwest.com. Archived from the original on May 12, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  5. ↑ Luna, Ruby de (July 14, 2021). "This Shoreline coffee shop provides a safe space for Black youth". www.kuow.org. Archived from the original on February 6, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  6. ↑ Van Streefkerk, Mark; Cheadle, Harry (September 19, 2016). "11 Essential Seattle Coffee Shops". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on June 22, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  7. ↑ Cassidy, Benjamin (October 11, 2022). "Black Future Co-op Fund Is Changing Washington Philanthropy". Seattle Metropolitan . Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  8. ↑ Peters, Alexa (October 24, 2020). "Despite Arson Attempt, Black Coffee Northwest Brings Black-Owned Business and Awareness to Shoreline". South Seattle Emerald . Archived from the original on December 3, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  9. 1 2 3 4 Cheadle, Harry (June 26, 2023). "Black Coffee Northwest Closes, Blaming Its Landlord and 'Gentrification'". Eater Seattle. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  10. ↑ Rizzo, Aimee (October 16, 2020). "What It's Like Opening A Black-Owned Coffee Shop & Community Space In 2020". The Infatuation. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  11. ↑ Michelle, Jahaura (November 13, 2023). "Seattle Is Getting A 'Black Black Friday' To Support Black-Owned Businesses Ahead Of Holiday Season". Yahoo! News. Blavity.
  12. ↑ Sayler, Zoe (February 7, 2023). "Black-Owned Businesses in the Seattle Area | 2023". Seattle Metropolitan . Archived from the original on February 15, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  13. ↑ Walker, Meghan (October 7, 2021). "Black Coffee Northwest to open in Ballard". My Ballard. Archived from the original on November 26, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  14. ↑ Brown, Nick (October 2, 2020). "Black Coffee Northwest is Raising Funds for Opening Following Arson". Daily Coffee News by Roast Magazine. Archived from the original on February 7, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  15. ↑ Lee, Jennifer (July 27, 2021). "Black-owned coffee shop in Shoreline burglarized days after it was vandalized". Q13 FOX. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  16. ↑ "Black-owned coffee shop in Shoreline vandalized again; owners say 'enough is enough'". FOX 13 Seattle. September 28, 2022. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  17. ↑ Krieg, Hannah (September 29, 2022). "Slog AM: Seattle Public Schools Facing $190 Million Shortfall, Long Lines at Seattle Children's, and Black Coffee Northwest Sees More Theft". The Stranger. Archived from the original on December 10, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  18. ↑ "Molotov cocktails thrown at soon-to-open Black-owned coffee shop in Shoreline". The Seattle Times. October 1, 2020. Archived from the original on March 2, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  19. ↑ Guarente, Gabe (October 16, 2020). "Shoreline's New Black-Owned Cafe and Community Hub Officially Opens Saturday". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on June 26, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  20. ↑ "Brothers plead not guilty to charges related to Shoreline coffee shop firebombing". KING5.com. October 29, 2021. Archived from the original on November 1, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  21. ↑ Cadwalader, Zac (June 14, 2023). "Black Coffee NW Is Seeking Support After Late-Night Arson Incident". Sprudge. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  22. ↑ Wippel, Teresa (October 15, 2020). "After arson attempt, Black Coffee embraces community support, plans Oct. 17 grand opening". My Edmonds News. Archived from the original on September 30, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  23. ↑ Spears, Michael (January 16, 2021). "'It's escalating': Swastikas drawn on Black-owned Shoreline coffee shop previously hit by Molotov cocktails". KIRO 7 News Seattle. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  24. ↑ Guarente, Gabe (January 15, 2021). "Shoreline's Black Coffee Northwest Shutters Temporarily Following Racist Graffiti and Other Threats". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on March 26, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  25. ↑ Cadwalader, Zac (June 14, 2023). "Shoreline's Black Coffee NW Has Been Attacked Again—Here's How You Can Support Them". Sprudge.com. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  26. ↑ Guarente, Gabe (November 3, 2020). "Seattle Restaurants and Bars Offering Election Day Specials". Eater Seattle. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  27. ↑ Streefkerk, Mark Van (October 15, 2021). "Star Restaurateur Renee Erickson Is Representing Seattle on the 'Kelly and Ryan Show'". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on February 8, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  28. ↑ Streefkerk, Mark Van (October 28, 2021). "The Eater Seattle Guide to Halloween 2021". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on November 20, 2021. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  29. ↑ Streefkerk, Mark Van (December 10, 2020). "Black Coffee NW Lets the Youth Lead". Barista Magazine Online. Archived from the original on December 11, 2020. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  30. ↑ "Seattle magazine's Most Influential People of 2021". Seattle Magazine. November 30, 2021. Archived from the original on April 2, 2023. Retrieved June 27, 2023.
  31. ↑ Simoes, Victor (February 9, 2022). "Black Coffee Northwest softly opens in Ballard". My Ballard. Archived from the original on February 5, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  32. ↑ "Food & Beverage". North Seattle College. Archived from the original on January 19, 2024. Retrieved January 19, 2024.
  33. ↑ Geraldo, Renata (June 1, 2023). "Old Seattle Starbucks location to become Black Coffee Northwest". The Seattle Times. Archived from the original on June 9, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.
  34. ↑ Cheadle, Harry (June 2, 2023). "The Old Jackson Street Starbucks Is Being Taken Over by Black Coffee Northwest". Eater Seattle. Archived from the original on June 3, 2023. Retrieved June 26, 2023.

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