Tag Coffee

Today was the first day in over a year that I walked into a business without a mask. It was a surreal and joyful experience. Life feels, finally, to be on the verge of ordinary.

I entered Pilgrim Coffeehouse, which is celebrating its grand opening over the next few days. The coffeehouse is in Oak Tree Village, at the exact location that one of Starbuck's original North Seattle locations closed almost three years ago.

Even before its official Grand Opening, the coffeehouse has brought new life to the plaza, the freshly roasted coffee bringing me in almost every single day. This coffeehouse near the beautifully re-imagined Aurora Ave N Pedestrian bridge is in a way itself acting as Licton Spring's bridge to a post-pandemic world.

If you haven't been to Pilgrim Coffeehouse, or are just looking for something to do, or want to celebrate the return to some level of normalcy, now is a great time to go! Over the next few days, there will be some fun activities, give-aways, and food vendors. And, as always, a great cup of locally roasted coffee.

Find out more about the Grand Opening on Pilgrim's instagram.

Big congratulations to Justin Shaheen and the folks at Pilgrim Coffeehouse who were recently included in a roundup on Food Network's website: 50 States of Food Trucks!

Be sure to visit their Facebook page for where to find the truck each week.

We've just been given news we couldn't be happier to report:

Pilgrim Coffee is coming to Oak Tree plaza!

Starting tomorrow Pilgrim Coffee will be operating at 10002 Aurora Ave N Monday - Wednesday 7-10 AM, and we've heard rumors that if demand is high enough they may expand their hours next month.

It's been a little less than two months since Starbucks left Licton Spring's urban village, leaving the area without any coffee options. Tomorrow that all changes. While many would have been content with almost any Coffee Shop setting up at the location, we couldn't be more ecstatic that our favorite Coffee Truck is setting up right in front of the old Starbucks. We've been a fan of Pilgrim Coffee for a while, as they've roasted some great coffee right here in the neighborhood:

It also doesn't hurt that the opening happens at the perfect time for holiday-inspired drinks:

We hope you will join us drinking some great local coffee!

It's a sad day for Starbucks lovers in Licton Springs. After 31 years the Oak Tree Starbucks location is set to close permanently this September. The location was Starbuck's first to open in North Seattle and one of the 10 original stores.

Regulars, some of who have been going to the store since it first opened, have been given the news they will soon need to get their caffeine fix elsewhere. A hard pill to swallow, without a single coffee shop available within a 15 Minute Walk.

The closure will add to the many other empty storefronts at the plaza:

Many of which closed after the complex lost Larry’s Markets and with it significant foot traffic. And while the complex has recently had a bit of a revitalization in the last year, with the remodeled AMC bringing in a substantial increase in customers, the Starbuck's 6 PM closing schedule may not have effectively leveraged the bulk of the additional movie traffic.

At the end of the day, while many things may have contributed to the closure:

• Many new Starbucks opening nearby. Including one on N 84TH that is more easily accessible for pass-through traffic w/ a drive-through.
• Few evening hours.
• A growing preference to frequent small independent coffee stores, even if that means drinking coffee near where you work instead of where you live.

The store is closing for the reason most business closures happen: it is not profitable. While many will be sad to see it go, we can only hope it leads to a small independent coffee shop finally opening in Licton Springs - just like the Starbucks itself was when it opened in the area so many years ago.

If you'd like to contact Starbuck's Corporate about the closure, you can use this form to do so.