Alliance for Pioneer Square

Upstream

Upstream is coming to Pioneer Square!

In the weeks and months to come, you’ll hear more about event logistics, early ticket sales opportunities for the neighborhood, and more.

Read more about the public announcement in the Seattle Times and The Stranger. Visit the Upstream Music Fest and Summit website and sign up for updates. You can also follow Upstream on Twitter at twitter.com/UpstreamFest, on Facebook at facebook.com/UpstreamMusicFest, on Snapchat @upstreamfest and on Instagram at instagram.com/UpstreamMusicFest.

MOVING DAY FOR WEYERHAEUSER!

Weyerhaeuser employees will be moving into their new corporate headquarters in the beautiful new 200 Occidental in September. (Thanks to Urban Visions and everyone else who made this happen.) About half of their 700 employees will report for work in their new home in Pioneer Square on September 12. The rest will follow on September 19.

To encourage employees to get out to explore the wonders and businesses of Pioneer Square, Weyerhaeuser is preparing a welcome packet for their employees that includes discounts and incentives from Pioneer Square businesses. If your business is interested in participating, please email Karen True as soon as possible to be included.

OPEN FOR BUSINESS

No soft opening for Gary Manuel!

On the morning of August 3, co-founder Manuel Benevich led a brass band and parade of Gary Manuel employees and clients through downtown Seattle from Belltown to their new home in Pioneer Square. People literally hung out windows and raced down to the street to see what the commotion was all about. Many joined in the dancing on the sidewalk in front of the new salon at 2^nd & James. The space is beautiful and the buzz on this long-quiet corner is good news for the whole neighborhood. Check out their website to see the parade video and read more about their move here.

The Smith Tower Observatory reopens.

Last week, tours to the observation deck of Pioneer Square’s most iconic building opened to the public. The Smith Tower Provisions general store at the corner of 2^nd & Yesler, where you can also buy tour tickets, is gorgeous. The 360-degree view from the Observatory on the 35^th floor remains one of the most dramatic vantage points in Seattle. Two different tours are available now, with a third available later this winter. Check out the website and plan a visit (and a drink at the speakeasy-inspired Temperance Café and Bar) soon.

Al Boccalino, after 28 years at the end of Yesler Way, moved to their new location at 1^st & Cherry, across from Café Bengodi. They continue to serve a mixture of Italian fare from the Puglia region with a cantina menu offering the tradition of L’apertivo. Stop by to say hi to Luigi and Angela, longstanding Pioneer Square business owners.

COMING SOON

The Sovereign, at the base of the Maynard Building at 1^st Ave S & S Washington, plans to open for business before the end of the month. Owner Mike Ager said, “We want neighbors to know we will be opening the doors to our little part of the Underground in September. We just registered our Facebook page and will be updating it more and more as we close in on the Grand Opening. Anyone interested can follow us there.” Mike and his partner, Jeff Hammock, also own The Forge Lounge on the pedestrian walkway to the Colman Ferry Terminal.

Division Road, Inc., the menswear boutique at 536 1^st Ave S “with a footwear first approach”, will open their doors in mid-September. The Launch Event you’ll want to put on your calendar will be during the First Thursday Art Walk on October 6. The online store is live right now. A few of us got a peek at the space last week. It is drop-dead gorgeous. Guys of Pioneer Square, you’re going to be looking very good.

Manu Alfau, owner of Manu’s Bodega, is building out his “street taco window” between Good Bar and Elm Coffee near 2^nd Ave S & S Main St. Once he’s open, his tacos will also be available for sale downstairs at Flatstick Pub. Stay tuned. It won’t be long now.

Axis Pioneer Square has been busy building out the adjacent space in the Globe Building to expand their event and gallery space to the corner at 1^st Ave S & S Main St. It’s good to see the Globe Building full of activity. It’s truly one of the neighborhood’s most storied historic buildings.

Caffé D’arte, located at 1^st Ave S and Yesler, will be pulling the paper off their windows soon!

And, by the way, Damn the Weather is now open for lunch!

PROJECTS IN THE NEWS

Though it’s down the road, we’re still thrilled that Dave Meinert will be part of the Pioneer Square story in the not-too-distant future. The owner of Lost Lake, The Comet, and Big Mario’s Pizza is buying the ground-floor commercial space of The Gridiron. Read the Daily Journal of Commerce article here.
Urban Visions buys current Pioneer Square Parking garage.
Metropole to become hotel with micro rooms.
Even bathrooms are in the news at the 23-story hotel under construction.

PIONEER SQUARE EVENTS

So many events in September! Art, sports, music, food, movies and more. Here are links with information to a few calendars and upcoming events:

This is but a taste of what’s happening in Pioneer Square. Take a walk and see it all for yourself. And while you’re out there, introduce yourself to someone new. That’s the secret sauce for our extraordinary neighborhood!