Seasons change and so does the Fremont business landscape. We said goodbye to old friends and welcomed new ones. If you have any tips on businesses opening or closing, send them to editor@fremontneighbor.com.
Saying goodbye
Caffe Ladro (452 N 36th St.) served its last cup to Fremonsters on March 31 after 26 years at the corner location. The closure is tied to the pending demolition of the block, which Holland Acquisition Co. LLC plans to redevelop into a seven-story apartment building. For those interested in the Holland redevelopment, project representatives will present at the May 26 Fremont Neighborhood Council meeting.
Kirei Poke (3515 Fremont Ave. N) closed without any online announcement. A simple sign on the door was the only notice.
Caked Goods (3421 Fremont Ave. N) closed April 26, less than a year after transitioning from longtime neighborhood staple Simply Desserts. Hours were limited and the shop struggled to catch the after-dinner crowd. (Fremont Neighbor tried to stop by and buy cake multiple times without luck.) Owner AnnaLiza announced the team is pivoting to Lola’s Traveling Tea Party, offering custom cakes, pop-ups around the greater Tacoma-Seattle area, event catering and immersive tea party experiences. The 3421 Fremont Ave. N storefront will reopen this summer as Daily Ritual Market (see Coming Soon below).
Hilltop Childcare (3601 Fremont Ave. N, Suite 200) announced that Wednesday, June 17, will be the last day of operations for its Fremont location. Hilltop’s Queen Anne location will continue as usual.
The Works (3516 Fremont Pl. N) is heading back to West Seattle, where the craft workshop started as a pop-up eight years ago. Owner Kellie Phelan announced a new studio at 4540 California Ave. SW in the Alaska Junction, with plans to open this fall. The Fremont location will stay open through Aug. 31 without interruption to classes or events, and the current class schedule runs through the end of July.
New arrivals
Balandra Tapas (3801 Stone Way N.) opened March 19 in the space that formerly housed Robin’s and Art of the Table. The intimate wine bar and small plates restaurant is built around sharing and discovery, with a menu of chef-driven seasonal dishes designed for family-style dining, a curated wine list and the option to craft custom charcuterie boards from a selection of artisanal ingredients. Early social media reviews have been positive.
Fremont Social Cafe (132 N Canal St.) held its soft opening March 27, adding a morning cafe to the canal-side distillery and event venue. The cafe features pastries from Macrina Bakery and opens daily at 6 a.m. It also has a large space for kiddos, which is a rarity in Fremont.
The Picklr (124 N 35th St.) opened April 4 in the old Theo Chocolate warehouse (not the trolley barn/factory) with free open play and a steady stream of neighbors checking out the new space. The 27,000-square-foot facility has 10 indoor courts, a pro shop and event space. It’s part of a national franchise with roughly 68 locations; Fremont is the third in Washington after Federal Way and Tacoma.
MOMENT Coffee (3401 Fremont Ave. N) held its soft opening April 25 through May 1 in the former Starbucks and Peet’s Coffee space. The shop has been generating buzz on social media, with its matcha drinks drawing particular praise.
Highland Espresso (4013 Leary Way NW) opened May 2, breathing new life into the building that housed Cycle & Coffee (previously PIM). Highland Espresso has another location in Montesano, Wash., which Fremont Neighbor thinks is the birthplace of drive-through coffee stands because of the rainy weather (unverified, but she grew up there). The bicycle shop owner, Justin, is still running the bike side of the operation by appointment only.
Snow Peak (3524 Stone Way N.) celebrated the grand opening of its Seattle store May 8-9 at the CornerStone Campus. The Japanese outdoor lifestyle brand’s 3,700-square-foot space is its fourth North American retail location and first new store in over a decade. The store carries camping equipment, outdoor essentials and apparel, with gear rentals coming soon from a basement space below the shop.
Baci Baci (3512 Fremont Pl. N) opened May 15 in the former ETG Coffee space, just east of the Lenin Statue. Owner Christa Thomas, who also runs Cafe Weekend in the Judkins Park neighborhood and the fashion label Maiden Noir, has created an Italian-inspired cafe and espresso bar serving Caffe Vita espresso, Italian pastries and light savory bites. The cozy space retains the charm of its predecessor, with vinyl records playing, a reusable mug program and an outdoor patio for sunny days.
New Growth Physical Therapy (3417 Evanston Ave. N) opened in the Saturn Building. Owner Serra Shelton has been tabling at the Fremont Sunday Market on weekends in May and June.
Reopened
7-Eleven (304 N 36th St.) has reopened after closing over the winter to replace its gas station. Permitting issues delayed the gas station work, so the store reopened in the meantime.
Coming soon
Big Bud Press (3501 Fremont Ave. N) is bringing its first Pacific Northwest location to Fremont, targeting a late spring opening. The Los Angeles-based clothing label specializes in unisex, everyday goods and is known for ethical, domestic manufacturing practices. All fabrics are made in the U.S., with knit fabrics produced in the Los Angeles area. The brand uses 100% recycled poly bags and water-based screen printing ink.
Twist of Fate (225 N 36th St.) is a planned gothic dive bar in the old Outlander Brewery building, four doors down from Stampede, which has the same owner. The bar promises cheap, well-made drinks, a house with secrets to uncover and a patio. A June 1 grand opening is the target; follow @bar_twist_of_fate on Instagram for updates.
Daily Ritual Market (3421 Fremont Ave. N) is reopening in the former Caked Goods space this summer, with a soft opening planned for Sunday, June 14, from noon to 5 p.m. The market will stock Daily Ritual Apothecary products alongside wellness and lifestyle brands, and is adding a wellness bar serving teas, tonics and other drinks to go.
Kiln (837 N 34th St.) is a 27,000-square-foot coworking space planned for a location steps from Gas Works Park. The space will offer coworking areas, team studios, private offices, meeting rooms and event venues. Doors are expected to open in late 2026, with tours beginning this summer and a waitlist now open.
Trolley Barn update (3400 Phinney Ave. N) The historic former Theo Chocolate flagship is being repurposed into a multi-tenant retail hub and two leases have been signed so far, according to the Puget Sound Business journal. One lease includes Here Today Brewery & Kitchen, which operates a taproom on Seattle’s waterfront. Another lease is pending. Kirkland-based Trinity Real Estate, representing building owner East Seattle Partners, expects all retailers to open by the end of the year. The building is undergoing minor modifications including new grade-level doors and storefronts.
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