Sometimes it feels as though business after business has been pushed out of the North Broadway business district. But one small, local business recently announced it will move into the area within the next year or so.
Espresso Vivace, the popular coffee house at 901 E. Denny Way, has been in its location just off Broadway, with a fine view of what is now Cal Anderson Park, since 1988. But its building is facing the wrecking ball when Sound Transit begins work on its Capitol Hill light rail station. The new station will require leveling the whole block and the block directly to the north.
Vivace plans to move its operation to the new Brix condominium complex now under construction on Broadway at East Mercer Street (the former Safeway site). The exact timeline is uncertain, but the move is expected to take place next spring, according to Vivace manager Kyle Jenkins.
The nearness of the present shop to Seattle Central Community College has helped make Vivace very popular with the student body. What effect moving five blocks north will have on Vivace's student popularity is unknown, but some fall-off is expected.
"We will have a bit of that, I'm sure," Jenkins said, but added that the spacious shop is also a destination shop. "Our reputation is based on quality."
The shop has seating for 85 in approximately 2,000 square feet, according to Jenkins. He said the floor space in the new location will be about the same. The company's newest shop at 27 Yale Ave. N., near the REI flagship sporting goods store in the South Lake Union area, is a comparable size.
"We're very excited about them being here," said Tom Graff, of Ewing and Clark, the Brix development broker. "We think he [David Schomer, Vivace owner] is one of the premier coffee vendors in the state.
Graff said that Vivace will be next to the building lobby in the middle of the block facing Broadway. The new location will feature very large, west-facing windows and 12-foot ceilings. Additionally, Vivace is buying the site, not leasing.
"It's going to be their flagship store," Graff said. He added that there were several firms actively interested in the space, but Vivace was chosen because of its quality reputation and strong Capitol Hill identification. Graff said several applicants were turned down because the Brix team much preferred to have a local business in the space than a national chain store. Having a local business will help keep the flavor of Capitol Hill unique, he said.
Vivace also has a sidewalk coffee bar at 321 Broadway East, just north of the Washington Mutual Savings Bank Branch at Broadway and East Thomas Street. Development planned for that block of Broadway may also doom that retail location in the near future.
"That one is pure speculation at this time," Jenkins said.
The company roasts its own coffee beans and sells them and accessories both in its shops and online.
Espresso Vivace Roasteria, 901 E. Denny Way; 860.5869, www. espressovivace.com
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