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Welcome back to Eater News, a semi-regular round-up of mini news nibbles. Do you have information to share? Email information to seattle@eater.com.
Seattle Icon Ezell Launches New Black Business Scholarship Program
A local fast food favorite wants to give something back. On August 30th, Ezell’s Famous Chicken announced details of its new program called Rudd’s RUBB (Raising Up Black Businesses) initiative, which will distribute thousands of dollars in no-obligation grants to 20 black businesses in the Pacific Northwest. Ezell’s co-founder Lewis Rudd started the program, and DoorDash has signed up to partner and help with a $ 40,000 donation (the Rudd family added an additional $ 10,000). RUBB hopes to add more partners soon and is currently accepting applications for the scholarships until September 20th.
In its 37th year of existence, Ezell’s knows all too well the barriers black-owned businesses can face, despite the fact that it has grown to become one of the most successful fast food franchises in the region, with 17 locations currently in Washington and Oregon. “I faced systemic racism and redlining and racism … I was denied access to capital,” said Lewis Rudd in a statement on the initiative. “We believe that supporting and promoting entrepreneurship will help bridge the wealth gap for African Americans and lead to other benefits such as better health care and education and less violence.”
Tom Douglas plans Serious Pie’s Kirkland location in 2022
According to the Seattle Times, Tom Douglas is preparing a new location for his popular Serious Pie pizza place. The Kirkland shopping center, the Village at Totem Lake, is to take up residence by spring 2022. This will be the third location for the restaurant, following one in Ballard and the Belltown original, which has expanded into the old Dahlia Lounge area with the neighboring Dahlia Bakery. Douglas closed the vast majority of its restaurants at the start of the pandemic, but millions of federal grants helped keep the business afloat. In addition to reopening Pike Place’s Seatown Market and Fish Fry and Carlile Room recently, he’s looking to revive other long-dormant properties like Lola. In the meantime, this should be a big win for Village at Totem Lake, which continues to expand its dining options and recently opened outposts of the well-known chains Bok a Bok, Salt and Straw, and Silverlake Ramen based in California.
Fuel Coffee presents a new look after merging with the indie bookstore Ada
Avid readers may want to head to the Fuel Coffee location on 19th Avenue E to see the new look. Months after its merger with indie bookseller Ada’s, the cafe now features shelves with a variety of academic, literary, and children’s titles, as well as a sleek new remodel with an expanded kitchen area, according to Capitol Hill Seattle (the blog has some pictures). Customers at Fuel’s Wallingford and Montlake locations can expect similar changes soon as the renaming continues. Ada acquired Fuel last May to expand its literal masthead, which includes a neighborhood retail location and cafe, as well as a co-working space.
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