Seattle’s Queen Anne Uptown Espresso closing after almost 40 years

After nearly 40 years, the landmark Uptown Espresso café on Seattle’s Lower Queen Anne will finally close its doors on August 31st.

The original coffee shop of six locations in Seattle, Uptown Espresso, was opened by Dow Lucurell in 1984. The place, with its funky, colorful vibe, was an instant hit with locals, and its success prompted Lucurell to open five more locations across Seattle, including two in West Seattle and one at Pier 70, Belltown and Magnolia.

When Lucurell passed away in 2018, the chain was sold to Fonte Coffee Roasters, who had been supplying Uptown coffee for years. The purchase allowed Fonte to renovate the store as long as the original vision of uptown remained intact.

“Dow’s mission was to make everyone feel welcome and at ease. He hired chatty baristas to talk to customers. He wanted everyone to have the best coffee experience and even had a slogan that promoted his favorite milk cover on coffee beverages: Home of the Velvet Foam, “said Fonté owner Paul Odom in a press release.” We have worked to bring his style to all of the uptowns keep alive, but the Queen Anne location is where it all started. “

In the press release, Uptown Espresso cites the influx of homeless people in the Lower Queen Anne area as one of the reasons for the site’s closure. Odom says the homeless pose health threats to customers and customers are uncomfortable on the sidewalks outside the store.

When King County acquired the Inn at Queen Anne to house the homeless, Odom felt it was the nail in the coffin for Uptown Espresso.

“The original Uptown Espresso was once a thriving hangout for a lively clientele. Now the biggest problem is the influx of homeless people who have gathered. This has made our customers feel uncomfortable crossing the threshold to store, ”Odom said in the press release. “Not only that, the living conditions of the homeless have become a health hazard. They frequently use our shop windows to urinate and poop. In addition to the global pandemic, this health threat only exacerbates fear and makes operations difficult.” . “

Odom looks to the future for both Uptown Espresso and its Fonte Coffee Roasters. There are currently two upcoming development projects in the works for Odom, one to open in Seattle in 2022 and one in Bellevue.

According to the coffee shop’s website, all other Uptown Espresso locations will remain open.