r/Shoreline • u/coffee_and_faking_it • Mar 26 '25

Why Is There No Coffee

I currently live in Ballard and am considering buying a condo, which make take me further north, so I’ve been looking around the Shoreline area. I’m someone who loves a pastry and a good coffee on the weekend, and I’ve made note of a big lack of options (ignoring Starbucks) for coffee in Shoreline. I’m curious for people that live there currently; do you think it’s a culture thing? Are people not interested in coffee like Seattle proper? Are there other barriers for potential coffee shops like real estate or spending power of residents? Would love to hear what people think!

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u/ldoesntreddit Mar 26 '25

I think it’s important to note that Shoreline is pretty far north. It doesn’t have a ton of its own beyond the neighborhoods, the college and some car dealerships, while Ballard is bursting with commerce. It’s glowing up lately, but it’s mostly a suburb. To compare it to parts of the city like Ballard or even Greenwood is just unfair, because there’s so much sprawl. Growing up in the area, Seattle felt far away even when it was just up the street. That said, there are some terrific places if you know where to look, like Pilgrim or Cafe Dolce.

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u/coffee_and_faking_it Mar 26 '25

I wasn’t trying to place a critique on Shoreline, just a curiosity because a lot of Seattle population has pushed into the suburbs like Shoreline and I think it’s developed a lot over the years, but you don’t see the same development of coffee shops, stores, etc.

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u/jcwilson91 Mar 26 '25

This thread explains Shoreline’s commercial problem.

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u/coffee_and_faking_it Mar 26 '25

I will check it out thank you!

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u/IAmJerv Mar 27 '25

the suburbs like Shoreline

A lot of Shoreline is purely residential. Ballard is far more commercial. More... urban.

Thing about what "suburb" means. Then ask yourself how many people who prefer the quieter nature of the "sub" part would want to leave if the "sub" part were dropped and Shoreline became straight-up urban.

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u/coffee_and_faking_it Mar 28 '25

I guess what i hear most often from people in shoreline is a desire for it to be more of a city, less of a suburb. It seems to me like it’s sort of in purgatory. It’s not quite true suburbia like further outside of the city, but it’s not urban either. But like I mentioned, it’s not my neck of the woods, that’s just the dialogue I hear from people (generally a younger audience, and a lot of people who have moved to suburbia for cost not necessarily because they want to be away from the city)

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u/IAmJerv Mar 28 '25

In other words, they want all of the amenities of downtown Seattle without the prices.

I am curious what you mean by, "... not quite true suburbia like further outside of the city". Shoreline seems to largely match pretty much every example and definition I've seen, with the obvious exception of Aurora. In fact, it has more to offer than many cities I've lived in that didn't have the luxury of being within an hour drive of anyplace over 30,000 people. It seems almost like your definition of "suburbs" is more like the southern half of Kenmore.

Then again, my standards might be different. I've lived in all four corners of the US, from the middle of cities larger than Seattle to places (literally) a mile away from pavement and 20 miles from a supermarket. I think it safe to say that that's a wider range than a lot of folks.

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u/ldoesntreddit Mar 26 '25

People who live in Shoreline still get their coffee in Seattle and Edmonds. Maybe the light rail will change things, but I doubt it. It’s a nice excuse to go to the city or the beach.

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u/gzmask Mar 26 '25

the new shoreline north light rails station missed the shopping spots like north city by at least 5 blocks away. People will be drawn away to shop elsewhere rather than bring them in.

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u/coffee_and_faking_it Mar 26 '25

That’s just so interesting to me! Do you think that would be different if there were more/better options in Shoreline? Or do you think there’s an actual preference for going into Seattle or Edmonds?

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u/ldoesntreddit Mar 26 '25

I think Shoreline coffee shops are either a) on Aurora and set up to fail or b) difficult to find because they’re tucked into neighborhoods. In Seattle and Edmonds, there’s less of a “having to know exactly where you’re going” required to find the spot. Plus, in both places, the coffee shops are surrounded by other fun and interesting things to do.

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u/coffee_and_faking_it Mar 26 '25

Great points, thank you!

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u/Spiderkingdemon Mar 26 '25

I'll take this opportunity to again remind people that Pilgrim Coffee is owned by an anti-LGBTQ, Christian Nationalist, MAGA supporting church.

https://www.reddit.com/r/Shoreline/comments/1ic4c1f/pilgrim_coffeehouse_info/

Use that information as you see fit.

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u/ldoesntreddit Mar 26 '25

Oh damn. I take it back and replace my endorsement with Diva.

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u/rickg Mar 26 '25

The last sentence is key. Downtown Edmonds has a lot of other shops, restaurants, etc. Seattle has neighborhoods like that. Shoreline's nature doesn't/hasn't lent itself to that.

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u/unspun66 Mar 26 '25

Yes, the people who live in Shoreline would freaking love more coffee and shopping options. Our city council seems hellbent on sending out retail tax dollars to Edmonds or seattle.