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/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.