The exterior of the building is still forest green with red trim, but the interior of Boulevard Grocery (2007 NE Ravenna Blvd) has undergone quite a transformation this year.
Since Seven Coffee Roasters’ Sean Lee took over the business around the close of 2011, the barely 800-square-foot neighborhood grocery store has added two more jobs to its own resume: cafe and art space. All three facets seek to tempt both long-time residents and university students alike to come in, enjoy each others’ company, and head home with food and drink for their tables.
We stopped by the 96-year-old-building in January (for the soft open) and again here in April to witness the progress and share it with you here.
From left to right: Owner Sean, Barista Patrick, and Manager Jeff (photo taken at the soft open)
Whole bean Seven Coffee Roaster coffee was first to line the shelves back in January...
...and has since been joined by other goods such as pasta, oatmeal, soup, condiments, and more.
The Four Loko is gone, happily replaced by 22 oz bottles of local beers.
Wall o' wine at the rear of the store.
During our January visit these built-in benches had just been completed. They've since been joined by a large table.
The new pastry case, rife with hand pies from High 5 Pie.
Sandwiches by Blue Saucer in Maple Leaf wait to be purchased for a picnic.
Bread by the Essential Baking Company, delivered every other day.
Free toast with coffee special advertised next to a jar of doggie treats.
Sorry, kitty: No treats for you.
A small flock of origami birds cluster together on a windowsill.
A painting of Boulevard Grocery itself, done by a local.
The Compassion Wizard even hangs out here.
A mixed media work by Narboo (note the plastic soda can rings on the left).
A limited run of handpainted bags on display -- portions of each sale go to the artist, the store, and a charity.
With the beans removed, your coffee bean bag artwork is suitable for framing.
For more on the gallery side of Boulevard Grocery, check out this piece by Lauren Kronebusch of The Daily at the University of Washington: “Boulevard Gallery: View From A Coffee Cup.”
Boulevard Grocery is also holding an artwalk this Friday, April 21st, from 6-9 PM. Works by Greenwood’s Narboo and Starheadboy will be showcased, with live acoustic music.
Can’t wait to check it out while I’m walking my dogs! What’s the policy of purchasing a beer inside and then drinking it while sitting in the outside patio?
Ooo, that sounds perfect. But it might involve a different level of liquor license than the business currently carries. Do stop in and ask about it, though.
I grew up one block from this store (on Candy Cane Lane). We always called it “The Little Store” and it was a favorite place to stop by for a bit of candy or a bag of corn nuts on the way home from school. Many times my mom would send me up there for a can of this or that needed last minute for a recipe.
The owners (back in the 1960s) were always so kind to us kids. They lived in a house that backed up to the store.
I had a similar experience growing up in my own hometown: Corner store, a few blocks away from home, that my brother and I could walk to, unchaperoned.
Turns out, this sort of thing is a gauge for a neighborhood’s livability: Can an eight-year-old safely get somewhere to buy a popsicle, and then get home before it melts? Read about the “popsicle test” here: http://boingboing.net/2011/08/25/popsicle-test-evaluating-a-neighborhoods-livability-with-frozen-treats.html
To get home from the John Muir trail I rented a car from Budget in Reno and drppoed it off in San Jose. They charged like, 14 extra bucks because I’m under 25.
Interesting. When I lived on that street a few years ago, we called it the “inconvenience store” — always “closed” even during posted hours. Hopefully the new owners have remedied that.
Heh heh. I believe the hours are 7 AM to 7 PM every day but Sunday, when they close at 6 PM (per their Facebook page).
I have lived by “the little green store” for a couple decades. I have seen it change hands at least 5 times. Remember the guy who put all his KISS memorabilia behind the counter? Or when Loren ran it? This is the worst version yet. Bring back the little green store!