You’re invited to 2021 Only in Seattle Celebration!
Join Beacon Business Alliance at The Patio as the Seattle Office of Economic Development recognizes small businesses, workers and neighborhood district partners who made a difference during the pandemic. We will celebrate in person, share refreshments, hear from small businesses and neighborhood business district partners about how they experienced the pandemic and overcame challenges, network and build relationships with community and neighborhood business district partners.
RSVP for this free event here.
When: Tuesday, July 27, 2021
1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.
Where: The Patio
3806 South Ferdinand Street, Seattle, WA 98118
About
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
Small business owners impacted by COVID-19: Are you a business owner in food preparation, distribution or service? Are you struggling to stay open or safely reopen?
Get face time with experts on the topics of pivoting, how to use technology to take your business online, and other resources like mentoring and financing! The 9am – 11:00am program includes a mix of Seattle’s small business advocates and business owners who will address top concerns and expand on key learnings and strategies. The program runs an hour, then at 10:30 am we move to an open house format, giving everyone face time to ask questions, dig deeper on topics, and link up with other business owners and business advocates.
What Does Your Pivot Look Like?
Hear from small business owners that have successfully made the shift and others in the process.
Speaker: Mariah DeLeo
Mariah joined Seattle Good Business Network as the Local Food Economy Program Manager with the mission to help connect the regional food community, strengthen the farm-and-sea-to-plate pipeline, and build a more sustainable, resilient, and just local food economy. She comes to the role with over 20 years of experience in food and sustainability, with leadership roles at Marlene’s Market & Deli, the Puget Sound’s first natural foods grocery store, and as the Washington State Market Director at Chinook Book, building a network of businesses committed to shared values of environmental and social responsibility. There she co-founded the Heart of Seattle Awards to celebrate sustainable achievement for local retail and service businesses.
Technology in the time of Corona
What is your website doing for you? Learn how your virtual presence can boost or hinder your success.
Speaker: Laura Clise, Intentionalist
Intentionalist is your local guide to small businesses and the diverse people behind them. #SpendLikeItMatters
Laura Clise is a corporate intrapreneur turned social entrepreneur with a passion for instigating impact at the intersection of business and society. Prior to founding Intentionalist, she held a variety of corporate roles leading sustainability, corporate responsibility, supplier diversity, and external communications. She serves on the board of directors for IslandWood and Athlete Ally and can sing and/or order chocolate ice cream in Spanish, German, Italian, Chinese, Cambodian, Hebrew, and Turkish. Laura is an Aspen Institute First Mover Fellow and alumna of Carleton College and the Thunderbird School of Global Management.
Funding and small business technical assistance and mentoring
Bringing the latest on public / private funding, these folks know your local community-based funders/lenders and the new products or services you need to know about.
Speaker: Jennifer Tam
Jennifer Tam is a Food Business Advocate at the City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development managing the Food Business Program. She helps people navigate through the requirements and regulations when opening or expanding a food business in Seattle and connects people to small business development resources. She has been in this role since 2014 when OED’s Restaurant Success program launched to provide a one-stop shop on permitting and licensing for people looking to open or expand their restaurants in Seattle. Since then the program has evolved to be the Food Business program, which encompasses permitting and licensing information for restaurants, mobile food, caterers, and those who are looking to participate in farmers markets and temporary events. Jennifer provides one-on-one assistance to both new and existing businesses.
This free event is co-hosted by Beacon Business Alliance, Rainier Ave Business Coalition, and Seattle Public Library’s Library to Business program.
Require language support? We are providing Spanish, Vietnamese, and Mandarin translation. Indicate preferred language in your registration and be connected with one of our interpreters during the webinar. Questions? Contact us at info@beaconbusinessalliance.org.
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
Are you an artist impacted by COVID19? Are you trying to figure out how to reach your customers, safely reopen, or pivot your art-based business?
Join us at 9am on October 15th for the Virtual Business Resource Open House.
Some of the top concerns we are hearing from Seattle’s small business community will be addressed by Seattle’s small business advocates in this webinar. You will have the opportunity to ask questions, network with other business owners that have been impacted by COVID-19, explore next steps to boost your virtual presence, and learn what is happening with Seattle’s small business funding, technical assistance and mentoring.
This free event is perfect for visual artists, performing artists, teaching artists—or anyone working to support the creative economy. Get face time with experts on the topics of pivoting, how to use technology to take your business online, and other resources like mentoring and financing.
Co-hosted by Beacon Business Alliance, SPL’s Library to Business and Rainier Ave Business Coalition. Graphic Illustration by Mari Shibuya. Outreach support from La Sala. Partial funding through the Office Of Economic Development.
Topic #1 – What Does Your Pivot Look Like?
Hear from others who are part of Seattle’s creative economy that have successfully made the shift to sustainability, and connect with others in the process.
Lightning Talks Speaker: Jude Dai, Immersive Square Panelists: Carol Rashawnna Williams, klove4art; Amaranta Sandys, School of Art; Sam Farrazino, Equinox Studios; Kilam T.A., Poet
Topic #2 – Technology in the time of Corona
How your virtual presence could boost or hinder your success. Are you ready for e-commerce? What is your website doing for you?
Lightning Talks Speaker: Sara Green, DEI Creative Panelists: Roxanne Franck, Story2; Otts Bolisay, Digital Media Artist for Seattle Office of Arts and Culture
Topic #3 – Funding and small business technical assistance and mentoring
Do you need to learn the latest on public/private funding and get to know local community-based funders or lenders? Need to connect with organizations that will help you overcome gaps and barriers?
Lightning Talks Speaker: Matthew Richter, Seattle Office of Arts and Culture Panelists: Catalina Cantú, La Sala; Bonnie Chiffelle, Ventures; Sarah Domondon, Office of Economic Development; Amy Lillard, Washington Filmworks/Whipsmart
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
Virtual and in the Streets – Beacon Hill got it goin’ on!
Next up:
NETWORKING HAPPY HOUR September 17th – 4:30pm-6:00 pm
Dress business casual waste up for this Zoom event to connect with business owners and community — plus you’ll get a peek at some of the happenings on the hill. We know this is coming up quick and may be a difficult time of day for many of our businesses, however we are live streaming and will make sure the stream is accessible via our Facebook page. If you want to participate in the zoom networking event email us and we’ll provide the link and password. Don’t miss the presentations and opportunity to provide feedback on these projects!!
Networking Happy Hour Presentations:
Beacon Hill Bike Route- 15min includes Q&A SDOT is undertaking a new project, the Beacon Hill Bike Route. The route will stretch from Dr. Jose Rizal Bridge to the intersection of Beacon Ave S and 39th Ave S. The project will provide a critical connection for bicyclists and improve safety for people walking, biking, and driving. To learn about the project email us via the link above for this even and you’ll receive a calendar invite with Zoom and cell call-in options. Your feedback and questions will help inform the next phase of design!
King County International Airport (KCIA) – 15min includes Q&A KCIA is finalizing the formal Master Plan update which forecasts the next 20 years at the airport. Folks from KCIA will provide an overview of the process and impacts as part of a bigger outreach to surrounding neighborhoods, Beacon Hill, Georgetown and South Park. Email us via link above for this event and you’ll receive a calendar invite with Zoom and cell call-in information. For more information on the Master Plan see the KCIA Planning Page here: kingcounty.gov/services/airport/planning
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Upcoming:
BUSINESS RESOURCE OPEN HOUSE October 15th – 9:00am-10:30am
Our theme for October’s Business Resource Open House is: The Business of Art – Do you have a COVID-19 story how you had to write a new script for your future? Well, that’s a business plan! Yeah, Artists are business owners too! And the creative mind can help all of us think outside the box in trying times. Now what? Get on the list to register for our Business Resource Open House and you’ll get face time with experts in the industry, and learn about resources for building up your small business — whether you’re freelancing, running a single shingle or a studio, or newly building your solo brand.
Let’s talk reopening, surviving, and thriving in the time of COVID. Mark your calendars for 10/15!
The Business Resource Open House is co-hosted by Beacon Business Alliance, Seattle Public Library’s Library to Business program, Geoteaming, and the Essential Seattle team (www.essentialseseattle.com).
And until then, check out Black Dot every Thursday from 6 – 8 pm for their new series entitled Securing the Bag: Black Money Talk Meet Up and follow our socials where we are keeping you informed on important opportunities for small businesses in southeast Seattle.
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Safety Posters and Protection Kits
Are you a Beacon Hill Business that is serving customers? We have helpful signage for your brick ‘n mortar! The customer and employee safety posters are produced by King County Public Health and printed for BBA by The Copy Spot, and Office of Economic Development.
We also have free PPE including cloth face coverings, disposable masks, and hand sanitizer (similar to the Small Business Safe Start Kits that have been available at different spots in Seattle/King County).
Let us know if you would like to receive customer safety posters (available in Spanish, Mandarin, and Vietnamese) and an employee safety poster (English only) and/or PPE and we will see that it’s delivered to you by one of the BBA team!
Thermometers To help with your safe reopening El Centro de la Raza still has infrared thermometers available for businesses that have less than 50 employees and experience a high degree of person-to-person interaction — such as construction, retail, restaurants, markets and grocers, health care and agriculture. If you fall within one of these categories and wish to receive a thermometer for your business let us know and we’ll provide more details about how to pick up.
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Not quite a full-on Food Truck Pod…yet!? Check out C&C Food Store (also home of Sinclair Gas), across from Stevens Place Park and other delicious food establishments along Beacon Ave S in our northern most commercial node. Business owner, Jay Lee, has made arrangements with longtime Beacon Hill foodies to bring their menus back home.
CheBogz Filipino Food Truck, run by the Paraiso sisters Patrixia and Paula (formerly owners of Kusina Filipina), will be serving on Fridays from 4pm to 8pm (next is 9/18! See webiste for menu and pre-orders).
Same day, Friday 9/18 José Luis and his family will have El Saborcito back up and running everyday from 10am to 10pm. MMMMM so good! See you there — we’ll be chowing down on delicious tacos for lunch and bringing home Chicken Adobo for dinner!
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Join BBA Today!
Do you live, work, or shop in Beacon Hill? Get involved with BBA! You can become a member to support the work we do. And you can join the team! We are looking to expand our board from five to eight. Board members come from many walks, but all are Beacon Hillers to the core, whether they live or work here. Board members support organizational goals and provide guidance on how to achieve those goals. Check in with us to learn more about this opportunity to engage with your community.
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About
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
August11,2020 | 9:00am to 10:30am – includes 30 minutes for open house 10-10:30am
Are you a small business owner trying to figure out how to reach your customers, safely reopen, or pivot your business?
Join us at 9:00am on August 11th for the virtual Business Resource Open House (webinar and FB livestream)! Small business advocates will address some of the top concerns we are hearing about from Seattle’s small businesses community. You will have opportunity to ask questions, network with other business owners that have been impacted by COVID-19, explore next steps to boost your virtual presence, and learn what is happening with Seattle’s small business funding, technical assistance and mentoring.
TOPICS
What Does Your Pivot Look Like? SE SEATTLE Retools – be a part of it! Hear from small business owners that have successfully made the shift and others in the process.
Technology in the time of Corona – What is your website doing for you? How your virtual presence can boost or hinder your success.
Funding and small business technical assistance and mentoring Bringing the latest on public / private funding; know your local community-based funders/lenders; what are some gaps and barriers; new products or services you need to know about.
This free event is co-hosted by Beacon Business Alliance, Rainier Ave Business Coalition and Seattle Public Library’s Library to Business program. Zoom rooms give you face time with experts on the topics of pivoting, how to use technology to take your business online, and other resources like mentoring and financing.
Learn more about the Speakers and Panelists for this event (PDF).
Require language support? We are providing Spanish, Vietnamese and Mandarin translation. Indicate preferred language in your registration and be connected with one of our interpreters during the webinar. Questions? Contact us at info@beaconbusinessalliance.org.
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
To help Southeast Seattle neighbors support and shop hyperlocal during this difficult time, we collaborated with others to compile a list of open “essential” businesses and local organizations that are providing a service or making food for their community.
This resource is meant to serve our Southeast Seattle communities and will continue to be updated. We hope you find it easily searchable by neighborhood and/or type of food, service, special product or offering. If you know of a business that should be listed here let us know via email.
Help us show big appreciation to our collaborators—follow to stay connected to your neighborhood happenings: @rainierabc, @mtbakerhub, @homesitewa, @mlkba and @bbabeaconhill. The project is managed by Homesight, with partial funding from the Office of Economic Development.
ALSO PLEASE NOTE: For a city-wide locater of takeout and delivery options you can check out the new #SupportSeattleSmallBiz map managed by the City of Seattle.
About
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
It is no secret that these are challenging times for our community and our businesses. Our public and private schools are closing, public events canceled, and even our movement restricted. There are many unknowns, which can evoke uncertainty and even fear.
But over the past 10 years, we at Beacon Business Alliance have seen our community come together and now is no exception. So, with good hand washing, communication, and keeping an eye out for others, we can stick together and weather the storm this time, too.
We know there is a lot of information out there. We are committed to staying abreast of the changing events in this evolving situation and via our social media channels will share important, accurate information and links to resources as they are made available to help our small business community.
The impact on Seattleites is simply unknown, as we navigate something we’ve not experienced before. By working together, we can ensure elder and higher-risk community members don’t get left out of the loop—while also finding ways to keep our economy vibrant. Here’s what you can do:
How to support local businesses
Learn about the new recovery package to ease financial impacts of COVID-19
After outreach to small business owners and community stakeholders, Mayor Durkan announced new initial actions to provide immediate relief for small businesses impacted by COVID-19, including a deferral of B&O taxes, an expansion of the Small Business Stabilization Fund, assistance with accessing SBA Loans, relief for utility payments, and a new Small Business Recovery Task Force. Learn more.
Listen to Rainier Avenue Radio’s special broadcast
The station is hosting a special broadcast entitled “The Impacts of the Coronavirus in South Seattle and Surrounding Communities” from 3 to 4pm Friday, March 13th. Listen in here.
Join weekly small business webinars
The City of Seattle’s Office of Economic Development is supporting small businesses by holding weekly calls to share new developments, hear about the impacts you are experiencing, and answer your questions. Register to join Wednesdays from 11:00am to 12:00pm.
Find out the latest information on the virus
Public Health – Seattle & King County and the City of Seattle hosted a webinar to offer accurate coronavirus information, prevention measures, and ways for community organizations and businesses to support employees and the public. Watch here or visit their blog for the most up-to-date information.
Continue enjoying local businesses
Shopping locally helps our community, so whether you head into stores or purchase online, you can keep your favorite local businesses afloat.
And, don’t forget about Plate of Nations from March 27 to April 10. Restaurants from Beacon Hill to Rainier Beach will offer a taste of Seattle’s global food scene from the East Coast to Eritrea to Somalia. Each restaurant will offer a specially designed, shareable plate to visitors for $20 and $30.
Make your voice heard
Mark your calendars for our annual meeting and networking event on March 30, 2020 from 5:30 to 6pm at the Perihelion Brewery. We will let you know if we postpone or livestream the event.
Before then, consider nominating someone (maybe even yourself?) and ensuring your membership is active, as only active members can vote.
About
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
Holiday window decoration at Day Moon Press (2018)
Mimi’s Bakery and Floral—Cakes, Flowers, and now Bánh mì Sandwiches, Milk Tea, and More
Mimi’s is a little shop with a lot to offer
For 30 years, an unassuming little bakery on Beacon Ave just south of Columbian Way has quietly churned out baked goods for Beacon Hill and beyond. Eight years ago, Nga Do (“Nn-yah Doh”) bought Mimi’s Bakery and Floral and started living her dream as a culinary queen and florist extraordinaire—and if you have a large event to pull off, she’s got you covered there too.
Mimi’s offers numerous packages for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and more including all your food, tablecloths, chair covers, place settings, flowers and other decorations, and, of course, your cakes. But wait, there’s more!
Sandwiches, smoothies, and milk tea, oh my!
Mimi’s recently added a full menu of Vietnamese baguette-style bánh mì and BBQ pork sandwiches (loaded with ripe veggies), fresh rolls, salads, and more to their offerings. Get it to go or get it catered. They also now serve blended ice in flavors like avocado, taro, mango, strawberry, and strawberry banana. Another menu addition is milk tea—or bubble tea—a blend of sweetened taro, green, oolong, jasmine, or maja tea blended with milk swimming with slippery tapioca balls that produce the most satisfying burst when you chomp on them. And in addition to cakes made to order, Mimi’s makes flan and Vietnamese yogurt, and they carry some pastries sourced from the neighborhood.
One very hardworking mom
Mimi’s—well, Nga really—does it all. A mother of three nearly-grown children, Nga works six days a week (down from seven!). “My kids say, ‘mom you’re a work-a-holic!’” says Nga, laughing. They recently convinced her to close one day a week to give herself a break, so Mimi’s closes up on Wednesdays now and reopens in full swing on Thursdays when Nga arrives bright and early to start cooking and baking fresh goods for the day (she doesn’t pre-make anything).
We’re so grateful to Musang for co-hosting our annual event and to all of you who were able to attend and share the night (and the incredible food!) with us on Monday, December 16.
If you attended, we hope you enjoyed yourselves as much as we did! Melissa and her staff are amazing, we can’t thank them enough for helping us create a night to remember.
We hope you’ll visit this new small business in the new year!
If you missed the Annual Rendezvous, fear not: there’s always another BBA event around the corner. We’ll start up our Networking Happy Hours again in the new year and we’ll see you out and about in the neighborhood. And please—drop us a line any time!
Here are some pics from the event:
Annual Rendezvous, 2019 @ Musang
Have You Seen Our Walking Map?
We recently sent out a survey and our small business walking map to all the brick and mortar businesses in and around the north Beacon Hill district. If you received a survey, please fill it out and send it back in the self-addressed stamped envelope provided (if you haven’t already).
If you didn’t receive a survey and would like to fill one out, let us know. And if you’re a home business owner, we very much want to hear from you! So do reach out and tell us where to send your survey.
Ensure your business is included in future iterations of the map and our other business directories when you become a member of BBA. Your membership dues will help us print more walking maps and materials and promote your business and our business district.
Looking Back—and Looking Forward to Our Tenth Year Serving Beacon!
Bottom image above: Juvenal Teofilo, new co-owner of Outsider Pizza. Get Outsider Pizza by the slice or order whole pies Mon., Tues., Thurs., Fri., & Sat., 11 AM–7:30 PM & Wed., 11 AM–6:30 PM (closed Sun.). Outsider Pizza is on Plaza Roberto Maestas by the south entrance of El Centro de la Raza. Juvenal is the only vendor who will be open during the winter.
* * * 2019 Reflections
In 2020, we’ll celebrate ten years serving the Beacon Hill community. We’re so proud and honored—it’s been a wild ride! So much has changed. We’ve watched beloved small businesses close and leave the hill and others move and grow to be bigger and more prosperous than ever. We’ve welcomed new businesses and business owners and have worked to get them involved in the community. We’re humbled by all our new friends and members and the awesome connections we’ve made with all of you this year.
Our board has grown and we’re excited for the prospective board members we’re talking to now to join us so we can continue a trajectory of representation and leadership that appropriately reflects our neighborhood.
In order to grow our board, we need community stakeholder engagement, so members, please send us your nominees for 2020. And if you’re interested in joining the board, let us know! We want to hear your voice.
Not a member? Become a member in 2020 and bring your ideas, concerns, and board nominees to the organization. Email us today at info@beaconbusinessalliance.org.
Some 2019 BBA Highlights:
We’re proud to have continued our work on mobility improvements for Beacon Ave to make it a safer, more vibrant main thoroughfare.
We participated in another annual Bridge to Beach clean up on the hill. Thanks to those who turned out to help!
We partnered with Plate of Nations to have Beacon Hill businesses included in this important and exciting (and growing!) annual event.
We supported community members and partner organizations in their efforts to “Save Garden House” and successfully see the property added to Seattle’s list of historic landmarks so it will be preserved for generations to come.
Partnering with the Beacon Hill Council, we co-hosted a well-attended primary election District 2 Candidate Forum at Centilia Cultural Center, moderated by Esther “Little Dove” John, and were outreach partners on a post-primary forum at New Holly Gathering Hall. The latter was moderated by Nikkita Oliver and Ben Yisrael. Both events saw good community engagement with candidates and the election process. Moderators asked tough questions of candidates about their plans for our district, how we can hold them accountable, and more.
We participated in a business resource open house, hosted by the new Rainier Ave Business Coalition, with over a dozen other organizations helping small businesses and entrepreneurs in South Seattle.
We worked with Southend Connect (formerly Connect 10K) on their video project highlighting a Beacon Hill ethnic business, El Quetzal. We look forward to spotlighting more Beacon businesses in 2020!
We interviewed business owners for our blog, shared their stories with the community, boosted the signal on local events and other happenings, and did our part to promote Beacon Hill and our beautiful and talented business community, including entering into a partnership with the South Seattle Emerald to share small business stories to their website and readership in 2020.
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Bring on the new year!!!
Other images in this section: Suzy Lee (BBA board), Jessie McKenna (BBA staff), Marcos Arellano (Sharkbite Ceviches), Angela Castaneda (BBA staff), and Robert Hinrix (BBA board) at a BBA Networking Happy Hour at Baja Bistro. Middle left: Adi Maxwell (BBA staff) & Angela at the D2 Forum at Centilia Cultural Center. Middle right: New “Welcome to Beacon” signs!
New Business on Beacon!
Petite Soif
3309A Beacon Ave S.
Shawn Mead and Lauren Feldman of Vif—a wine bar, bottle shop, and cafe in Fremont—have opened a new wine bar and bottle shop on Beacon Hill called Petite Soif. We’re excited to have this new women-owned business on the hill!
Find Petite Soif next to Tippe & Drague, between Hinds and Horton in the new development that just went up on the spot. In their own words, Petit Soif is a “neighborhood natural wine bar and bottle shop with great food to boot!”
Check out their website to see the full menu and follow them on Facebook to stay up to date on happenings.
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What Else Is New?
Coming soon…
Musang
2524 Beacon Ave S.
Musang (pronounced “moo-song”) will open in the former location of Traveler’s Thali House in early January. Follow chef Melissa Miranda and Musang for pop-up events and Musang opening news on Facebook and/or Instagram!
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We don’t know when it will be open yet, but the ground floor of the new Jefferson Station Apartments (across from our office at the Beacon Hill Library) will be home to another new restaurant very soon. Keep an eye on this spot:
The project’s mission to collect/produce “authentic Southeast Seattle stories straight from the source” remains and they’ve got a ton of great videos up on their site, including a beautiful one about Beacon Hill’s own El Quetzal. See the El Q video here. See all the stories on their website!
Please reach out to us at info@beaconbusinessalliance.org if you’re interested in participating in this project in some way.
Jefferson Community Center hosts regular activities for people of all ages and abilities. Find the Winter brochure for Southeast Seattle community centers here.
This is by no means a complete list of Beacon Hill events. If you want us to promote your upcoming event, please let us know! info@beaconbusinessalliance.org.
Community Alert:
We know that many of our community members are concerned for themselves and each other in this time of uncertainty surrounding immigration in the U.S.
Many have undoubtedly heard disturbing stories about families being separated, the conditions in detention centers, and those with and without U.S. citizenship being arrested, detained, and, in rare cases, wrongfully deported.
The issues are complex. New policies and practices make it hard to keep up. There’s a lot of confusion and misinformation out there. We’re listening to and share your concerns. We did some research and are providing the following information to help alleviate confusion and put the power of knowledge into the hands of our community.
Knowing your rights is paramount. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)—whose mission is to “promote justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education”—provides helpful information and resources.
From NWIRP and the ACLU of Washington: “Even a non-citizen who is not carrying immigration papers has the right to remain silent. Whatever you say to a government agent may be used against you.” (This includes ICE, the United States Customs and Border Patrol, Police, FBI, etc., all agencies must state their authority and present identification to you.)
While it is not a crime to remain silent, they say, “if you are a driver in a car and a law enforcement agent demands to see your driver’s license, vehicle registration, or proof of insurance, you must show these.”
Here are some fact sheets from NWIRP about your rights:
NOTE: A recent sighting of a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) truck and officer on Beacon Hill outside of Baja Bistro stirred up concerns and sparked heated debate in the community about the roles and authority of USCBP and ICE. They are not the same agency, but they are related and can and do work in concert according to NWIRP. As Seattle is within 100 miles of an external boundary (due to our proximity to the Pacific Ocean), USCBP has jurisdiction in Seattle and can and do arrest and detain individuals. Here’s some more information about the “100-mile border zone” of the United States and the authority of USCBP, from the American Civil Liberties Union.
By phone: Call our Director, Angela Castañeda @ 206-459-1430
By snail mail: 2821 Beacon Ave S., Seattle, WA. 98144
We share our office space with several partner organizations, so please make an appointment to catch us in person outside of our events. Our office is located at 2821 Beacon Ave S. (just inside the Beacon Hill Library). If we’re not holding a private meeting, we’re happy to chat, show you around our resource center, and be of service in any way we can.
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
For 30 years, an unassuming little bakery on Beacon Ave just south of Columbian Way has quietly churned out baked goods for Beacon Hill and beyond. Eight years ago, Nga Do (“Nn-yah Doh”) bought Mimi’s Bakery and Floral and started living her dream as a culinary queen and florist extraordinaire—and if you have a large event to pull off, she’s got you covered there too.
Mimi’s offers numerous packages for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, and more including all your food, tablecloths, chair covers, place settings, flowers and other decorations, and, of course, your cakes. But wait, there’s more!
Sandwiches, smoothies, and milk tea, oh my!
Mimi’s recently added a full menu of Vietnamese baguette-style bánh mì and BBQ pork sandwiches (loaded with ripe veggies), fresh rolls, salads, and more to their offerings. Get it to go or get it catered. They also now serve blended ice in flavors like avocado, taro, mango, strawberry, and strawberry banana. Another menu addition is milk tea—or bubble tea—a blend of sweetened taro, green, oolong, jasmine, or maja tea blended with milk swimming with slippery tapioca balls that produce the most satisfying burst when you chomp on them. And in addition to cakes made to order, Mimi’s makes flan and Vietnamese yogurt, and they carry some pastries sourced from the neighborhood.
One very hardworking mom
Mimi’s—well, Nga really—does it all. A mother of three nearly-grown children, Nga works six days a week (down from seven!). “My kids say, ‘mom you’re a work-a-holic!’” says Nga, laughing. They recently convinced her to close one day a week to give herself a break, so Mimi’s closes up on Wednesdays now and reopens in full swing on Thursdays when Nga arrives bright and early to start cooking and baking fresh goods for the day (she doesn’t pre-make anything).
“My kids say, ‘mom you’re a work-a-holic!’”
Nga Do
Nga’s children have been helping her at the shop since they were kids, when she first took over the bakery. They said, “Mom, I want to do it!” says Nga. “So now they do! I’m lucky.” Her kids still help today when she does larger events on the weekends, like weddings. They all have school during the week (high school and college). Her dad and sister can be found in the shop helping out on the weekends too, so Mimi’s is truly a family affair with Nga at the helm.
Nga is Chinese and Vietnamese. She grew up in Vietnam, where she says the working days were long. “In my country I worked 15 or 16 hours a day since I was ten years old,” she says. So when people ask her if she feels like she works too much or ask her if she’s tired, she says, no—she loves to work! And this? This is easy compared to her hard working younger days in Vietnam. She feels lucky to be doing something she’s passionate about and thoroughly enjoys. She says this feels easy compared to that. She only recently went to closing Wed so she could spend time with her family.
“I love to serve the people … I love to see people happy.”
Nga Do
“I love to serve the people,” says Nga, and she aims to make it right every time. “That’s why I try to make things the best that I can … I love to see people happy,” Nga notes with a smile.
Thursday through Tuesday you can find Nga, her cakes, dozens of orchids and other lovely plants, and fat binders full of pictures of floral arrangements Nga has created over the years for her clients. Of the flower she says—“When I arrange them I feel so happy, I can see them every day.”
Cakes, flowers, and a little help
If you need a sheet cake, order a day or two in advance, as they’re made to order. If you have special requests that might require her to order out, like a particular toy topper for a children’s birthday cake, order 5–7 days before you need it. For events catering, you can order anything on the menu (including milk tea!)—just get your request in 48 hours in advance.
For flower arrangements, give her a few days advance notice so she can source the right plants for the job. She also sells her orchids and other potted plants in the shop. For multiple arrangements for a party or larger event, give her a week’s notice. Combined flower and food delivery (including cake) is available upon request for a reasonable fee.
“Some people say, ‘that’s too hard.’ I say, have you tried yet?”
Nga Do
Nga does most of the work herself. Of her work ethic and intense schedule and of hard work in and seemingly insurmountable tasks in general, she says, “Some people say, ‘that’s too hard.’ I say, have you tried yet?”
Speaking of trying and hard work, Nga is always looking for people who are serious about making a career in baking, cake decorating, cooking, catering, etc. She wants to find staff who are committed and have a good work ethic. She will train, but some cake-making/decorating experience is preferred.
Grab a bánh mì and a milk tea or pastry and be sure to peruse the impressive binders full of flowers and party decorations at Mimi’s Bakery and Floral Thurs–Sat, 9 a.m.–7 p.m. and Sun–Tues, 9 a.m.–6 p.m.
About
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
On Thursday, July 18, Beacon Business Alliance and Beacon Hill Council—along with outreach partners and volunteers—hosted a D2 Candidate Forum for the community to attend that included a Q&A session with candidates for the upcoming King County and Seattle elections.
This free event was held at Centilia Cultural Center. People registered to vote and received information about democracy vouchers. Approximately one hundred and seventy people attended!
Post-Primary D2 Candidate Forum Coming Your Way!
A post-primary D2 candidate forum is in the works. We’ll announce a date and location to our channels as soon as it’s confirmed. Stay tuned!
Follow us now on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram to learn about upcoming events and happenings on Beacon.
September Networking Happy Hour!
Join us for a community Networking Happy Hour at Carnitas Michoacán
Tues., Sept. 17, 4:30–6 PM — 2503 Beacon Ave S.
BBA members and the community at large are invited to attend our networking events. Get some face time with one another and with the BBA board and staff. Meet other members, learn about becoming a member, and/or just find out more about us and our work.
We’ll talk about the year so far, what’s coming up, introduce board members in attendance, and invite your questions. We encourage you to order lunch—we’ll provide something light to get the stomach growling!
3002 Beacon Ave S. (Located in the parking lot of the Valero gas station)
Asian Cajun Vegan—“A Seattle food truck selling unique plant-based fusion foods”—just had their grand-opening party on Sat, Aug. 17—where they sold out of food by 1 PM! Stop by and visit to find out what all the fuss is about. Find their menu, business hours, and more on their website.
Open evenings Wed–Fri & open for lunch on Sat.
Gorgeous paintings on the truck courtesy of Angelina Villalobos (AKA “179”). You can also find Angelina’s work on the interior boards of some of our Beacon Ave bus shelters.
Karina Ruiz recently opened this spot where nutrition, yoga, fitness, and all around good health converge. They offer tasty (and healthy!) smoothies/shakes, delectable, protein-packed treats, and fitness classes and more to boot!
Follow Beacon Hill Nutrition on Facebook to learn more about when they’re open and their upcoming events.
What Else Is New?
Updates and Upgrades at Oak!
2523 15th Ave S.
Oak restaurant and bar—which serves an eclectic menu of American food (including some great vegan options!) and keeps its bar fully stocked—recently opened “The Den” a reservable additional space that’s open to the public on Friday and Saturday nights. But that’s not all that’s new at Oak!
In their own words: “Lots of neat changes at ye olde Oak lately. Sidewalk cafe, additional indoor seating seating in our lounge, and now — AIR CONDITIONING in our lounge and Bear Den! That’s right, now comfort can be had in every corner of our neighborhood hangout.”
Chef Melissa Miranda has been hard at work building out her new restaurant space in the former location of Traveler’s Thali House. Musang Filipino (and more!) restaurant is slated to open this fall.
In the meantime, catch up with Melissa and Musang at pop-up events and follow along on her journey on Facebook and/or Instagram!
— — —
New business incoming! The ground floor of the new Jefferson Station Apartments (across from our office at the Beacon Hill Library) will be home to another new restaurant. The moment we can share details, we’ll spill the beans!
Chef Melissa Miranda’s father—whose nickname “Musang” (pronounced “Moo-song”) was the inspiration for the name of her new Filipino restaurant on Beacon Hill—poses with her new sign. (Image: Musang on Facebook)
Volunteers Help K–12 Students Succeed in School!
The Seattle Public Library seeks Homework Help volunteers to help K–12 students develop literacy and math skills, understand homework assignments, and prepare for college. Volunteers tutor children and teens in all academic subjects and may also specialize in English, math, and science.
Fill out an application here and contact Anne Vedella, volunteer services coordinator, at volunteer@spl.org if you have questions before completing an application.
Note:The application deadline for the coming school year has passed, but only just, and applications are accepted July–March each year, so go ahead and fill out an application if you’re interested in helping students succeed by becoming a homework helper.
Have You had a Chance to Check out Connect 10K?
Authentic Southeast Seattle Stories Straight from the Source
The Rainier Chamber of Commerce embarked on a unique program last year, Connect 10,000, to bring Southeast Seattle stories to life through video interviews with small business owners. We love this concept and have been working in parallel and in partnership to ensure Beacon Hill stories are included in the mix of South End stories being told right now. Stay tuned and please reach out to us if you’re interested in participating in this project in some way.
Take a look at the Connect 10K project online and find Southeast Seattle stories right now as they’re released to the the Connect 10K Facebook page.
Jefferson Community Center always has lots going on for people of all ages and abilities. Find the Fall 2019 brochure for Southeast Seattle community centers here.
This is by no means a complete list of Beacon Hill events. If you want us to promote your upcoming event, please let us know! info@beaconbusinessalliance.org.
Community Alert:
We know that many of our community members are concerned for themselves and each other in this time of uncertainty surrounding immigration in the U.S.
Many have undoubtedly heard disturbing stories about families being separated, the conditions in detention centers, and those with and without U.S. citizenship being arrested, detained, and, in rare cases, wrongfully deported.
The issues are complex. New policies and practices make it hard to keep up. There’s a lot of confusion and misinformation out there. We’re listening to and share your concerns. We did some research and are providing the following information to help alleviate confusion and put the power of knowledge into the hands of our community.
Knowing your rights is paramount. The Northwest Immigrant Rights Project (NWIRP)—whose mission is to “promote justice by defending and advancing the rights of immigrants through direct legal services, systemic advocacy, and community education”—provides helpful information and resources.
From NWIRP and the ACLU of Washington: “Even a non-citizen who is not carrying immigration papers has the right to remain silent. Whatever you say to a government agent may be used against you.” (This includes ICE, the United States Customs and Border Patrol, Police, FBI, etc., all agencies must state their authority and present identification to you.)
While it is not a crime to remain silent, they say, “if you are a driver in a car and a law enforcement agent demands to see your driver’s license, vehicle registration, or proof of insurance, you must show these.”
Here are some fact sheets from NWIRP about your rights:
NOTE: A recent sighting of a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol (USCBP) truck and officer on Beacon Hill outside of Baja Bistro stirred up concerns and sparked heated debate in the community about the roles and authority of USCBP and ICE. They are not the same agency, but they are related and can and do work in concert according to NWIRP. As Seattle is within 100 miles of an external boundary (due to our proximity to the Pacific Ocean), USCBP has jurisdiction in Seattle and can and do arrest and detain individuals. Here’s some more information about the “100-mile border zone” of the United States and the authority of USCBP, from the American Civil Liberties Union.
By phone: Call our Director, Angela Castañeda @ 206-459-1430
By snail mail: 2821 Beacon Ave S., Seattle, WA. 98144
We share our office space with several partner organizations, so please make an appointment to catch us in person outside of our events. Our office is located at 2821 Beacon Ave S. (just inside the Beacon Hill Library). If we’re not holding a private meeting, we’re happy to chat, show you around our resource center, and be of service in any way we can.
We’re here for you!
About
For people who love Beacon Hill’s ethnic, social, and economic diversity, Beacon Business Alliance promotes the neighborhood, connects stakeholders, and more.
When: Tuesday, July 27, 2021
1:30 p.m.-3 p.m.
Where: The Patio
3806 South Ferdinand Street, Seattle, WA 98118 
