The public café and showroom is a worldwide first for La Marzocco

If you've ever had an espresso, there's a good chance your barista poured it from a La Marzocco machine. The 89-year-old manufacturer was once the primary supplier for local giant Starbucks; thanks to that former relationship, Seattle became a home away from home for the Italian company, which has its North American headquarters in Ballard.

Now La Marzocco is cutting out the middleman at its first ever public café and showroom in global radio sensation KEXP's new home in the Seattle Center.

In part devoted to La Marzocco’s long history in Seattle, the showroom will be home to an astounding collection of vintage espresso machines and coffee gear. 

A main attraction of the industrial-chic space, inspired by La Marzocco's factory in Florence as well as Italian coffee bars the company helped design in the 1960s, 70s, and 80s, will be the "Roasters in Residence" program. Coffee companies from around the globe will have an opportunity to participate in one-month residencies, brewing their beverages, and selling their beans.

Western Neon did the signage in the cafe, including the thick dimensional letters on the shelves, the illuminated logo window sign, Founder, Piero Bambi's quote on the wall and the brass lion inlaid in the floor. Statues of lions with a raised paw holding a shield with the lily flower, are a symbol of Florence, Italy. 

Rose Theatre's old neon sign gets a makeover

The Rose opened as a vaudeville house in 1907. The transition from live theatre to silent film, to talkies, to Technicolor, and now to digital projection across three unique screens. They offer the people of the Olympic Peninsula not only world-class film, but also high-definition ballet, opera, classical music and theatre from across the globe. 

Experience a film at the Rose or the Starlight Room, where the popcorn is fresh, the butter is real, the sound is superb, and every show is personally introduced by the host/owner, Rocky Friedman.

The old neon sign was faded and some of the neon not working, so Western Neon removed the sign and brought it into our shop for a makeover.   The cabinet was sandblasted, then repainted with Matthews Chocolate Thunder, with opaque antique white and light gold vinyl lettering. The clear red neon was reprocessed and pumped, our glass bender bent new CL4500 warm white neon for a vintage look.   We replaced the old guywires that were stabilizing the sign, since we could not change the original sign to eliminate the wires.

The sign is back up on the Rose Theatre and should shine brightly for another 25 years.   

Café Solstice Capitol Hill

The Cafe Solstice owners opened a second location on the corner of 10th Avenue and East Thomas Street on Capitol Hill this summer.  Their original location is in the University District.

Café Solstice is at it's root a coffee shop, but they are so much more than that. They use locally-sourced providers for both of their cafes.  

They pull espresso shots made with Lighthouse Roasters coffee, and their pastries and baked goods are made right in the café. They also serve some fantastic beer from Elysian Brewing Company.  Their beautiful new sign with rusted routed faces, back lit with red neon was designed and fabricated by Western Neon Custom Sign.  

Stop in and say hi to Doug & Joel; check out the amazing buffalo head on the wall, sample one of their hot Panini sandwiches or house-made soups, and a cold brew.

Makers of fine art objects and conceptual innovation - Electric Coffin

Western Neon just completed adding neon to another creative endeavor from the guys at Electric Coffin.  Each time we work on one of their projects, it's a blast.  Each project is very different and absolutely out-of-the-box.  

Justin Kane Elder, Stefan Hofmann and Patrick “Duffy” De Armas

This dynamic trio was featured in the September 2014 issue of Seattle Magazine, link attached for more info on their artistic installations at new restaurants in Seattle.  

Keep up the good work, guys!!

http://www.seattlemag.com/article/creative-trio-takes-interior-design-arty-level

Stand Up For Better Health

We just finished a window sign for a company that makes treadmill work stations.  Work While Walking in Bellevue, WA, wanted to grab the attention of people passing by, so we designed an animated sign using their logo.  

So, if you think you can walk and type at the same time, this is the work station for you!!

James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson

Located in the historic Hotel Max, Miller’s Guild is built around a nine-foot-long, custom-made wood-fired grill. The menu features 75-day dry-aged beef, nose-to-tail butchery, and rustic baked goods. Carrying on the theme, Miller’s Guild also features crafted cocktails made with spirits house-finished in oak casks, suspended above the bar.

Miller’s Guild is a partnership forged between James Beard Award-winning chef Jason Wilson, his wife and Crush co-owner Nicole Wilson, ChefStable Group founder and owner Kurt Huffman, and former Best Young Sommelier in America Jake Kosseff.

Wilson is absolutely geeking out about the custom-made 9-foot-long Infierno wood-fired grill that will be the centerpiece of both the room and his menu.

Sandwich Environmentalism - Good intentions equal good sandwiches

THEY’RE HOMEGROWN, all right.

Brad Gillis and Ben Friedman. Born months apart. Met in Mrs. O’Neill’s kindergarten class on Mercer Island where (bet you a peanut butter and jelly sandwich) they were the kids most likely to succeed.

Don’t know Homegrown? Imagine a sandwich shop with a social conscience. A very green machine: certified organic ingredients when available, local when possible, packaging that’s recyclable or compostable.

Yeah. These guys grew up here, apples falling from fruitful trees.

“Both our dads were entrepreneurs,” in real-estate development and biotech, explains Friedman. “We grew up around startups, risks. That was always the discussion around the dinner table.” Ditto for nonprofit work and philanthropy.

They call their calling “sandwich environmentalism.”

“Our market is not an economic market, it’s an idealistic one,” says Friedman. And Seattle idealists are voting with their pocketbooks.

These two dynamos just opened their fifth Homegrown shop at 208 Westlake Ave. North today.  It's a beautiful space and the food is very tasty.  Stop down for lunch, you won't be disappointed.

SODO was rocking last night . . .

Western Neon partied down last evening with customers, friends and family.  Everyone was on hand to celebrate the new Rainier R, prior to it being placed back on the old Rainier Brewery later this month.

There was food, live music provided by Tip to Base, and enough Rainier Beer on hand to float a ferry.  Guests were able to see glass bending demos and walk through WN's metal fabrication area, as well as get pictures taken with the soon to be famous new "R".

Oh, and the famous Rainier Beers made an appearance.

Check out a little of the action.

 Western Neon Fabricators and Installers

 Old Rainier Sign from Tacoma Brewery

 Glass Bending Demo

 Fred Stray - Eastside Ice Machines

Best Ice Man on the West Coast

 Cupcake Royale Special Cupcakes

Original Sign from WN 

Tully's 'T' removal from Seattle's Historic Rainier Brewery

After 13 years atop the Rainier Brewery building, Tully's big, green "T" came down today.  The “R” was replaced with the “T” in 2000 by Tully’s.

Rainier worked with MOHAI and Seattle sign company Western Neon to produce an exact replica of the red Rainer “R." A partnership between Rainier and Columbia Distributing paid for the sign.

The new Rainier “R” will be installed in October. The original “R” is at the Museum of History and Industry in Seattle’s South Lake Union neighborhood.

Elliott Bay Brewing Co.

Elliott Bay Brewing Co. is a family owned company of high quality neighborhood brewpubs in communities throughout the Seattle area.  Owners Todd Carden and Brent Norton met in 1994 while working for the iconic Maritime Pacific Brewing Co. They forged a friendship and explored their common goal and dream of owning and operating their own brewpub. They also met Head Brewer Doug Hindman at Maritime Pacific.

Todd and Brent incorporated the company in November of 1996.   In March 1997 they signed their first lease and began construction of a brewpub in the historic “Junction” of West Seattle.  They opened for business on July 11, 1997.  Doug joined the ranks in September of 1997 and has been Head Brewer ever since.

Over the past thirteen years in West Seattle, Elliott Bay Brewery & Pub has been a leader in sustainability, philanthropic support, and instrumental in creating an amazing sense of community in the neighborhoods which it serves.  Elliott Bay Brewhouse and Pub, the company's second brewpub, opened in Burien in March of 2007.  The Burien Brewhouse, like its West Seattle sibling, supports a progressive company culture and socially responsible business practices.

Beard Foundation names Douglas 'Outstanding Restaurateur'

In the biggest achievement of his career, Tom Douglas was named "Outstanding Restaurateur" by the James Beard Foundation on Monday night in New York. The awards are considered the Oscars of the food world.

The national award encompasses Douglas' body of work, not just any single restaurant.

The honor is a defining award in Douglas' celebrated career, chef Eric Tanaka, an associate of Douglas', said in a phone interview after the award ceremony. "It is clearly, easily our biggest honor."

Congratulations to the Man, not only is he a great guy, he is outstanding!!!   

A Seattle Favorite is finalist for the James Beard Foundation Award

Seattle restaurateur Tom Douglas is a finalist for the James Beard Foundation awards, the New York-based foundation announced Monday.

Douglas, is a former Best Chef Northwest, made the finals in the Outstanding Restaurateur category for the third time in five years, riding the success of Brave Horse Tavern, Cuoco and Ting Momo in the South Lake Union neighborhood.  His other successful restaurants include Etta's, Seatown, Rub Shack, Dahlia, Lola, Palace Kitchen, Serious Pie and Dahlia Workshop.


The James Beard Awards are considered the nation’s most prestigious chef and restaurant honors. The winners will be announced May 7 in New York.


Good Luck, Tom.    You Rock!

Rub Shack - Another winner by Tom Douglas

Take a stroll down the street when you're at the Pike Place Market to check out the Rub Shack, right between Etta’s and Seatown. This is the place where you can stop in for a sandwich or pick up some rotisserie meats or chicken to go, or you can eat at one of the very appealing picnic tables right out front while drinking a cold Rainier. All the meats, poultry, and fish featured here are seasoned with Tom's delicious spice blends, Rub with Love.

We just put up a "shackalicious" sign out in front last week, using rusty corrugated steel and "the Man's" signature in red neon.  As per usual for a Douglas enterprise, I suspect this will be wildly successful.  Stop by and check out the sign and some of the delicious food.