Inspired by the anonymous founder’s travels to cities like Bali and Bangkok, his idea of sMALL Box only materialized recently. He came to realize Seattle lacked the buzzing street market atmosphere that’s present globally. As he also owns the apartments above the businesses, he got to work and converted each one car garage into retail spaces. The property is still in phase one. As sMALL BOX nears phase two, he looks to expand to include an apothecary, bakery, and even nail salon.
The Shorehouse Coffee and Shaved Ice
On the corner of 24th and Cherry Street, a new hotspot for beverages and shaved ice has emerged. Opened on January 5th, The Shorehouse launched its second location right here in the Central District. Originally operating out of a Winnebago for seasonal walk-ups just outside of Golden Gardens, it was founded by Josh Brugger and his business partner, Tim Larson. The two had always dreamed of launching a business together, and the idea of combining shaved ice and coffee quickly came to life.
They pride themselves on offering high quality products and a wide range of flavors, everything from ube and pandan to prickly pear and mango. Their menu includes just about everything imaginable: specialty and seasonal drinks, pastries, sandwiches, shaved ice drinks, and over 40 shaved ice flavors, all of which can be topped with a variety of toppings.
We decided to try a butter croissant and a small shaved ice with mango and tiger’s blood (a blend of strawberry, watermelon, and coconut). The croissant was warm and flaky, perfect for breakfast or a midday snack. The shaved ice was phenomenal, melting instantly in your mouth and insanely flavorful. The mango was fresh and sweet, perfectly pairing with the tropical notes of coconut in the tiger’s blood. Josh kindly offered to top it with condensed milk, which added an enhanced sweetness that tied it all together.
Josh shared that he and Tim had both previously worked for companies that mistreated their employees, so it was important for them to create a positive environment for both their staff and the community. “We want this to be a space where people can come, relax, and hang out,” said Brugger. Being located near hotspots like Garfield, Nova, the community center, and Coyote Central has been great for business, the busy streets call for a great need for a quick snack. While it took a bit longer for Garfield students to discover the spot due to it being more behind the school, Brugger said they’ve started coming by more often as word spreads.
Looking ahead, The Shorehouse is planning to expand by adding indoor seating. They’ll be taking over and renovating the neighboring vacant space to create a safe, welcoming place for everyone to chill and hang out.
When asked about his personal favorite from the menu, Brugger said he likes to keep it simple with an americano, saying that he takes great pride in the quality of their coffee. He and Larson personally taste test everything to ensure it meets their standards. Beyond just the food and drinks, Brugger emphasized how grateful they are for the warm welcome they’ve received. “The community has been very welcoming to us, and we appreciate that. The Garfield and Nova students have been amazing, and it’s been a great experience,” said Brugger. “We look forward to continuing to offer great products and coffee, and to keep building this relationship with the community.”
PJ’s Classic:
On a small strip of steadily growing businesses situated right on Cherry, lies a sweet addition to the Central District. Michelle Forbes, co-owner of PJ’s Classic Homemade Ice Cream & Bon Bons, kindly introduced us to a fresh new taste in Seattle. Though founded in 2011 in Los Angeles, California, Forbes explained that it took her and her sisters quite some time to fully launch their business. Alternating between pop-ups sprinkled through LA, the Forbes sisters found themselves in Seattle shortly after their mother’s sudden passing. Their mother was a Garfield High School Alum and native to the Central District. Their homemade style ice cream, however, is all but new. It’s sourced from a fusion of generational well-kept recipes dating back to their great-grandmother.
Despite only being open for a little over a month, PJ’s has been slowly yet surely gaining more business. Being in such close proximity to two High Schools, Forbes shared that as the weather has gotten warmer, more and more students from both Nova and Garfield have begun to discover the hole in the wall creamery. Forbes even changed PJ’s operating days to line up with that of the neighboring High School schedules. “There’s a generation that does not know what an ice cream bon bon is, and we are here to teach you guys!” said Forbes. She went on to teach us the anatomy of an ice cream bon bon and even had detailed diagrams on deck.
PJ’s famous bon bons consist of homemade ice-cream produced in house, individually hand dipped in a rich hand crafted chocolate sauce which is then briefly left to sit and harden. The scoops of ice cream are all inspired by traditional ice-cream truck flavors such as ‘Naner Split which is her personal favorite. PJ’s menu is beyond expansive, the select flavors are all thoroughly judged and completely up to par– they even offer vegan options. “You will not get an ice cream bon bon like this anywhere else …this is our specialty!” Forbes exclaimed.
The specialty bon bons were the perfect bite sized treats to satisfy your sweet cravings. The firm crunchy chocolate shell blended perfectly with the creamy scoop topped with marshmallow fluff and a dollop of caramel. Forbes even welcomed us into her shop where we got a first hand look at the assembly process. Upon ordering, each and every bon bon is crafted by hand.
Forbes prides herself in quality products, even sharing that PJ’s is actually one of the few ice cream creameries in the city where their ice cream is made on site. When asked what the process was like acquiring such a sought after location “The most high” she said. Being located in the Central District means a lot to the Forbes, they get to serve such a historical neighborhood and honor their mother. Forbes also shared that she’s making active effort to get involved in the neighborhood and include more youth outreach.
