Local Business

Chef Tay Proctor-Mills Jr. blends Southern roots with contemporary flavor at Black & Tan Hall, a cooperatively owned Hillman City restaurant and event space. Featured in the Pack the House campaign, the Hall honors Seattle's historic Jackson Street nightlife while offering inclusive dining, live music and community gatherings for everyone.

Seattle Medium’s Pack the House campaign spotlights Black-owned coffee shops Avole Coffee, Boon Boona Coffee and The Scene, exploring how founders Solomon Dubie, Efrem Fesaha and Michelle Lang-Raymond blend East African heritage, hospitality and community. The 10-week initiative encourages residents to discover, support and return to these gathering spaces beyond just grabbing a cup of coffee.

There is a certain responsibility that comes with helping carry a family legacy forward. For Miceala Thomas, shouldering that responsibility means working a full-time job during the week before spending her nights and weekends at Emma’s BBQ, handling catering requests, managing social media and helping wherever she is needed. Her grandmother, Tess Thomas Anderson, has spent years building Emma’s BBQ around recipes and traditions passed down through their family. Now, as the business works to recover from a major setback, Thomas and her sisters are doing what they can to make sure that legacy continues.

The Seattle Medium, in partnership with the Urban League of Metropolitan Seattle and Byrd Barr Place, is launching its “Pack the House” campaign Sept. 2, beginning a 10-week effort to rally community support for Black-owned restaurants throughout the greater Seattle area.

Together, Martin and Laing began shaping Island Soul’s culinary identity around a fusion of traditional Southern dishes and the Caribbean flavors Laing brought with him from Jamaica. The approach also reflected Martin’s upbringing as a Seventh-day Adventist, incorporating healthier, non-meat preparation methods into some traditional comfort foods.

The Seattle Medium has announced the nominees for its inaugural Best of the Best Northwest Readers' Choice Awards, with community voting scheduled from June 1 to June 19, 2026. This initiative seeks to recognize outstanding businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, educators, athletes, advocates, and cultural institutions throughout the Pacific Northwest.

Seattle's Black community is poised to commemorate Juneteenth with a series of events that integrate the city's role as a host for the United States Men's National Team with cultural and community celebrations. This initiative features a public watch party, a market for Black-owned businesses, and specialized programming at local restaurants and bars, all designed to highlight community contributions and foster economic empowerment.

The Seattle Medium has announced the nominees for its inaugural Best of the Best Northwest Readers' Choice Awards, with community voting scheduled from June 1 to June 19, 2026. This initiative seeks to recognize outstanding businesses, nonprofits, community leaders, educators, athletes, advocates, and cultural institutions throughout the Pacific Northwest.

The Rainier Beach Walk the Block Party is an annual event that celebrates the neighborhood's culture, creativity, and strong sense of community while supporting local entrepreneurs and small businesses through live entertainment, local vendors, interactive art, inspiring speakers, and family-friendly activities.

Charles Davis, owner and founder of C. Davis BBQ, has established a prominent Black-owned food truck enterprise in the Seattle area, serving thousands of pounds of Texas-style barbecue weekly and actively engaging in community support through nonprofit collaborations.