News
Costco’s Gold Rush Continues
Sales of gold bullion rise again
In one of the many iconic Seinfeld episodes, comedian Kenny Bania describes a popular bit from his comedy act: “That’s gold, Jerry! Gold.” He may as well have been referring to Costco’s ever-increasing sales of gold bars. The Issaquah-based warehouse chain said in its earnings call yesterday that sales of gold bars rose “double digits”…
The Numbers Point to a Downtown Seattle Recovery
The city’s core is slowly inching its way back
Visit Seattle says downtown Seattle hotels sold 403,000 rooms in August, the second-highest monthly total since March 2020. More than 3 million unique visitors came downtown — that’s 96% of August 2019 numbers, and a 6% increase year over year…
Microsoft To Grant $50,000 to 50 Nonprofits For Its 50th Birthday
50 for 50 program seeks ‘community champions’
Microsoft turns 50 next April, and the software giant wants to celebrate. The company will make 50 grants of 50,000 apiece to 50 local “changemakers” across the Puget Sound region “who are making a difference in the lives of their neighbors.” In a letter titled “Thank you, Puget Sound,” Microsoft Vice Chair and President Brad…
Tutta Bella To Open ‘Evolved Concept’ Restaurant
The Denny Triangle location is ‘the first in a new generation’ of restaurants
Tutta Bella’s new Denny Triangle restaurant will feature fresh seafood along with its traditional Neapolitan pizzas as it pivots from a traditional pizzeria to a “more culinary diverse” restaurant. “Although Tutta Bella has been much more than a pizzeria for a long time, the new opening will make that very clear from a positioning standpoint,…
Bellevue Launches Sea-Tac Shuttle Service
Users can depart or get dropped off at five downtown hotels
Five hotels in downtown Bellevue are now offering a shuttle service to and from Sea-Tac International Airport. Cost is $30 plus tax. The effort is a partnership involving the Port of Seattle, Visit Bellevue, and Eagle Shuttle Service. Users don’t have to stay in one of the hotels to use the service. The hotels are:…
Shrinking Starbucks
Customer visits are on the decline. What’s going on?
Been to Starbucks lately? For a company that helped put Seattle on the global map, the coffee giant sure receives a lot of criticism, whether it’s about product quality, founder Howard Schultz’s bungling of the Sonics during his ownership tenure or wait times…
Sweetgreen Expands Again with Capitol Hill Opening
The fast-casual chain now has three Seattle-area locations
Clearly, Seattle loves fast-casual salads and customizable grain bowls. With two locations already in South Lake Union and Totem Lake, Sweetgreen is opening a third spot at 11th and Pine in Capitol Hill on Oct. 22. This new Capitol Hill location will be the first in the Pacific Northwest to feature the Infinite Kitchen —…