12thHowell& By Devon Simpson

Featurin!: Scratch Deliand Style Syndicate

On a Friday evening just before dusk,

Paul Mendes pours himself a glass of champagne in his consignment shop, concealed in what looks like an abandoned liquor store. “!e Coca-Cola sign on the outside has been there since the 1920’s,” says Mendes as he briskly paces around the "oor. He is #nishing up some #nal touches in order to prepare for the Late Night Shopping Cocktail Party he is about to host. Champagne glass in hand, he steams a "oral print, 1960’s dress, straightens up a beaded vest on a mannequin and pours several more glasses of what he calls “bubbly” on an antique silver platter. It’s time, but #rst, he meanders two doors down the block to Scratch Deli to get his ca$eine #x. “I go to Scratch several times a day for co$ee, they have become my kitchen.” Inside a little yellow house, Ian !ackaberry is busy setting up a makeshi% stage for his own Friday night event: open-mic night. As soon as he sees Mendes, !ackaberry immediately drops what he’s doing to #x him up the usual, a double espresso latte. As he carefully graces the top his customer/neighbor’s co$ee with an elegant piece of latte art, the two joke about Mendes’ third co$ee run of the day. !is is how a typical Friday pans out for the owners of 12th and Howell shops, Scratch Deli and Style Syndicate. Although their products may share few similarities, what these two busi-nesses do have common has turned Capitol Hill into something residents #nd worthy talking about. Overshadowed by the restaurants, shops, and clubs just a mere two blocks away, 12th and Howell’s presence has never been something to write home about. !e recent launch of Scratch Deli and Style Syndicate on 12th street has revitalized this hidden gem in the midst of the dynamic atmosphere of Capitol Hill by proving that business can "ourish, regardless of whether it be in a trendy area or not. Asking Seattle residents or frequent visitors what comes to mind when they think of Capitol Hill, the responses are comparable. “Pike Street Fish Fry and Big Mario’s Pizza,” says Mallory Liesten, a Capi-tol Hill resident and Barista at Kaladi Brothers, located on Pike and Bell-mont. It’s easy for people to get lost in the "ashy lights, bold signs and energetic bustle that occupies the hill’s most marketed areas of Pike, Pine and Broad-way Street. But in the past few years, alternative neighborhoods of Seattle have started to undergo a noteworthy development.

This story’s purpose is to shine a light on the anti-conformists of Capitol Hill. Those who have been

successful in bringing appreciation to the areas that often lack it, specifi-cally focusing on these two local shops with a passion to achieve a

goal. Give it up to the small, obscure and independent businesses responsible for creating the character of Capitol

Hill that we all know and love.

Co!ee house, internet café, deli, open-mic night, local music venue, whatever you want to call it, it’s quite an idyllic scene nestled in the back of the random yet quaint little yellow house on 12th street. Capitol Hill resident Amara says “this great "nd is not overly advertised and sandwich lovers like it that way... keeps those who stick to the beaten path out and leaves a little exploring le# for those who think they have seen everything Seattle has to o!er.” A#er sauntering through the entrance of stringing lights and rustic porch furniture, eager customers are $oored by the unexpected interior of this café. %e inside of the house was converted into a full $edge co!ee shop, "lled with antique dark oak tables and chairs, fresh daisies in mason jars of water on each table setting, a nice variety of eclectic antique furni-ture and a small window seat with a slight view of the space needle.

Moving throughout the co!ee shop, the "ndings do not cease. Next to the general seating area is an additional room with a long table where cus-

tomers can work on their laptops below a wall adorned with watercolor portraits of in$uential "gures in society, from Edgar Allen Poe to Louis C.K

and Ron Swanson.

Venturing through the narrow hallway with kitschy decorations of vin-tage photos, bottle collections, antique candy machines and day of the dead themed skulls ornamenting the hallway, a small reading room is reached. With a fully stocked book collection, board games, a chess set, readers can sink into seventies style couches with a cup of co!ee and a good book.

“A Sweet to my Savory”

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%is house was formerly recognized as “People’s Republic,” owned by Capitol Hill resident, Tristan Devin. %e co!ee shop, known for its occasional comedy nights, suddenly gained recognition when Devin’s life long friend, Ian %ackaberry, became his business partner. What immediately stands out about this Washington native is his passion. When %ackaberry he graduated from the University of Oregon with a degree in economics, he took a job in a "nancial business and realized it was not for him. “I was valued based on the assets in my portfolio and not for who I was,” explained %ackaberry.“I found it to be very super"cial. It was jarring to realize that everything I’d focused my education on was a career I didn’t want to do.” A#er quitting his job, he found himself unemployed and was was forced to utilize his "nancial skills to make a living. He turned to his passion for food, which at the time, was his only hope. Although he didn’t have ample experience in the culinary "eld, %ackaberry explains, “I looked at cooking from a "nancial training standpoint.” What seemed like a risk at the time turned out to be a success. In April of 2011, %ackaberry started the food truck “Scratch Deli.” %e food truck instantly gained popularity. Roaming around the streets of Seattle, %ackaberry served delicious, healthy and locally sourced sandwiches and "nally found himself happy in his career. %e traveling deli sensation was o#en parked in front of Devin’s shop, People’s Republic until the two friends decided to marry their businesses. According toShalini Gujavarty, from Seattle.eater.com, “the location has worked out so well that Scratch Deli is now ensconsed inside.” With Ian’s skills in "nance and Tristan’s picturesque shop, the two have created a brilliant operation. Even though the facade creates nice aesthetics, what really draws people in is the food. And what good food it is. %is place is a dream for a Breakfast lover who can fawn over the “Green Eggs and Ham” sandwich, served all day while a connoisseur of an authentic Vietnamese Bahn Mi can indulge in a pork "lled, aioli smothered piece of heaven.

Featuring an array of specialty sandwiches aimed to target a diverse assortment of tastes, some may "nd it a surprise %ackaberry, a former Whole Foods Butcher provides a vegan and gluten free option for every item on the menu. Considering Seattle is increasingly becoming the vegan capitol of the world, %ackaberry chose a great market to delve into. Seattle’s most popular vegan blog, veganscore.com seems to agree. %ey appreciate the fact that “there is no place inside the deli that tells you that you can get anything vegan! It's like a big vegan secret or something.” So for vegans who crave a good BLT, Scratch Deli has an option for you. And for all those people who suddenly have a gluten intolerance, you don’t have to worry because Ian and Dan turn no one away, regardless of your bizarre food allergy. “I’m the sweet to his savory,” says Devin, who sums up their relationship in reference to their specialties. While sandwiches remain Ian’s forte, Tristan is responsible for the sweeter side of the equation.Gooey baked chocolate chip cookies, sweet potato mu&ns, chocolate chip banana scones, you name it, Tristan has it. Each day, new batches of freshly baked delights are placed under the glass display plates at the counter, tempting customers to indulge. With good food must come good espresso. which raises the true question that all of us Seattle snobs are asking: how’s the co!ee? Seattle University student and regular, Kayla Bienert raves about their drip. “At Scratch Deli, I can pay an a!ordable price for a dope drip co!ee, which is something I can appreciate.” Although the menu can appear a bit ambiguous with the standard Americano, Drip and Latte, no matter which deep voiced, awkward yet friendly barista may be working, he will have no problem making you the dirty chai or “half-caf ” mocha of your dreams. Scratch Deli brews Olympia Roasting Company, based out of Washington’s very own city of Olympia, so not only are the drinks delectable but local too, which is totally in. %e locality of Scratch Deli is what truly typi"es this unique operation. %is thriving business feat was created by %ackaberry to feature all ingredients that are “locally grown or made entirely from scratch”, hence the name. %e owners, Ian and Danielle’s “exceptionally nice demeanor,” (%e Stranger) creates a very pleasurable dining experience. “It’s the people

who really make this place,” explains %ackaberry as he seems to have no problem keeping up a good conversation, wrapping up a Cuban sandwich and frothing milk at the same time. Spending enough time in the café, it is evident that the owners seem to know almost every customer. If a stranger stops in, they leave on a "rst name basis with Ian and Dan and a new favorite hang out spot. With excellent food, a pleasant atmosphere, fantastic co!ee, Scratch Deli has fostered a great sense of community on the street. 13th and Howell resident Josue Gonzales says, “I am very happy about the opening of Scratch Deli. It has de"nitely made the neighborhood more popular, bringing more people up here for the better.” %is explains the in$ux of revenue, appreciation and life that has been brought to the small block of 12th and Howell. Along with the stand-up comedy nights, the café hosts in house $ea markets, and live music, making people realize there is more to Capitol Hill than the night clubs and high end retail stores that are explicitly located in the more popular locations of the hill. %ackaberry wants to make the best out of the area. “It may not be as broadly recognized compared to Pike and Pine, but we’re working that.” %ese young entrepreneurial geniuses have not only made each cus-tomer feel like family, but they have also made life-long relationships with other neighboring businesses in the community. “It’s incredible to see what the deli has done in building up this commu-nity,” explains %ackaberry. “All of us businesses on this block have become close friends.”

Leadings us back up a few yards, Paul Mendes puts down his bubbling glass of champagne to set up an antique Bombay Saphire bar set: the newest prized addition to his shop. “I can’t wait to price this,” he says a#er rearranging the display several times. “One lucky person who’s been looking for this their whole life will not believe it’s going for 30 dollars.”

%is is just one of many of unique treasures that are housed in Capitol Hill’s newest vintage consignment shop, Style Syndicate. Located just two spaces north of Scratch Deli, Style Syndicate just may be one of the only thri# shops with a full on DJ spinning music, neon strobe lights and a disco ball. Jeweler Cat McCadden and fashion obsessed Paul Mendes opened this boutique with a mission to work with and promote local designers, mixing them with Mendes’ already impressive vintage collection. %e new fashion pop-up has taken over the gra&ti covered, cardboard windowed pink monstrosity that use to be the Capitol Hill Market. Collec-tors of all walks of life "nd themselves in sheer paradise upon entering this jackpot. What seems to be an endless amount of 80’s style polyester jack-ets, vintage ski hats, restored antique chandeliers and time-less dresses occupy the racks of this one-of-a kind shop. Because Mendes values obscure art, the giant mobile display encapsu-lates the space, featuring hand-sketched greeting cards made by a local Se-attle artist.

Mendes is very blunt about the notorious reputation of the area, deeming it “geographically undesirable, up until a couple of years ago, nobody would go east of Broadway. For retail, it was known as no-man’s land.” Because Style Syndicate attracts adventurous people seeking under-rated neighborhoods, the owners have de"nitely seen a greater amount of foot tra&c in the area. “12th and Howell use to be like Pike and Pine," According to Mendes,"It was "lled with under-rated edgy little shops and co!ee houses.” %e hype was downtown by Pike Place unless you were a chain smoker looking for a poetry reading.

When the two shops opened in such close proximity, it was inevitable that they would form a relationship. “We’re in this together, to bring recognition to the neighborhood. I haven’t gone a day without spending time at Scratch. Not only are we friends, but in a way, partners,” says Mendes, also remarking that drink-ing three cups of co!ee a day must help. Along with selling one of a kind shoulder grazing earrings and sensational Caprece sandwiches, the shops on 12th and Howell go above and and beyond to build community in Capitol Hill. Mendes notes, “We plan our events on Friday nights for a reason, it bene"ts both businesses.” Scratch’s open-mic nights and Style Syndicate’s happy hours happen simultaneously in order to enhance the activity in the area. Customer of both shops, Michael Foster explains, “On some Friday nights, I go to Scratch to listen to comedy and drink co!ee, then I head two doors up for some late night shopping and champagne.” And Paul sure does like champagne, but he loves sharing it with his customers. What else does a college graduate with a degree in economics and a passion for food do during a recession? And a collector who needs to put his fashion addiction to good use before he becomes featured on Buried Alive? %e culminations are impressive.

Working Together to Create a Better Capitol Hill

For the students looking for a trendy place to study to the vintage clothing savant, these two businesses have developed into a

good team. Food critics rave about Scratch(Yelp)and people strut throughout the streets wearing one-of-a-kind vintage clothing from Style Syndicate. Residents are proud, employees are gratified and travelers leave the area keen to return. With the development of these small businesses, Seattle has come a long way and will continue to evolve throughout

the future.