September 14, 2026

Post Alley gets new cafe, with outdoor seating, at the Colman Building

Photos by Brian Miller [enlarge]

The expanded business has bench and table seating inside.

The DJC's near neighbor is the landmarked Colman Building. And among its friendly tenants is the venerable Good Coffee Co., at 818 Post Ave. (an alley to us, always and forever, no matter what Google Maps may say).

[enlarge]

Planning started in April to add a cafe to the Post Alley roastery and retail shop.

Plans emerged there in April, as the DJC then reported, to add a cafe operation to what had hitherto been a roastery and retail shop — meaning beans and espresso machines for sale, but not drinks. The city issued a construction permit in June, and a certificate of occupancy followed the following month. An opening ceremony was held in August. And a new placard from King County Public Health endorses the food and beverage sales.

[enlarge]

Still in operation, the original 1961 Probat cast-iron drum roaster, just inside the front windows.

Now office workers and waterfront visitors have an additional reason to visit Post Alley. The building ownership has also added fresh signage on First and the alley for Good Coffee, which is closed Mondays. Its workweek hours are 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. On weekends, stop by from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. A few more sandwich boards on First and Alaskan would help draw more first-timers. But a social media crew was also at work last week, filming videos, which shows new business savvy.

Photo via Fred Hutch

Local entrepreneur Stephen McDonald took ownership last year and initiated the cafe plan.

Good Coffee moved to its current space in 1985. The business got its start in 1972, and was run by the Kittay family until last year. It then sold to local entrepreneur Stephen McDonald, who initiated the cafe plan (and created a modern website). Carl Kittay is still consulting as the head roster; his late father Joe founded the business.

Inside, the endeavor spans about 555 square feet. Still in operation there is the shop's original Probat cast-iron drum roaster (a 1961 model), just inside the front windows. It's both a museum piece and working historical artifact

[enlarge]

Good beans for sale ... and now Good coffee.

The extensive drinks menu is on a big chalkboard. The store is also now selling merch (hoodies, hats, stickers, etc.), and there are pastries — unfortunately sold out by 11:30, the DJC was sad to discover. The morning rush had emptied those racks.

The expanded business has bench and table seating inside for perhaps two dozen customers. KEXP was softly playing in the background during the DJC's visit. Outside there's a cozy two-top. There's not much of an awning, so the coming rainy season may send patrons back inside. Maybe add more chairs next summer?

As for Good Coffee's landlord, the Colman Building itself changed hands in January of last year. New owner Jaskaran (Jay) Singh Bhullar, an Auburn investor, is for now sticking with the office program upstairs. Newmark is the office broker. The retail brokers, at Pacific Asset Advisors, are Damian Sevilla and Ryan Cornis.