Build-Outs Of Summer: Mr. West Cafe Bar University Village In Seattle, WA

Seattle is a town that leaves that doesn’t leave those looking to eat and drink well in want. It’s a city that checks all the boxes. Dining, coffee, cocktails, natural wine, Seattle has it all. And with the new Mr. West Coffee Bar in the University Village shopping complex, they are all under one roof.

Featuring coffee from Campos and a rotating guest roaster, Mr. West is home to not one but two brand new La Marzocco KB90s—because what’s even the point of new tech if you can’t have two of them—that anchor their coffee program. But it’s not just coffee. Mr. West’s version of the always popular all-day cafe model includes a little splash of the natty juice to go with a list of amaros, spritzes, and classic cocktails. There’s food too, but what’s the point when you can just drink your breakfast… and lunch and dinner? So sidle up to the bar, be it coffee or adult beverage oriented, we’re checking out Mr. West Coffee Bar in Seattle, Washington.

The 2019 Build-Outs of Summer is presented by Pacific Barista Series, notNeutral, KeepCup, and Mill City Roasters.

As told to Sprudge by Henri Schock.

For those who aren’t familiar, will you tell us about your company?

Henri and Soni Davé-Schock, Mr. West owners, revolutionized the Seattle food and drink scene when they opened their first venue in 2015. A unique part of their appeal is Mr. West’s seamless transition between a cafe serving breakfast and brunch in the morning and afternoon, to a bar serving artisanal bar snacks, drinks, and cocktails late into the night. Regardless of the time of day, maintaining approachability and building relationships in a casual yet elevated environment underscores Mr West’s distinct style and take on hospitality.

The concept takes inspiration from European cafe culture, one in which a well made espresso, a glass of wine, a pint of beer, and a delicious snack are commonplace. Our broad, personal stroke is to wrap it all up in a verdant and contemporary environment (perfect for Instagramming!). It’s the perfect balance and dichotomy of intimate yet boisterous, casual yet refined—what Mr. West does best. Mr. West serves as a favorite daily gathering point for all who enjoy exceptional drinks, food, and conversation. We strive to create an atmosphere where people can connect for social engagements, work meetings, and casual drinks. Developing a sense of community to gather and enjoy the best coffee, wine, beer, cheese, and charcuterie Seattle has to offer is our gold standard.

In this cleverly designed space, one can truly select an experience for any desired adventure. We invite everyone to “Go West” with us and come see what the new location has to offer—morning, noon, and night.

Can you tell us a bit about the new space?

Bordering a central courtyard, Mr. West University Village has multiple entrances and a “choose your own adventure” customer experience. Bring yourself and your laptop or roll up with friends after strolling through the shopping village. We love to be accommodating in both our service style and offerings. At the South entrance, guests are presented with several outdoor seating options. Cozy up to the outdoor fireplace, or lounge under the trellised porch with a curated and lush plant selection for a truly Pacific Northwest vibe. Upon entering, our affable baristas greet you from dual espresso machines with carefully curated coffee and tea offerings. Our selection of coffees from featured quarterly guest roasters and partnered roaster, Campos, provide a variety of single origin espressos and blends, or one may imbibe a thoughtfully handcrafted coffee cocktail. At the North entrance, patrons will be greeted with a more intimate façade sprinkled with bistro tables. Entering through the charming double doors, one can sidle up to the wine bar, fashioned from handsome materials of tile, quartz and wood, and sip custom cocktails made from wine-based spirits and aperitifs.

What’s your approach to coffee?

Founded by owners Henri Schock and Soni Dave-Schock in 2015, MrWEST Cafe Bar opened its first location in a 1969 retrofitted office building in the Denny Triangle neighborhood, one of Seattle’s emerging neighborhoods—just blocks from Paramount Theatre, the Seattle Convention center, several hotels, Flagship Nordstrom’s, and Amazonian South Lake Union growth. Mr. West Cafe Bar serves as a casual and refined environment in the bustling downtown Seattle area for all that enjoy exceptional drinks, food, and conversation. As a neighborhood cafe, wine shop, and bar, all conveniently wrapped in one space—Mr. West a handsome and comfortable environment that feels good to be in morning, noon, and night.

Mr. West provides the best in high quality coffee service, as well as fresh and local foods made daily. Our staff is comprised of coffee experts, which in turn offer our customers the resources, knowledge, and information for whatever they choose to drink. Our coffees are all sourced from renowned roasters from the west coast and around the US. We also partner with our favorite local roasters to create custom roasted Mr. West blends for every season. All coffees are thoughtfully sourced, mindfully fostered relationships with artisans. We feature seasonal syrups and lattes made from in-house original recipes and offer coffee-based cocktails. We make all our standard syrups (chocolate, vanilla, caramel) in-house as well using local and outstanding ingredients to make sure our guests’ experiences are exceptional each time.

We aim to provide guests with an elevated cafe experience, and the key to success with our coffee program is offering guests prompt and friendly service, all while keeping quality at the highest standard. We understand the importance of time for our guests and strive every day to offer a consistent, value-driven, and streamlined experience. Mr. West’s main competitive advantage is honing in on that experience, maintaining approachability, and building relationships in a casual yet elevated environment.

Photo by Brooke Fitts.

Any machines, coffees, special equipment lined up?

Complimenting the stylish interior and layout that has made Mr. West a mainstay of the Seattle cafe and bar scene, we have two (yes two) La Marzocco KB90 machines, the first such machines to be installed in the US. Alongside these beautiful machines we have six Anfim SP II grinders (running multiple blends and single origins at a time). We also have a Marco SP9 to feature single origin pour-over. We also set up our espresso bar differently from others we have seen in the the US. It would be great to chat over the phone to discuss our setup, as it is super unique.

How is your project considering sustainability?

We compost and recycle all our coffee products.

What’s your hopeful target opening date/month?

August 3rd, 2019

Are you working with craftspeople, architects, and/or creatives that you’d like to mention?

We have an in-house graphics and interior architecture firm that does all of branding and design. RCL Design is the firm’s name, and is responsible for all creative projects within the business.

Thank you!

The Build-Outs Of Summer is an annual series on Sprudge. Live the thrill of the build all summer long in our Build-Outs feature hub.

The post Build-Outs Of Summer: Mr. West Cafe Bar University Village In Seattle, WA appeared first on Sprudge.