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photo of 401 Westlake
Photo: Tim Bies / Olson Kundig

401 Westlake

Seattle, Washington

401 Westlake

Seattle, Washington

  • Design Principal

    Kirsten Ring Murray

Now home for several enterprises by restaurateur Tom Douglas, 401 Westlake had humble beginnings as a Napa Auto Part Store. Located in the rapidly developing South Lake Union neighborhood, the transformation of the space from selling car parts to gourmet food drew on the beauty of the original 1948 building’s steel frame and heavy timber structure.

The design unites three distinct entities under one roof: Serious Biscuit, a breakfast and brunch biscuit shop on the ground floor, Serious Pie, a wood-fired artisanal pizza restaurant on the mezzanine, and the production bakery for all of Tom Douglas’ restaurants. The loft seating at Serious Pie overlooks the entire kitchen, allowing visitors to watch as desserts and bread are handcrafted on site.

New components and detailing were carefully selected to complement the building’s raw aesthetic, allowing its workshop atmosphere to shine through.