I’ve been dog-sitting for some friends in Bellevue over the holidays and decided to use the opportunity to take advantage of some coffee shops outside of the city. A quick Yelp search landed me at SoulFood Books in Redmond. Their location is slightly hidden in a shopping center along with a Radioshack and a (gasp!) Starbucks. Patrons will immediately notice that the store has an interesting vibe to it. Along with cappuccinos and espresso shots, they also sell independent books and host live music events on a small corner stage. The barista, Taylor, was friendly and while I was slightly put off by the store/seating area combo, I found it easier than expected to relax among the slow tunes and smiling customers.
Above all, I really admired the community nature that the store cultivates. Artists are able to join the Soultribe which allows them to “rent” retail locations in the store to sell their products. Every month, the artists gather to tell their stories and share experiences with other Tribe members. It’s refreshing to see a physical cooperative environment when everyone else seems to be going digital. The focus on connecting with those around you really struck a positive cord with me. Open-mic nights and poetry readings occur frequently and new event listings can be found on their website calendar.
Unfortunately, SoulFood is not without fault. Their latte was subpar (though organic) and their Monday hours left me scrambling to finish my work before they started shutting down. My boyfriend also complained that his drip coffee was a bit off though he couldn’t quite pinpoint why we disliked it.
Three stars for originality, community togetherness and free wi-fi. If you’re looking for a unique gift, an obscure title or a homegrown performance, stop by and give SoulFood a try.
SoulFood Books is located at 15748 Redmond Way, Redmond WA 98052
Phone: 425.881.5309
Hours:
Sun/Mon/Tues: 9AM – 6PM
Wed/Thurs: 9AM – 9PM
Fri/Sat: 9AM -10PM