Two long time businesses on Alki beach will close this fall and the land and buildings will be redeveloped.

Ampersand Cafe and West Seattle Brewing's Tapshack have been staples on Alki since 2013 and 2016 respectively. 

The location will be remodeled according to city records, and joined, by a second floor 600 square foot apartment space. It's owned by Schilling Family Holdings, whose founder Dennis Schilling is well known as a West Seattle developer. His company purchased and restored the Alki Homestead on 61st SW. in 2018.

Ampersand owners Marisa Tanji and Daryl Waits said, "Schilling Family Holdings reached out to us back in 2019 to inform us of their plans (demolition and remodeling). Covid, I think pushed their schedule back but we assumed at any point it was a matter of when not if. They have expressed their desire to retain our business as a tenant in the new building and are working with us to craft a solution to allow us to retain a presence on the beach during construction.

We are extremely excited to occupy the new space when it is completed. Though the irreplaceable character of the old building will be missed. Having a new space that isn’t held together by sheer force of will is going to be wonderful."

The former owner of "Tacontainer" the taco shack in a container, told his neighbors that Ampersand would likely move into that space temporarily during construction. The taco business shut down in February due to family reasons. 

As for the Tapshack and West Seattle Brewing Company, it's a bittersweet development. "We've loved creating a craft beer community here," said WSBC founder Drew Locke,  "but being shut down for two years due to Covid and having to operate both our "Mothership" on Fauntleroy Way has been a huge challenge. So in many ways this allows us to refocus our energies on our core business and have a better work/life balance."

They were not offered a space in the remodeled building.

The company released a statement about it addressed to their large following and the even larger craft beer community.

"First & foremost we want to thank ALL of our beach & greater West Seattle friends, neighbors, patrons & paw-trons alike for sharing in this ride with us. It has truly been an incredible, beautiful & educational journey on Alki, & only possible with all your cooperation/ collaboration, infectious positivity & shared love for craft beer, community, & culture. Your relationships & memories made are priceless to us.

We are of course disappointed to not be considered an asset to the new owners here. After surviving 2+ years of COVID shutdowns, finally looking forward to recouping, rebuilding into a brighter future, it is certainly unfortunate timing from our standpoint. Generally, the success (or lack of success) of any given Company's business model ultimately determines their destiny as potential tenants after a takeover like this. The TapShack, by most every metric available is among the most successful models in the space, (ever!) over it's long, diverse & storied history. (& in many more ways than just financial). Clearly this is not that “general” type of situation & we’re still uncertain why the lack of consideration, communication, or cooperation. A founding principle of WSBC though, has always been to "control the controllables,” so this feels no different than many other obstacles overcome to date. Of all we could control; to improve the space, our business, & community at large, (which we’re very proud of), politics, unfortunately has never been on that list. We are confident Schilling Family Holdings have their reasons however, & trust they have our community's best interests at heart. We look forward to seeing their vision come to life over the coming year & are of course happy to help in any way we can.

In the meantime, yes, our team is excited to focus back at the Mothership, bringing some exciting changes & additions in the Fall. Just in time for the bridge to reopen! We hope to see you all at the Shack over these next 2 short months to celebrate the end of an era, & look forward to making new memories with you into the future & WSBC's next evolution. Upward & Onward!

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