Client Success Stories

Some places feed you. Some places feel like home. The Comfort Zone does both. Tucked in Columbia City, this soul food restaurant isn’t just known for what’s on the plate. It’s known for how it makes people feel. Warm. Welcomed. Taken care of. Founded by a mother-daughter team, The Comfort Zone was built on family, tradition, and recipes passed down with love. Every dish tells a story. From crispy fried chicken to smothered pork chops, collard greens, and cornbread, it’s the k

West Coast Autobody LLC has been a trusted part of Rainier Valley for nearly 30 years, helping drivers get back on the road with quality repairs and care. Led by Ernie Rogers Jr., whose journey started in his father’s garage at just 11 years old, the shop combines decades of experience with a commitment to doing the job right every time.

A Rainier Valley staple serving bold, Southern-inspired seafood with a Northwest twist, Emerald City Fish & Chips brings real flavor, tradition, and community to every plate.

Kebena Ethiopian Restaurant brings the flavors of East Africa to Seattle’s Rainier Valley. Founded by husband-and-wife team Belete Gulelat and Muna Tadese, the restaurant reflects their deep ties to culture, family, and community. Since opening in 2023, Kebena has welcomed guests with warm hospitality and dishes rooted in family recipes. Chef Muna Tadese leads the kitchen with a focus on traditional techniques and ingredients. Many of her recipes were passed down from her mot

In the heart of West Seattle’s North Admiral neighborhood, Rain City Barbershop is raising the bar for precision, care, and client education in the barbering world. Whether you’re looking for a flawless fade, razor-sharp beard work, or help figuring out how to ask for the style you want, this team has you covered. Rain City Barbershop is the vision of owner and lead barber Percy Anyimah, whose meticulous attention to detail has earned him a reputation as “surgical with the cl

Operated by Patrixia Paraiso and her family, Chebogz has a simple mission: to bring the bold, authentic flavors of the Philippines to the heart of Seattle while honoring the culture and community that shaped them. Beginning as a food truck in Federal Way, Chebogz has expanded into a full-service restaurant in Beacon Hill as of July 2023 thanks to the support of the local community and the loan provided by Rainier Valley Community Development Fund. The Paraiso family’s journey

Distinguished Foods Commercial Kitchen is a family-owned business that has been a cornerstone of Seattle’s small food manufacturing community for over 25 years. As one of the city’s earliest commercial kitchens, it has served as an incubator for countless food entrepreneurs, many of whom have grown into successful, independent brands in the region’s thriving culinary scene. Originally owned by Samuel Bell and now operated by his son, Claiborne Bell, Distinguished Foods contin

Rainier Valley Birth & Health Center (RVBHC) is a powerful model of community-rooted care, born from the vision, grit, and determination of women in Seattle’s Rainier Valley. As the only women of color-led midwifery center in the area, they provide culturally and linguistically relevant care to predominantly BIPOC and low-income families. Operating with a small yet mighty team, RVBHC offers a full range of services including prenatal care, birth support, lactation consultatio

For two decades, Pure Alchemy Salon has been a trusted name in Columbia City, offering high-quality hair services to the neighborhood. Nestled in a historic landmark home on S Ferdinand St—just across from Columbia City Vet and Rookies—the salon has long been a staple of the local business community. In 2024, Pure Alchemy Salon entered an exciting new chapter under the leadership of Colleen Owsley, an experienced stylist with over 18 years in the hair industry. Taking the rei

Valley Cities Behavioral Health Care is a nonprofit dedicated to strengthening communities through the delivery of holistic, integrated behavior health services that promote hope, recovery and improved quality of life. Since 1965, Valley Cities has responded to the behavioral health needs and emerging socioeconomic challenges of King County residents and diversified its program services accordingly. Starting with just one clinic in Auburn, today Valley Cities serves more than

The Royal Room—named “Best Music Venue – 2017” by readers of The Seattle Weekly—is a South Seattle music venue, restaurant and bar with a Southern-inspired menu. Co-owned by musician and composer Wayne Horvitz and longtime Seattle venue owners Tia Matthies and Steve Freeborn, the idea began as a neighborhood venue for casual drinks and food with world-class music that is easily accessible to all. Having previously operated the OK Hotel, a nightclub in Pioneer Square, with Way

In January 2004, longtime Rainier Valley resident and former Starbucks marketing executive Joe Fugere, after studying in Italy the centuries-old pizza making traditions, founded Columbia City Eateries, LLC dba Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria in historic Columbia City. Since then, the company has grown to five full-service restaurant locations throughout the greater Seattle area employing more than 200 people: Columbia City, Stone Way/Wallingford, Westlake, Issaquah and Bellev

Urban Impact—a health care and social service agency started in 1987—has been serving Rainier Valley families for more than 30 years. Since its inception, the organization has been committed to partnering with families and communities to break the cycle of social, material and spiritual poverty. Rainier Health and Fitness (RHF)—a subsidiary of Urban Impact—was started in 2005 in response to the lack of affordable fitness resources in the area, as well as a news story citing 9

In 2016, business partners Joe Fugere and Barry Ziker collaborated to form Garlic Gulch Partners, LLC—a real estate company with one objective: To purchase the historic Columbia City building where the original Tutta Bella Neapolitan Pizzeria—a beloved neighborhood restaurant—is located. “Our goal was to preserve both the past and the future of the business,” said Joe, Tutta Bella’s founder. The name Garlic Gulch refers to the nickname of the Rainier Valley given by South Sea

Christi Muoneke—a Nigerian immigrant who was just five years old when she and her family fled their country as refugees during the Nigeria-Biafra War—moved to South Seattle in the 1990s. Since then, she has worked as a corporate attorney, technology entrepreneur, and owner of her own successful law firm, formerly based in Columbia City. Christi is very involved in the local community and currently serves on the board of The Northwest School. She has also served on the boards

With nearly two decades in business, south Seattle-based catering company Seasoned in Seattle has successfully catered thousands of special events, including some of the city’s finest weddings. From office parties and corporate functions to wedding receptions and other life celebrations, its menus always include the freshest available local and sustainable ingredients, and the Seasoned in Seattle event team is well-known for delivering delicious meals and excellent service. B

South Seattle resident Helen “Mama” Hicks founded Tiny Tots Development Center in her home in 1969 when she could not find quality care for her own two children. Mrs. Hicks came to the conclusion that the best care was going to have to come from her own efforts and initiatives. She quit her job at University Hospital and opened her home for three children to provide them with the best day care experience since affordable quality day care services were not available at that ti

Paragon Cartage – 3G Brothers LLC is a registered Washington state motor carrier founded by Jemal Ali in 2006; he remains active in the business following its sale to two employees, now co-owners. The company provides transportation services to distributors, freight forwarders and brokers by moving import/export containers between ports and railroads to distribution centers in the Pacific Northwest, as well as in-house trucking services for some of the largest steamship lines

Big Chickie is a modern roadside chicken shack serving pollo a la brasa—charcoal-roasted rotisserie chicken, homemade sides, salads, sandwiches, beer and wine. The eatery boasts one of the best outdoor dining spaces in south Seattle. “It’s our first and only restaurant, and it’s inspired by the things we love best: good food, friends, family and community,” said south Seattle residents Matt and Sara Stubbs who opened the business in September 2014. “We make all of our food fr

Kristi Brown started her catering company, That Brown Girl Cooks! (TBGC!) in 2012, but says it’s more of a food, culture, and community organization. Together with her son, Damon Bomar, they have expanded the business with a line of black-eyed pea hummus sold in major grocers throughout Seattle, pop-up venues and interactive cooking classes. “We like to call it Culinary Collective,” says Kristi. “TBGC! explores inspirations, melds them with experiences and brings them back to