The Intentionalist Awards are back for the second year, celebrating the local legends who go above and beyond to build connections, give back, and make our neighborhoods thrive. These finalists aren’t just shops and eateries; they’re the lifeblood of our community.
Meet the 2024 Intentionalist Awards Finalists, including direct testimony from their nominations:
Community Over Competition
Small businesses recognize that collaboration and supporting one another builds the community that is the foundation for their longevity and success. This award is for the small business and business owner who champions, promotes, and opens doors – who is generous with their time, space, products, and relationships for the benefit of other small businesses.
- Mattice Beauty Supply – Mattice is the definition of community. She is always promoting other local businesses. She’s a disability advocate and all around supporter of people and small businesses. She hosts community events in her conference room on a pay what you can scale. She deserves this award!
- Boon Boona Coffee – The last time I was in Boon Boona I could also support Seeking Kombucha, Metier Brewing and Low Rider Cookies to name a few. Their willingness to promote other community businesses is not only good business but it feels good to be part of their community.
- Bellden Cafe – Bellden embodies Community Over Competition. They often collaborate with other organizations in the city to help raise funds, awareness and support. They have a permanent menu and series of products that support specific local non-profits. And they showcase other small businesses as well.
Cross-Cultural Champion
Diverse cultures contribute to the vibrant communities where we love to live, work, and play. This award celebrates a small business that also serves as a place to authentically experience other cultures – that make cross-cultural connection and learning possible.
- Friday Afternoon Tea – Friday, the business owner, has spent years cultivating this amazing tea company that connects so many cultural experiences together for people. Her tea shop celebrates Latin culture, LGBTQIA2S+, the cultural experiences of tea from all around the world and the regions they are from, and so many more all the time. Friday Afternoon Tea holds local Latinx meet-ups in their store and online in their Discord
- Outsider Comics – Outsider Comics is a queer, trans, woman of color-owned business that frequently features local, LGBTQ and/or BIPOC artists. They are truly walking the talk of cross-cultural inclusion. This business not only stocks comics, zines, and graphic novels by queer & neurodivergent authors, Outsider Comics is a gem and their work diversifying the world of comics and graphic novels deserves recognition in our community.
- Mam’s Books – Mam’s celebrates the heart of the C-ID through C-ID book club, music events, poetry nights, and so much more. They have books that celebrate Asian identity of all kinds. Mam’s is many peoples’ 3rd place as they have many regulars who love to share and connect with others. They also welcome collaborators from across the Asian diaspora to work with them and use their space. They are community heroes.
Heart of the Community
When it comes to giving back, local businesses are leaders. In addition to the business of small business, this award is an opportunity to acknowledge the small business and small business owner who takes care of the community – who uses their business as a vehicle to serve and support those in need.
- My Time for Massage – Myesha is a business owner that truly values the community and wants to ensure that what some see as a luxury, becomes a norm – through her community massage program. Though Myesha has faced her own hardships in life she never let it stop her from loving and giving back to others. She has such a bright and warm energy about her that exudes love and care for the people in her community. Whenever she can help she goes out of her way to do so.
- A Space Inside – Sierra has curated a safe space for local artists to showcase their work and has created a welcoming community. The monthly open mics have led to me making so many friends and gaining a community of support I never imagined having. I’ve lived in Seattle for 8 years, and this is the first year it’s felt like home.
- Black Coffee Northwest – Black Coffee Northwest is not just a coffee shop; it’s a hub for community organizing and empowerment. Black Coffee Northwest proudly serves as the first employer for many youth in the community, providing them with meaningful employment and mentorship, thus fostering the next generation of Black leaders and entrepreneurs.
Legacy
According to the Bureau of Labor only a third of new businesses remain after 10 years. This award recognizes a business whose enduring presence offers continuity and comfort in the context of an ever-shifting local landscape – whose longevity has shaped and positively impacted the community around them.
- Platinum Plush Fashions – For over 23 years, Platinum Plush Fashions has popular shopping destination, serving the South Seattle area, becoming a staple and household name in the community. Nikita constantly employees young people and gives them great opportunities to learn about small business ownership. They have also organized several fundraising events to support their community.
- Tai Tung Restaurant – Tai Tung is an anchor of the Chinatown-International District, and the oldest Chinese restaurant in Seattle. It is rooted in the community and constantly contributes to community events, dinners, parties, and gatherings. Tai Tung has continued to invest in Chinatown International District and worked with InterIm CDA to bring community based affordable housing to the community.
- Shiga’s Imports – Shiga’s Imports has been at the heart of the U District community since 1956. The late Andy Shiga and his wife, Toshimo Shiga (the current owner of Shiga’s Imports) have done so much for the community during the 68 years the store has been in operation, including founding the U District Street Fair. There are countless meaningful stories about what Shiga’s means to customers who have continued to return over many decades.
Rookie of the Year
Cheers to the new small business on the block. But beyond highlighting a business that is less than a year old (at the time of nomination), this award celebrates what the new business brings to the community, whether by filling a gap or through a unique vision or point of view.
- CoffeeTab – Johnathan Tran and CoffeeTab have done an amazing job of delivering high quality coffee all while training and mentoring underprivileged youth to gain barista, professional, and life skills. CoffeeTab wants to do its part to reduce the cycles of poverty and marginalization by training students with employable skills, access to community, and a safe space to spend their time.
- The Re-Sole 206 – Takiyah is a bright and glowing example of entrepreneurial awesomeness, from being the first dry cleaner for kicks in the northwest to staying connected to youth in the community for internships to just showing up and showing out for community! Takiyah has led many community projects that uplift the city, youth, and underrepresented folks while starting and running this business full time.
- A Thoughtful Death – A Thoughtful Death does incredibly meaningful work, helping folks prepare for death. They recently provided a free grief workshop at A Resting Place in the Chinatown-International District, which had a huge turnout and was so beautiful and powerful.
Get your ticket to join us to celebrate small business champions and announce the winners at the Intentionalist Awards event on October 15, 2024 from 5:30-8:30 PM at Block 41 in Seattle.