Matcha Magic: From Boeing to Business Owner

Matcha Magic owner, Rachel Barnecut Rachel Barnecut opened Matcha Magic in 2022 as the first “plant-forward” matcha bar in Bellevue. Rachel worked a 9 to 5 job for 9 years and didn’t always know that she wanted to open her own cafe. With her family and fiancé’s support, Rachel took on the challenge to create something for herself and her...
  • 0

Taqueria Cantina: Building Paradise One Taco at a Time

Inspiration can strike from anywhere. For Taqueria Cantina co-owner Daniel Ceballos, the inspiration to open a restaurant struck when he was 8 years old watching a telenovela. In the telenovela, there was a restaurant named El Paraiso — the paradise. As he watched the show, he saw how...
  • 0

How Small Businesses are Recovering and What you can do to Help

How are small businesses recovering as the pandemic continues to create a more uncertain future? COVID-19 has dramatically changed the small business landscape. The number of small businesses in Washington decreased by a staggering 45% from January 2020 to June 2021.  For local...
  • 0

Fulcrum Speaks the Language of Coffee and Community

Blas Alfardo, vice president and head of the roasting program at Fulcrum Coffee. (Photo: Fulcrum Coffee) Fulcrum Coffee vice president and head roaster Blas Alfaro was around 10 years old when he roasted his first batch of coffee beans on his family’s coffee farm — just like his...
  • 0