Get to know Victor Steinbrueck — born and raised Seattleite, crab roll connoisseur, and owner of Local Tide in Seattle’s Fremont neighborhood. Despite opening two months ago (mid-pandemic no less), Local Tide has made a splash in the Seattle food scene with its seafood fare and local-first attitude centering Washington’s freshest ingredients and the small businesses behind them. Learn more about Victor in this week’s Q&A as he talks about his newfound community in Fremont, why you should #SpendLikeItMatters at Local Tide, and some of the businesses on his InTENtional List.
The interview has been edited for length and clarity.
What’s your favorite part about the neighborhood Local Tide is in and why?
We’re over in Fremont, and it’s a neighborhood I’m still getting accustomed to. But what I really like about it is the community aspect. When I first moved in, I had other business owners come by to see what’s going on and offer insight into the community. And everyone is just so friendly [in Fremont]. Shaun, the owner of [Indoor Sun Shoppe] nearby, donated a bunch of plants when I went in looking to buy some for the restaurant. He was like, “You know what? You’re in the neighborhood now, and I want to support.” It’s just this idea that we’re in it together, and we all are going through tough times, but amidst that, there’s still people who want to help each other and get through it together.
Why is it important to you and your business that people #SpendLikeItMatters?
Our mission to give back, nourish, and support the same local community that helped support us. We talk all the time about the importance of building each other up and in doing so equipping ourselves to build up others around us. The same concept applies to restaurants. The more support small restaurants and businesses get from their communities the more they can offer back. Reciprocity!
Who is on your InTENtional List right now?
I love Harbor City, and I’ve been able to form a cool relationship with Melissa over at Musang, and they’re doing really awesome things. I have a really cool friend, Tony Dao, who’s doing a pizza pop up called Pizza Romeo, and he’s persevering amidst the pandemic. I think [these businesses] are all coming from the right place — their food is a piece of who they are. And when I talk to them, I hear it in their voice that what they’re making is meaningful to them, and it shows in what they produce. It’s honest to who they are, it’s genuine food, and they work to make sure it’s a piece of who they are, and that’s really cool to me.
