New Year, New Businesses—In Edmonds
Just like the snow we saw over Christmas “break,” 2021 has come and gone. And, as much as the world at large was an ever-evolving place, so was our seaside town. Many residents are embarking on new personal journeys in 2022—whether you call them “resolutions,” “goals,” “intentions” or something else entirely. If you’re like us, you’re always ready to check out the city’s new businesses that can support you along the way to achieving them!
New Food & Drink
Looking to make the new restaurant rounds in town? Charcoal joined Edmonds’ growing list of foodie destinations just a few months ago. It serves modern American fare from the Graphite Arts Center right on 2nd and Main. The combination of an artists-in-residence workspace with vaulted ceilings and exposed beams alongside an elegant-but-not-stuffy restaurant is an entirely new concept in Edmonds. And, upon entering Charcoal, it feels like this is the type of combination space that was meant for Edmonds all along. The tight menu at Charcoal features elevated versions of our favorite Pacific Northwest-centric entrees: flaky king salmon, juicy steaks, tender scallops, and a very on-trend smash burger. Gluten-tolerators will rave over the baguette. Balance it with the house-pickled veggies.
If you’re interested in watching the action in the kitchen, grab a seat at the bar. Chat with the bartender while the back-of-house team preps, sears, and plates. And, don’t forget to check out the desserts before heading home! See the full menu and make a reservation (highly recommended) here.
Just across the street from Charcoal, take a seat and expand your palate at the wine bar from Walla Walla winery Dusted Valley, which makes wines under the Dusted Valley and Boomtown labels. Like at Charcoal, reservations are highly recommended here, too. The Edmonds wine bar joins the label’s winery in the Walla Walla Valley and tasting room in Woodinville. Signature tastings take patrons through the current release, as well as estate-focused wines.
Read about Dusted Valley’s current wines here. Wines by the glass and light bites are also available. Current hours are Thursday-Sunday 11am – 6pm (Sunday, Monday, Thursday) or 7pm (Friday and Saturday). And, if you love what you taste, consider signing up for their wine club, The Stained Tooth Society!
New Retail
If supporting local artisans is on your list of goals, head up to 605 Main where you’ll find Bench & Board, a new veteran and minority-owned shop focused on home essentials. Get hand-thrown dishes made by local potters, a hand-forged carving set, a new piece of art, or a hostess gift. The inventory is constantly rotating here, so it’s a wonderful place to pop into frequently (they also offer gift cards!). Bench & Board is open Tuesdays 1pm – 5pm, Wednesday through Friday from noon until 5pm, and on Saturdays from 10pm – 5pm.
Resolve to get a little craftier this year? There is something very zen about threading beads onto a string and Alexander’s Bead Bazaar has thousands of beads to choose from. They have strands, individual gemstone beads, and hundreds of freshwater pearls.They also offer antique, ethnic, tribal, and more hard-to-find beads. Whatever you’re hoping to create, Alexander’s can help you see your vision through to creation. Find them at 407 Main from 11am – 4pm Thursday through Saturday and from noon until 4pm on Sundays.
New Mind & Body Wellness
Body
If you’re looking to add to your fitness routine, keep an eye on the Woodway Wellness website. The beautiful new space packed with pilates reformer machines is slated to open this month. Woodway Wellness expands upon owner Karla Crouch’s BodyWorks Pilates across the street, which offers private and small group classes. Woodway Wellness will offer group pilates instruction, occupational therapy, and full-body massage in the Gregory Building on 5th Ave. S (the former home of J Rankin Jewelers). The company also plans to make its schedule available to book via the MindBody app.
Just across the street, and in the same complex as its pilates studio, BodyWorks Pilates, BodyWorks Massage offers anyone looking for a little R&R&R (rest, relaxation, and recovery) LightStim® and NormaTec® Compression. Try a twenty minute NormaTec® Compression session, which is a sequential massage for your legs, arms, or hips. Add on red light therapy for your face while you’re there for proven anti-aging benefits, along with the warm feeling of taking a nap at the beach. BodyWorks Massage offers single sessions or monthly packages and is currently open from 11am – 7pm Monday through Saturday and between 11am and 5pm. on Sunday.
Looking for a full-body sauna experience? Right next door to BodyWorks Massage is The Sauna Hut, which has three sauna rooms—two infrared rooms and one that’s red light only. Infrared sauna sessions offer a whole host of benefits: detoxification, heart health, muscle recovery, anti-aging, and more. Infrared saunas are different from traditional Swedish saunas that heat the air, making you sweat almost instantly. The light technologies used at The Sauna Hut heat the core first. You still sweat eventually, but the health benefits are different—your heart rate increases and your metabolism is activated. Sessions at The Sauna Hut start at $30 for thirty minutes. Hours vary and are generally 8am – 10pm.
Mind
If you intend to take care of your mind, body, and soul, it’s never been a better time to try out a new pyschologist. There are many mental health counselors and practices in Edmonds—Practical Health Therapy is one of the most recent to open. Founder April S. Greninger is licensed in Marriage & Family Therapy and focuses on stress and anger management, anxiety, depression, relationships, and more. She advocates for her clients and helps them with positive self-reflection. Request an appointment with her to see if you’re a fit.
Keep in Touch!
Love these new businesses? Share them with us! Tag @edmondsdowntown in your posts on Instagram and Facebook. For more information about all of the fabulous businesses committed to keeping you happy and healthy in downtown Edmonds, visit EdmondsDowntown.org.
By Whitney Popa, photos by Matt Hulbert