Seven Market & Café, 2007 Ravenna Boulevard, Seattle
The past is present in Seven Market and Café primarily in three ways: the gorgeous hulking vintage glass-front refrigerator, now filled with artisianal soda pop; the simple building’s cozy physical presence nestled on the gentle slope of Ravenna Boulevard near Ravenna Park; and its century-plus function as a neighborhood grocery. This place feels simultaneously hip and old-school, and the large bank of windows facing the street lets in natural light.
Called Boulevard Grocery for most of its long existence, the shop has always been a welcome oasis for visitors to nearby Ravenna Park, one of Seattle’s oldest parks. Known early on as Big Tree Park in reference to the towering old growth Douglas Firs that once graced the 50 acre wooded ravine, and originally privately owned, Ravenna has belonged to the city since 1910.
Neighborhood children have been popping into Boulevard Grocery (and now Seven) since at least 1919, when the building was advertised for sale in the classified section of The Seattle Times. King County property tax records state that it was built in 1916. In addition to its small retail space, the modest building originally featured a living room and kitchenette, giving the owner the ability to generate extra income by renting out this tiny studio apartment. The building’s official use as a grocery was established by city permit #215227, issued July 31, 1922.
In 1920, the store was again advertised for sale: “Grocery store, by owner; nice cash trade; select neighborhood; no competition; best stock and fixtures; new, clean building; rent $25. Circumstances force quick sale: $1500. 2007 Ravenna Boulevard. Ravenna car to 20th Northeast” (The Seattle Times, January 22, 1920, p.27). The ad references Seattle’s historic streetcar system, which had a line that served Ravenna Park.
Grocers at Boulevard Market over the years have included George and Laura Gates, who ran the operation in the 1920s and 1930s; Clarence and Nettie Bell, who held down the fort during World War II; and Clarence Lindgrin, who satisfied demand for Popsicles during the 1950s and passed the store on to his son George in 1964.
Small tables invite laptop-users fueled by Seven’s freshly roasted coffee. Ravenna neighbors can find almost anything they’ve run out of or crave — lemons, chips and salsa, Theo chocolate bars — or recover from a difficult day with beer, cider, or a Full Tilt mocha shake. And during the winter holidays, Boulevard Grocery/Seven is the handiest place to nab hot chocolate en route to another retro-feeling treat: viewing the lights and lawn decorations at nearby Candy Cane Lane (NE Park Road), a beloved neighborhood tradition.
February 13, 2015
