People walk along the waterfront in front of South Fork Bakery at the Port of Everett on Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

People walk along the waterfront in front of South Fork Bakery at the Port of Everett on Thursday, April 11, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)

Port of Everett inks deal with longtime Bothell restaurant

The port will break ground on two new buildings this summer. Slated for completion next year, Alexa’s Cafe will open in one of them.

EVERETT — The Port of Everett has already leased most of the space in two waterfront buildings that have yet to be built.

But recently, space became available when one of the tenants terminated their lease.

On Tuesday, the port approved a 10-year lease for Alexa’s Cafe, a longtime Bothell staple. The American homestyle restaurant will move in once the building, a stone’s throw from South Fork Bakery, is complete.

The monthly rent for the 2,400-square-foot restaurant and patio will be about $9,240 a month, port spokesperson Kate Anderson said.

Alexa’s will occupy a space previously reserved for Hamilton Cellars. Hamilton, a winery based in southeast Washington, signed a 10-year lease for space last year, but “unfortunately, the owner passed away recently,” Anderson said.

She said the cafe will be near the future Tapped Public House, Rustic Cork Wine Bar and Menchie’s.

The port will begin accepting construction bids in June for the two new buildings, located just south of Fisherman Jack’s restaurant and South Fork Bakery. Together, they will add another 21,000 square feet of restaurant and retail space. An adjacent parking area for 78 vehicles is part of the project.

Alexa’s is targeting a mid-2025 opening date, said owner and founder Leigh Henderson.

Leigh Henderson, founder and owner of Alexa’s Cafe. (Photo provided by Leigh Henderson)

Leigh Henderson, founder and owner of Alexa’s Cafe. (Photo provided by Leigh Henderson)

Henderson plans to call it Alexa’s Cafe Everett, and like its 29-year-old Bothell counterpart, it will offer breakfast and lunch, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., seven days a week, she said.

The fare will be similar. The menu includes eggs, pancakes and French toast for breakfast, with burgers, sandwiches, tacos and quesadillas for lunch.

“We’ll do the same thing in Everett as we do in Bothell,” she said. “That’s our core.”

Henderson said port officials approached her about opening a restaurant at the waterfront.

“The port actually came to us,” she said. She was happy to step aboard.

“A friend’s son owns The Sisters Restaurant, and they’re very impressed with what’s going on in downtown Everett,” Henderson said.

Catherine Soper, the port’s business development said the port had been working to add “a breakfast spot at Waterfront Place to round out the mix of dining options at the waterfront. “Alexa’s Cafe is a great addition to the Port’s ‘restaurant row,” Soper said in an email.

Henderson also operates Alexa’s Cafe at Molbak’s in Woodinville, but with the garden store’s closure in January, the cafe at that location will close at some point, she said. The cafe closure wouldn’t be affected by the potential comeback that Molbak’s owners announced Thursday.

In 2021, the Port of Everett promised new faces and new flavors at the waterfront. The plan included construction of new retail and restaurant space.

The Port of Everett Commission has authorized two new 15-year leases with local restaurateur The Way Group Hospitality LLC to open two new restaurants at Waterfront Place: Tapped Public House and The Net Sheds, a new fish and chips restaurant with a year-round fish market. (Photo provided by The Port of Everett)

The Port of Everett Commission has authorized two new 15-year leases with local restaurateur The Way Group Hospitality LLC to open two new restaurants at Waterfront Place: Tapped Public House and The Net Sheds, a new fish and chips restaurant with a year-round fish market. (Photo provided by The Port of Everett)

Late that year, the port broke ground on the first building in Restaurant Row, as it was dubbed.

Completed last year, Fisherman Jack’s and South Fork Bakery moved in and opened their doors.

The port’s new epicurean corridor is off to a good start, locals say.

Julie Follett, a Stanwood resident who works in Everett, is always game to pick up her mom and grab lunch at the port.

Fisherman Jack’s is a favorite spot, said Follett, who walked along the boardwalk Wednesday with her mom. She’s excited about the new cafe coming in.

“This is going to be like the Mill Creek Town Center,” Follett said, referring to the popular retail center that opened in the 2000s, featuring shop-lined streets and public plazas.

Robin Vanlandingham is another frequent visitor who turns up “once a week to walk and grab food.”

Vanlandingham welcomes the port’s new look — from the new Waterfront Place Apartments to the Grand Avenue pedestrian bridge. Now, she looks forward to even more dining choices.

“We bring out of town guests here to show off Everett,” she said.

Other walkers recalled a port of another era.

“This was not a nice place,” said Randy Schwardt, who grew up in Everett. “It’s amazing what they’ve done here.”

Henderson launched Alexa’s Cafe, named after her daughter, in 1995. The girl was 8 months old. Now her daughter runs the restaurant group’s Mukilteo-based catering business, Henderson said.

“I’m looking forward to being in Everett,” she said. “It’s at a tipping point.”

Janice Podsada: 425-339-3097; jpodsada@heraldnet.com; Twitter: @JanicePods.

Talk to us

> Give us your news tips.

> Send us a letter to the editor.

> More Herald contact information.

More in Business

A closing sign hangs above the entrance of the Big Lots at Evergreen and Madison on Monday, July 22, 2024, in Everett, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Big Lots announces it will shutter Everett and Lynnwood stores

The Marysville store will remain open for now. The retailer reported declining sales in the first quarter of the year.

George Montemor poses for a photo in front of his office in Lynnwood, Washington on Tuesday, July 30, 2024.  (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Despite high mortgage rates, Snohomish County home market still competitive

Snohomish County homes priced from $550K to $850K are pulling in multiple offers and selling quickly.

Henry M. Jackson High School’s robotic team, Jack in the Bot, shake hands at the 2024 Indiana Robotics Invitational.(Henry M. Jackson High School)
Mill Creek robotics team — Jack in the Bot — wins big

Henry M. Jackson High School students took first place at the Indiana Robotic Invitational for the second year in a row.

The computer science and robotics and artificial intelligence department faculty includes (left to right) faculty department head Allison Obourn; Dean Carey Schroyer; Ishaani Priyadarshini; ROBAI department head Sirine Maalej and Charlene Lugli. PHOTO: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College.
Edmonds College to offer 2 new four-year degree programs

The college is accepting applications for bachelor programs in computer science as well as robotics and artificial intelligence.

FILE — Boeing 737 MAX8 airplanes on the assembly line at the Boeing plant in Renton, Wash., on March 27, 2019. Boeing said on Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2024, that it was shaking up the leadership in its commercial airplanes unit after a harrowing incident last month during which a piece fell off a 737 Max 9 jet in flight. (Ruth Fremson/The New York Times)
Federal judge rejects Boeing’s guilty plea related to 737 Max crashes

The plea agreement included a fine of up to $487 million and three years of probation.

Neetha Hsu practices a command with Marley, left, and Andie Holsten practices with Oshie, right, during a puppy training class at The Everett Zoom Room in Everett, Washington on Wednesday, July 3, 2024. (Annie Barker / The Herald)
Tricks of the trade: New Everett dog training gym is a people-pleaser

Everett Zoom Room offers training for puppies, dogs and their owners: “We don’t train dogs, we train the people who love them.”

Andy Bronson/ The Herald 

Everett mayor Ray Stephenson looks over the city on Tuesday, Jan. 5, 2015 in Everett, Wa. Stephanson sees  Utah’s “housing first” model – dealing with homelessness first before tackling related issues – is one Everett and Snohomish County should adopt.

Local:issuesStephanson

Shot on: 1/5/16
Economic Alliance taps former Everett mayor as CEO

Ray Stephanson will serve as the interim leader of the Snohomish County group.

Molbak's Garden + Home in Woodinville, Washington will close on Jan. 28. (Photo courtesy of Molbak's)
After tumultuous year, Molbak’s is being demolished in Woodinville

The beloved garden store closed in January. And a fundraising initiative to revitalize the space fell short.

Everett Mayor Cassie Franklin, Advanced Manufacturing Skills Center executive director Larry Cluphf, Boeing Director of manufacturing and safety Cameron Myers, Edmonds College President Amit Singh, U.S. Rep. Rick Larsen, and Snohomish County Executive Dave Somers participate in a ribbon-cutting ceremony on Tuesday, July 2 celebrating the opening of a new fuselage training lab at Paine Field. Credit: Arutyun Sargsyan / Edmonds College
‘Magic happens’: Paine Field aerospace center dedicates new hands-on lab

Last month, Edmonds College officials cut the ribbon on a new training lab — a section of a 12-ton Boeing 767 tanker.

Gov. Jay Inslee presents CEO Fredrik Hellstrom with the Swedish flag during a grand opening ceremony for Sweden-based Echandia on Tuesday, July 30, 2024, in Marysville, Washington. (Ryan Berry / The Herald)
Swedish battery maker opens first U.S. facility in Marysville

Echandia’s marine battery systems power everything from tug boats to passenger and car ferries.

Helion Energy CEO and co-founder David Kirtley talks to Governor Jay Inslee about Trenta, Helion’s 6th fusion prototype, during a tour of their facility on Tuesday, July 9, 2024 in Everett, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
State grants Everett-based Helion a fusion energy license

The permit allows Helion to use radioactive materials to operate the company’s fusion generator.

People walk past the new J.sweets storefront in Alderwood Mall on Thursday, July 25, 2024, in Lynnwood, Washington. (Olivia Vanni / The Herald)
New Japanese-style sweets shop to open in Lynnwood

J. Sweets, offering traditional Japanese and western style treats opens, could open by early August at the Alderwood mall.

Support local journalism

If you value local news, make a gift now to support the trusted journalism you get in The Daily Herald. Donations processed in this system are not tax deductible.