Every year since 2009, when Seattle's Summer is limping into action, Porchlight has an anniversary. This year marks our 8th year in business and I couldn't be more grateful to everyone that's helped out along the way--so this is the annual mushy thank you. 

The photo above shows Porchlight before we installed plumbing, painted the walls, or even had a light fixture. Little did we know that four years later, our one story building would be torn down, we'd temporarily move 200 feet away while this building shot up seven stories, and we'd then move back into the same exact spot. We were lucky enough that the situation worked out in our favor and we weren't displaced, having to start over in another part of town.

Capitol Hill has been the hub of so many different forces over the years, and lately it's been the focus of drastic economic and social change. The fact that a place like Porchlight can exist, to me, means that there is still life left in what people have long-associated with Capitol Hill. This is not to say that Porchlight is the embodiment or heart of Capitol Hill, but more of an example of success thanks to the people that make up the heart of Capitol Hill--musicians, artists, the LGBTQ community, and long-time residents. We also welcome all the newcomers to the city that stand beside and support the aforementioned. The fact that a coffee and record shop with no budget could open and stay open is all thanks to you.

Since the beginning, folks have regularly asked me about the story of Porchlight and I realized that the biggest influence on Porchlight was my connection to DIY/punk over the years. Obviously punk and DIY aren't too closely connected with "business", but the approach of doing what you like, doing the work yourself (with a close community), while focusing on making a living--not getting rich and overpricing, is how I connected them. I eventually learned what work to do myself (make coffee, hang shelves, make signs, unclog drains) and what not to do (screen print shirts in between customers, build sturdy things, etc).

Porchlight has never relied on traditional advertising, but has been supported heavily by neighborhood word of mouth, touring bands that make us a destination, and social media. As with any small business, customers posting Porchlight photos via avenues like Instagram  and Facebook is so important and helpful. If you like a business, want to support it and keep it in business, yet don't have much to financially offer, I can say with certainty that just posting a photo of that business helps them out. It has helped us over the years and I really can't say "Thank You!" enough. 

To the people that have been coming to Porchlight for the last 8 years, or just discovered us last week...

Thank you, thank you, thank you. On July 4th, we're celebrating these 8 years by giving away Sizzle Pie pizza, drinks, frisbees, and Molly Moon's ice cream. Come to our party!

​-Zack

Here's a nice little video showing off all the things we love about making coffee at the Gorge for Sasquatch 2017.

Each Memorial Day weekend, Porchlight makes the trip over the Gorge to caffeinate Sasquatch Festival's backstage. We get to see a lot of familiar faces, bands and scenic views. Here are a few of 'em!

We've got some new mugs for sale in the shop and online. Grab a Dandy Man mug for the coffee & record lover in your life.

Another year, another Record Store Day! We've got bunches of limited edition releases coming in, but we're also having a giant Porchlight merch sale. You'll be able to get incredibly sweet deals on our cozy "Coffee & Records" crew neck sweatshirt, enamel pins, turntable slipmats, travel mugs, and more! Here's the list of limited edition releases we'll be carrying:

AJJ (Andrew Jackson Jihad) - Decade Of Regression
Big Star - Complete Third
Black Angels - Death Song
Blitzen Trapper - Unreleased Recordings Vol. 1
Blowfly - Forever Fly
Bruce Springsteen - Hammersmith Odeon 1975
Coheed & Cambria - Good Apollo
Corey Feldman and Snoop Dogg - Go 4 It
David Crosby and the Lighthouse Band - 10th Anniversary 10"
Distillers - Coral Fang
Dolly Parton - Puppy Love
Flaming Lips - Onboard The international Space Station
Gerard Way - Into The Cave
Grateful Dead - PNE Garden Auditorium
Johnny Cash - Johnny Cash
Ken Casey - The Acid Test
Link Wray - Beans and Fatback
Luna - Penthouse
​Metavari - Metropolis
Neil Young - Decade
Nico & The Faction - Fata Morgana
Notorious BIG - Born Again
Offspring - Offspring
Patti Smith - Hey Joe
Pearl Jam - State of Love
Pickin' On Series - Nirvana Bluegrass Tribute
Polica - Lipstick Stains / Still Counts
Popol Vuh  - Cobra Verde (Original 1987 Soundtrack)
Prince - I Could Never Take...
Prince - I Wish U Heaven
Prince - Little Red Corvette
Prince - Partyman
Run The Jewels - RTJ RSD
Sharon Jones with the EL Fields Gospel Wonders - Heaven Bound
Smiths - Both With The Thorn In His Side
Sublime - Badfish
Sun Ra - Discipline 27-11
Sunny Day Real Estate - Rising Tide
Superchunk - Cup of Sand
Swet Shop Boys - Sufi La
Thelonious Monk - Les Liasons
Thrice - Sea Change
Townes Van Zandt - Live At Austin City Limits
Trevor Jones - Dark Crystal Soundtrack (on crystal clear vinyl!)
U2 - Red Hill Mining Town
Various Artists -  Leonard Cohen Tribute: Like A Drunk In A Midnight Choir
Various Artists - A Bronx Tale OST
Various Artists - House Of Joy Box Set
Various Artists - Lullaby Renditions Of The Doors
War On Drugs - Thinking Of A Place

New shirt designs are available online and in the store! Visit Mt. Porchlight...or the online store.

We'll be servin' coffee from 9AM to 5PM New Year's Day for all your sleepy, hungover needs!

Come to Porchlight to grab coffee or gifts to put under the coffee tree.

All the photos have been digitized and are available here. Please help us group all these gems together on social media by tagging Porchlight or using the hashtag #porchlightformal. Also if you'd like to pick up the physical version of your photo, come by Porchlight between Wednesday December 14th and Saturday December 24th. Then they'll be gone forever! Thanks to everyone that came by to drink the drinks and eat the pizza. See you next year.