Nourishing Seattle
Maneki Restaurant
As part of the Nourishing Seattle campaign–a collaboration between the Good Business Network of Washington, Seattle Restaurants United, Intentionalist, and Tideway Creative, this vignette captures the resilience of a Seattle landmark. Maneki, which has served the community for over 120 years. The video focuses on caretaker, Jean Nakayama as she navigates the unique pressures of the COVID-19 pandemic, from the logistical hurdles of takeout to the emotional weight of preserving tradition. By blending this historical perspective with the restaurant's modern-day fight for survival, the piece highlights how community support and creative adaptation kept a century-old legacy alive during a global crisis.
Café Campagne
As the next installment in the Nourishing Seattle campaign, this vignette features Daisley Gordon, executive chef and owner of the iconic Café Campagne. A Pike Place Market staple since 1994, the bistro faced an abrupt shift from a "spruce-up year" to a fight for survival as the pandemic took hold. By addressing the rising costs of labor and goods, the story goes beyond the COVID crisis to advocate for the "real cost" of doing business and the vital role independent restaurants play in keeping a neighborhood’s soul intact.
Navy Strength
This next campaign vignette features Anu Apte, owner of Belltown staple Navy Strength, as she reflects on the "never-ending education" of the hospitality industry. After a mid-career pivot from medicine to mixology, Apte found a home in Seattle’s bar scene, only to face the unprecedented challenge of the pandemic. The film highlights the creative survival tactics used to keep her businesses afloat, specifically the launch of tropical cocktail kits designed to bring a sense of "travel and fun" to customers stuck at home.
Frelard Tamales
The next story in the series features Osbaldo Hernandez, co-owner of Frelard Tamales, a Green Lake mainstay built on a multi-generational family recipe. As a gay-owned and immigrant-powered business, the narrative highlights how Osbaldo and his husband, Dennis, use their platform for advocacy, openly supporting LGBTQ+ rights and immigrant justice. The vignette centers on the "power of the wallet," connecting the restaurant's survival during the pandemic to the importance of intentional spending.
Emma’s Barbecue
Inside this next vignette, we meet Tess Thomas, the heart behind Rainier Valley's Emma’s Barbecue. Named in honor of her mother, the restaurant is more than a business—it is a living legacy for Thomas’s children and grandchildren. The film captures the sensory soul of the establishment, from the "lip-smacking" jingle to the comforting aroma that makes customers feel at home. Amidst the somber reality of the pandemic's toll on the community, Thomas reflects on the vital role of hope and the "Little Emma" regulars who refused to let the fire go out.
Resistencia Coffee
In the final installment of the series, we hear from Coté Soerens, owner of Resistencia Coffee in South Park. Founded to reflect the "civic energy" of the neighborhood, the shop serves as a community hub that provides a platform for local artists and food entrepreneurs to hone their craft. The film explores the rejection of the "solo entrepreneur" myth, focusing instead on the deep interconnectedness between a business and its neighbors. By highlighting how a shop’s success is tied to community health, safe housing, and collective well-being, the piece concludes the campaign with a powerful call for a new narrative of neighborliness and mutual care.