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Matt Larson, owner of the Skylark Cafe on Delridge Way is hoping to get help from the community pay for a move since his and many other businesses will be forced to move or close as Sound Transit extends light rail into West Seattle.
Photo by Patrick Robinson
The Skylark Cafe and Matt Larson are not waiting around to hear their fate.
They and many other businesses in West Seattle will be forced to move or close once Sound Transit’s plans to build the West Seattle Light Rail extension are set in motion. That will come when the final EIS is released this summer.
Since, according to Larson and other affected business owners, the funding for relocation will be nowhere near what is needed, he’s seeking help from the public to raise the quarter million dollars he estimates such a move will cost.
To donate visit the fundraising page HERE.
In an email to supporters and on a donation page set up for the purpose Larson writes:
With heartfelt gratitude, I am reaching out to express our appreciation for the overwhelming support received since our situation became public. Your genuine concern and willingness to assist have deeply touched us, highlighting the collective effort upon which our survival and the continuity of our endeavors depend. We firmly believe that this path presents our best opportunity not only to endure but to flourish in a new environment while preserving the essence of our mission.
We understand that the financial goal we’ve set, $250,000, may seem daunting. Yet, it is our most informed estimate of what it would take to support ourselves and our dedicated staff through the transition. This also includes expenses for the move, a thoughtful buildout, necessary permits, startup funds, significant rent increase, unforeseen incidentals that may arise along the way, or possbily the purchase of an existing business. After 11 years of growing and building our roots in this community, plus surviving a pandemic and bridge closure, our hard work has left us with a potential ending that just doesn’t seem possible, but unfortunately is. Plus, if we are not able to move, we get absolutely NOTHING!
While we appreciate Sound Transit’s assistance in facilitating our relocation, we feel strongly that their proposed support is going to prove inadequate regardless of the circumstances. It is our desire to ensure a smooth transition, allowing us to maintain our steadfast commitment to serving the community with the same pride and dedication we have always upheld.
Embarking on this journey now, we are filled with a sense of urgency, believing that this timing provides us with the greatest opportunity to achieve our goal. With your continued support, we aspire to carry on doing what we love and to provide a welcoming space for our cherished community and artists. We also ask, if you are able to, to help support our dear neighbors at Mode Music Studios and and any other beloved businesses that will be going through the same hardships that we are. We hate to think of losing any of the businesses that make up the fabric of our commnuity but this transition is going to be difficult for a vast number of local cherished businesses.
Every contribution, no matter the size, brings us one step closer to ensuring the continuity of our passion and commitment. From the depths of our hearts, we thank you for being part of this journey with us.
Matt and The Skylark Family
P.S. If you want to put on a fundraiser for us or our fellow displaced businesses, let’s discuss!
