By Theresa Edwards, Intern.

What’s a Ballard party without seafood? On the evening of Sunday, August 7, the Kolstrand Building celebrated its one year anniversary Ballard-style with beer, music, and lots and lots of oysters.

People streamed into the back parking lot of the Kolstrand Building to join the all-ages party, which benefitted the Puget Soundkeepers Alliance, a local nonprofit that works to protect and preserve the waters of Puget Sound.

The gathering, open to the public, was held to celebrate the building's first year since its reopening.

Nestled on Ballard Avenue in the heart of the commercial district, the Kolstrand Building was originally built in the early 1900s and was occupied for eight decades by the Kolstrand Marine Supply Company. When it was put up for sale in 2009, Bryce Phillips, owner of evo Properties. spotted it and envisioned it as a space to bring together a variety of neighborhood businesses.

The character of the building revealed itself during the renovations, recounted Phillips. Beneath the layers of drywall appeared some of the original brick with painted advertisements dating to early 20th century Ballard.

Bringing the vision of the Kolstrand Building to life has involved community building around the project.

“A key element [of the Kolstrand development] has been working with a mix of great tenants that each bring something special to the table,” explained Phillips.

The building welcomed its first commercial tenants last August. A year later, it contains a total of eight various establishments: Staple and Fancy Mercantile, The Walrus and Carpenter oyster bar, The Dutch Bike Co, Stoke brand design firm, Turnstyle graphic design studio, Wintr Creative Content Engineering, Duo Public Relations, and The Cellar wine storage.

From sustainable organics to cutting-edge design technology, the sophisticated Kolstrand Building plays host to a colorful family of local businesses that mix rustic and urban, old and new. It serves as an example of how local businesses have delivered new energy to the neighborhood.

The Walrus and Carpenter has been receiving rave reviews from publications around the nation since its opening. The menu features locally harvested clams and mussels, as well as fish, meat, fruits and vegetables sourced from Washington and Oregon.

The Dutch Bike Co, specializing in sales of European city bicycles, also offers bike tune-up services and rentals as well as a coffee shop that has become a popular hangout for Ballard locals.

What’s next for the Kolstrand building?

Plans are being reviewed for an expansion that would involve 10,000 square feet of new construction. Phillips revealed that ideas for the new development include additional creative workspaces and outdoor areas.

For more information and photos, visit www.thekolstrandbuilding.com.

This article was edited by Anne-Marije Rook