by Ruby Tuesday Romero

22 years ago, the risks and hardships involved in owning a business in West Seattle seemed worthwhile. The community between the Duwamish and the Sound is unmatched and here, families begin and grow, grow bigger or grow apart, and of course grow old -all while their neighbor does the same. 

After the birth of their first son around 1999, Jessie S. and her husband Chao, moved from Tacoma to West Seattle to take over operations of Sub Shop #9 at 6058 California Ave SW. They purchased the entire business model from the original owners for about $90k, including entering the rental agreement with the building owner. 

The pint-sized stand-alone structure had opened its doors as a sandwich shop in 1983 and has always served subs. After taking over, Jessie and Chao had welcomed another son, and when the boys became old enough to help, it became a family affair.

Jessie struggled to conceal her emotions when I asked what made owning a business in Morgan Junction memorable. She spoke deliberately when expressing gratitude for the bonds created and maintained over the years and the loyalty of their patrons. “Watching kids grow up, and then meeting their kids”. 

Seattle has grown older too, become rich, and forgotten about the allure of family owned businesses. Jessie wonders if theirs is looked down on by newcomers based on appearance, something a lifelong Seattleite like myself, might see as an indicator of delicious and quality eats. 

With restaurants already having higher overhead than most other industries, the pandemic has further strained the cost of operating. Bulk food prices have skyrocketed causing difficulties in product availability and shipping companies have delayed deliveries. Furthermore, the couple doesn’t own the building and the rent has more than doubled from when they bought the business. Although, I should mention it hasn’t increased in the past five years. Still, Jessie chose to take up a full time care giving job to help keep the subs afloat.

Even the second job couldn’t help in the long run. The rental agreement clearly states no upgrades can be made to the building. Important upgrades such as installing an industrial air conditioning system to mitigate the 100 plus degree days in summer, or even re-painting the building exterior. However, without the documents it’s hard to say exactly what provisions are stated but the the age of the equipment is observable.

Without the ability to upgrade and the vibe of the neighborhood changing, considering the cost increase on products and rent, and factoring in decreasing sales- there is really no better time to call it. Most business owners might continue on into debt and disappointment to save face, but it takes more courage to know when it’s time to turn the page. 

As our conversation comes to a close, Jessie excitedly offers me a boat-their six inch sub-and someone in their early 20’s walks in to order. As Chao begins to slice the meat, I’m informed the husband and wife have tried multiple times to contact their landlord to discuss the matter through various methods- including walking next door where the landlord’s son runs an un-affiliated business, but they've gotten no response.

I grab my lunch and thank them, as two more separate parties walk in. Leaving the quaint shop, I saw the hustle behind these two. The hole-in-the-wall aesthetic of pre-tech is dying out, being swallowed by taller buildings, and becoming obsolete.

This story, I’m sure, is nearly identical for many of the businesses recently closed across the region. 

As earlier stated, Jessie has been working as a caregiver full time and Chao plans to find work in the area, so make sure to say “Hi!” when you see them. The duo will greatly miss the laughs and smiles they’ve shared with their neighbors and are grateful for all the love their family has received over the past two decades. Their presence in West Seattle will shift from commercial to residential and the stresses of running a business in 2021 are open to other entrepreneurs.

The shop will close its doors permanently on Thursday Sept 30th, but until then, Jessie and Chao will be hand slicing meats and meticulously crafting a perfect lunch for you Monday through Saturday. Service starts at 11, but I encourage you to call beforehand to make sure they’re open. The sandwiches are fresh, filling and a local gem many will miss.

Goodbyes aren’t easy, so stop in and say farewell with the purchase of a meal before they’re gone. 

Sub Shop 9 
6058 California Ave Sw Seattle, WA 98136 
206-935-7777 
Mon-Sat 11am-about 4pm
 

Order on Grubhub here: https://tinyurl.com/5d5rdmt6