Stephanie King is bringing it home and ringing the dinner bell loud and clear.
About a year after launching her first Kitchen & Market store in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, the Mercer Island resident has opened the doors to a second location in her home domain at 7635 SE 27th St.
Locals can now peruse the aisles for their go-to meal items in Kitchen & Market Mercer Island’s 1,500-square foot European-style space filled with freshly prepared foods, chef-driven meal kits that include vegan, vegetarian and gluten-free options, locally sourced goods, private label products, top-notch wines and more.
“Opening a storefront in Mercer Island has always been part of my vision. And when the perfect location fell in our laps, it just felt right,” said King, who has lived and raised her family on the Island over the last 15-plus years. “Our business model is rooted in building neighborhood markets where our customers live and work.”
The Mercer Island store is now open daily from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m., and an official grand opening is on the docket from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. on Oct. 15 featuring small bites and special giveaways. Spooky Halloween treats will be on the menu for trick-or-treaters from Oct. 28-31.
In a previous Reporter article, the Islander said she’s been cooking her entire life and tested her meal kits two years ago as a fundraiser for Mary’s Place, a nonprofit organization that provides safe, inclusive shelter and services for women, children and families. With her daughter lending a major hand, they served 250 meal kits and donated $10,000 to Mary’s Place.
King said she’s grown as a business owner and person since bringing Kitchen & Market into the world with her daughter at the height of the pandemic in March of 2020. She’s gone from cooking and preparing meals at home and then delivering them, to opening a pair of stores and utilizing a kitchen commissary.
“In the past two years, like most people, I have discovered that I am resilient and nimble. I have learned patience, determination and how to pivot and adjust to unexpected hurdles, and to do so with a smile and laugh,” she said. “Starting a business during the pandemic has been no easy task. I am so grateful to my family and friends who have supported me and my dream.”
While King’s flagship Pike Place Market store continues to reap success, there have been some challenges along the way that all businesses are facing during pandemic times.
King explained the scenario and how they’re forging through it: “Primarily decreased foot traffic — a result of people working from home and fewer people venturing downtown — and hiring difficulties. We are grateful, though, that our loyal customer base and our workplace culture have helped mitigate these challenges.”
About a week before her Seattle grand opening last year, King referred to cooking as her “love language” and said she enjoys feeding her family and friends and offering customers ingredients and recipes that she would be proud to serve at her own table.
For more information, visit https://kitchenandmarket.com/
