Meet The Owner – Artisans Books & Coffee + Artisans PNW

Editor’s note: MyEverettNews.com is working to introduce our readers to more independent business owners here in Everett, Washington. We want to highlight their businesses, tell their stories and invite you to shop locally and help move Everett, Washington forward. If you know of a business we should feature, send us a suggestion via email: news@myeverettnews.com. Leland Dart – Publisher
 

Judi Ramsey and her daughter Emma Kate Ramsey operate one of the most interesting businesses in Everett, Washington. One business, two different front doors separated by the building’s main lobby and a common passageway between the two shops in the back.

Artisans Books and Coffee and Artisans PNW have been operating in Everett for just over a year at 1800 and 1802 Hewitt Avenue in downtown Everett, Washington.

“The books and coffee shop is the site of the original Zippy’s on Hewitt,” Judi Ramsey explained. “We have several of the Zippy’s items including the original square tables and their Kegerator.”

Artisans PNW is the evolution of Artisans Mercantile which the two ran in downtown Snohomish from 2015 – 2021. That store was an outgrowth of a Girl Scout project. “We wanted to be able to travel and so we began making crafts in my Girl Scout Troop where my mom was the troop leader,” explained Emma Kate. “We’d sell the items we made at craft fairs and go on trips, places like Canada and Europe.”

In 2021 they lost their lease in Snohomish and began looking for space in Everett, working with the Downtown Everett Association. Judi had experience working in her parents small town restaurant so having a space to serve coffee along with books and gifts made sense and Emma Kate always wanted a place that had room for a print studio. They found a space with room for both.

They’re in the Hodges Building which was built 100 years ago for the Everett Clinic and opened in 1924. The building has a unique and colorful history and brought with it many challenges for the pair who did the majority of renovations on their own. It took them ten months to run power, renovate the space and make repairs from water damage left behind following a fire in the building ten years ago.

Artisan’s Books and Coffee is a busy place both literally and figuratively. Here’s a recent lineup of activities for one week:

Monday- 4 to 7 crafting meetup

Thursday- @silentbookclubeverett 6:30- 8:30

Friday – First Friday Open Mic signups start at 5:30. Poetry and Singer Songwriters

Saturday- Writer’s Salon 10-12, a Girl Scout Business Pop Up and Open Chess from 3-5pm

“We really want to be that community space where all are welcome,” said Judi. “We’re a queer, woman-owned business and there are no gender designations on our bathrooms, this is a safe and supportive space.”

Many of the weekly classes and events have happened organically. Judi’s husband plays guitar and other musicians (and a few want to be musicians) have discovered the piano in the coffee shop so that can be a source of spontaneous performances. There are book readings and author signings and people using the space for meet-ups with others of similar interest.

Items served in the coffee shop are locally sourced including coffee, tea, honey, beer and cider. Items sold in the gift shop are also locally produced. While their customers may seem to be the folks who walk in the door to buy something, there’s another set of customers, the artisans. “We write checks to dozens of different artists and authors every month,” said Emma Kate. “We care about small businesses, local art, sustainable materials and hand craftsmanship.”

During our visit last week Lenore was their featured artist setting up for the 3rd Thursday Art Walk. “I would describe my art as dark, surreal and based on emotions,” Lenore told us. “I paint based on how I feel at the time.”

Emma Kate is working on locating a printing press to offer classes on print making. Other classes are in the works.

The amount and variety of items offered in both the bookstore & coffee shop as well as in the gift shop and artisans space is truly impressive. The space in both sides is filled with stories. It’s another one of those businesses in Everett, Washington that deserve your support. They work hard to lift up so many other independent business owners and artists while building community. You can learn more about their offerings and events on their Instagram Page and also from their Facebook page.

Editor’s Note: Consistent support for businesses like Judi and Emma Kate’s is so important. Visit, but buy something. Come back again and again, bring a friend, meet a friend there and make it an ongoing part of being in Everett, Washington. It’s how all of the owners we help you meet every Saturday will be able to keep giving you those fond memories of a great experience. Thanks. LD