Boon Boona Coffee Launches New Landmark Location at Waterfront Park Overlook
Boon Boona Coffee recently achieved another major milestone with the grand opening of its newest location at the Waterfront Park Overlook in Downtown Seattle. The event marked an expansion of Boon Boona’s footprint across the region, which already includes locations in Renton, Capitol Hill, University District, and Redmond.
CEO Efrem Fesaha addressed the enthusiastic crowd, offering heartfelt thanks to his family, including his partner for supporting his "crazy idea" and his mother, who served as his "first marketing team."
"This isn't just about me. I swear this is really about you all. You all are the ones that are supporting us [to] get through all of these hard struggling times and opening up all of these doors for us,” Fesaha said to the crowd.
A highlight of the ceremony was Fesaha's recognition of former Seahawks wide receiver Doug Baldwin, praising his significant investment in Boon Boona and his impactful community work in fostering entrepreneurship opportunities for formerly incarcerated individuals.
"You walk into any experience in Boon Boona, you can sense the sense of belonging, the community that's made. It's very powerful,” Baldwin said. “The impact that this business can have on this region is profound.”
The opening also drew a distinguished group of speakers, notably Seattle City Council President Joy Hollingsworth, Friends of Waterfront Park CEO Joy Shigaki, and Ivar’s CEO Bob Donegan.
Converge Media’s deep connection with Boon Boona Coffee, rooted in community and culture, was on full display. Back2Besa host Besa Gordon was proud to be the first customer on opening day, a tradition she set at the 2023 grand opening of the company’s University of Washington Bookstore location.
Over the past three years, Converge has amplified Boon Boona’s success, previously documenting a celebration of National Coffee Day in 2023 where Fesaha shared the artistry of a traditional Eritrean and Ethiopian coffee ceremony with Gordon. This commitment continued into 2024 with the celebration of the Renton location's fifth anniversary, where Fesaha acknowledged community supporters and local breweries like Métier, Holy Mountain, and Fast Fashion for integrating Boon Boona’s coffee into their beers.
The successful launch at the Waterfront Park Overlook showcased Boon Boona's dedication to its East African coffee heritage and its role as a community cornerstone. Through authentic storytelling, Converge Media continues to celebrate Fesaha and his team’s latest monumental accomplishment, which connects people to culture and elevates Black-owned business success.
Visit Boon Boona’s new Waterfront Park location Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., and weekends from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at 1515 Western Ave, Seattle.
Catch Back2Besa every Saturday at 10:30 p.m. on FOX 13 Seattle and Sundays at 10 a.m. and 8 p.m. on FOX 13+. Viewers can also stream episodes anytime on the FOX Local app.
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