SEATTLE — Looking for a dose of caffeine and color? Visit the new Lula Coffee location in Seattle’s SODO neighborhood.
"It's really easy to tell people - just find the giant R and you'll find us,” said General Manager Carly Kendrick.
She and her two best friends from high school opened the vibrantly-decorated coffee shop near the Old Rainier Brewery. It’s hard to miss with hot pink counters and walls, puffy clouds hanging from the ceiling, and a plush blue couch for lounging.
"It's grey here so much, we just really wanted something bright and fun for people to come meet and get a good start to the morning,” Kendrick said. “A little kick, you know?"
The chosen aesthetics include neon-enhanced bathrooms and a giant mirror for selfies.
"I've had many people come in and do little Barbie photo shoots. It's been fun,” Kendrick said. "We had a lot of people who said, 'You're cornering yourself, you're only targeting a small part of the market.' Nope. Turns out, no. We get a lot of police men, fire workers, construction workers - these big burly men are in here drinking their Frappuccinos in the pink - actually, they love it."
The unique menu is equally appealing. Staff members helped develop and create the specialty drinks, down to the tongue-and-cheek names.
There’s a "Don't Huck With Me" huckleberry lemonade, the “Salty Beach" with dark chocolate espresso with sweet foam, and “B**** Better Have My Matcha” is a matcha/strawberry blend.
"Obviously it's a little play on words, we had fun naming them all,” Kendrick said, laughing.
Lula Coffee is open daily and located at 3100 Airport Way South. The original location – which has different décor - is in West Seattle at 4451 California Ave. SW.
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