Support Local Business
Discover the best local gems in Tacoma! This Real Estate blog post from The Hume Group features Valhalla Coffee, King’s Books in the Stadium District, and Tinkertopia. Support your community!
Sometimes you have to blog about things other than the real estate market in Tacoma. I like to try to mention businesses in the area that I like. It is important to support local
A Great Cup of Joe
First is Valhalla Coffee on 6th Avenue. I have walked past it countless times on my way to one of the national coffee chains for an Americano. One day I stopped in to introduce myself and asked if they also sold drinks. They do. Byron proceeded to pull the darkest, richest espresso shot I ever recall enjoying. I buy beans from them as well. Often the beans I get were roasted that same day. I am told the beans I buy at national coffee chains may have been roasted in a previous year! Fresh is good. Local is great! Give Valhalla a try. They are on 6th Ave in Tacoma, just west of Proctor.
Local Bookstore
King’s Books is Tacoma’s largest independent bookstore, a community hub nestled in the historic Stadium District since 2000, offering 4,500 square feet and around 100,000 books—mostly used, with a smart selection of new titles too. Owned by sweet pea Flaherty, the shop is more than just a place to buy books; it’s a gathering place for book clubs, author events, poetry readings, and grassroots community meetings, all set in a charming, century-old building that’s home to two beloved shop cats. Supporting King’s Books means supporting a vibrant, locally owned institution that champions Tacoma’s unique culture, diversity, and love of literature.
Creative Play / Salvage
Tinkertopia is Tacoma’s creative reuse center, transforming donated and salvaged materials from local businesses into a wonderland of affordable art supplies and hands-on inspiration for makers of all ages. Founded by artists passionate about upcycling and community, Tinkertopia offers a retail shop packed with everything from haunted piano keys to handmade sketchbooks, as well as a vibrant “Tinkerspace” where kids, teens, and adults can dive into open-ended crafting, STEAM projects, and the ancient art of “junk modeling”. Supporting Tinkertopia means championing creativity, sustainability, and the joy of turning Tacoma’s cast-offs into imaginative treasures.
I hope you will support local business in Tacoma like these and keep dollars circulating within our local economy. Perhaps those same business owners may one day support your business!
