Six Ventures Open in Issaquah Highlands to Support and Enjoy
Business is booming in Issaquah Highlands. Several new restaurants and shops are making their mark in the community this fall with everything from dog treats to delicious scratch-made cookies.
Grand Ridge Plaza has welcomed six new businesses over the last few months: Crumbl Cookies, Mud Bay, BB’s Teriyaki Grill, Danji Korean Cuisine, Highlands Poke and European Wax Center. These companies join more than
50 eateries, retail shops and services within the property.
Many of these new locations aim to celebrate diversity through food. Transport your taste buds to Hawaii with Highlands Poke; try authentic Korean food from Danji; experience a modern take on Japanese
cuisine at BB’s Teriyaki Grill; and finish your outing with a selection of warm cookies from Crumbl.
Make sure to bring your furry friends to Mud Bay for treats and toys as well as nutritional support. For your own beautification needs, stop by European Wax Center to pamper yourself with skin products and services.
For more information on Grand Ridge Plaza businesses and services, check the following pages and visit grandridgeplaza.com.
Mud Bay:
1416 Highlands Drive NE, Suite 100
With so many four-legged friends running around Issaquah Highlands, it only makes sense for a pet store to mark its territory in Grand Ridge Plaza. Mud Bay, the largest pet retailer in the Pacific Northwest, opened its new location on Sept. 10. in the former Carter’s location.
Jenn Andrews, marketing program coordinator for Mud Bay, said the store’s grand opening allowed the team to meet many community members and their dogs and cats.
The staff at Mud Bay—also known as Muddies—are specially trained in pet nutrition, behavior and skin and coat health to help you find the best products and solutions for your furry friends. Team members love supporting pet owners in whatever way they need, Andrews said.
“Whether that is just a complimentary treat each day or if they need help solving a deeper problem, we do our best to accommodate each pet’s special, individual needs,” she said.
Mud Bay has operated stores within the Eastside community for many years. Issaquah Highlands was selected as a location for a new store because the company believes it can bring value to the community through its approach to solution focused nutrition and education.
In 1988, the pet retailer began as a small farm store on Mud Bay Road in Olympia. Since then, the company has added services (such as local delivery, weigh stations and dog grooming) and grown to 61 stores from Bellingham to Bend, Ore.
Mud Bay has several community programs that benefit local organizations, Andrews said. The store also supports local food banks and animal rescues by donating products that have been returned. The company is always willing to sponsor community events that benefit its animal welfare partners, she added.
“We are excited to be a part of the Issaquah Highlands community, and we hope you stop in to meet our team,” she said.
The new store is hosting its next event on Oct. 15. Make sure to stop by Mud Bay in Grand Ridge Plaza with your furry companions for complimentary professional pet photography.
European Wax Center:
1451 Highlands Drive NE, Suite 2230
EWC offers body, facial and bikini waxing. The center caters to both men and women, giving everyone a chance to experience smooth skin. And remember, your first wax is free!
A typical center has six or seven wax suites. In addition to rigorous sanitation measures, the company has added extra procedures to help guests feel more comfortable and confident. Cleanliness, hygiene and safety are top of mind for all staff members. Waxing suites are also designed for complete privacy during sessions.
Certified wax specialists at EWC utilize a four-step process designed to ensure a comfortable waxing experience by prepping, protecting and pampering your skin.
First, the estheticians use pre-wax cleanser to remove makeup, oil or lotion from the skin. Next, a pre-wax oil is applied to ensure the wax adheres to pesky hairs (but never your skin). The hair is then gently removed with unique Comfort Wax® for “a virtually painless experience.” Last, your skin is pampered with an ingrown hair serum and hair minimizing body lotions.
Comfort Wax® was the inspiration behind the company’s name. Europe is where the beeswax is sourced to make EWC’s signature violet wax, which is gentle on all hair and skin types.
Retail is another significant part of EWC’s business model. Each center offers products to slow hair regrowth, cleanse and nourish skin, banish bumps and boost eyebrows.
EWC began as a family-owned business in 2004. The original owners were brothers, David ad Josh Coba, who started the business in the back of their father’s hair salon. In just over 15 years, the company has grown to a franchising model of about 850 centers across the United States.
Look for it to open soon in the space formerly occupied by Francesca’s.
BB’s Teriyaki Bowl:
1568 Highlands Drive NE, Suite 120
Michael Sauvage, the owner of BB’s Teriyaki Grill, has joked about opening his own restaurant since he was in eighth grade. Now, the business owner is opening his first location on the Eastside of Seattle in MOD Pizza’s former spot.
The grill officially opened to the community in mid-September. This marks the fifth location in Washington state. He also plans to open a new location in Puyallup before the year’s end.
Sauvage built his restaurant to simulate the “Chipotle” system of serving food in an assembly line style. Guests can choose from a simplified menu with fresh veggie options and locally sourced protein to customize their own teriyaki box.
“It’s a fresh take on teriyaki,” he said. “We’re different from other places.”
First, choose between white and brown rice, yakisoba, veggie stir fry, broccoli, cabbage salad and mixed greens salad. Next, protein options include regular and spicy chicken, shredded pork, tofu and beef brisket. Last, add some flavor with either spicy or regular sauce. Patrons can also ask for gyoza on the side as well a fountain drink or beer.
“Kids really enjoy the chicken yakisoba,” Sauvage added.
He decided to set u
p shop in Issaquah Highlands for the beautiful neighborhood and family-friendly environment. He hopes to live here one day, he said, and he plans to participate in community events once the restaurant has started to grow.
“I wanted to cast a wide net, and the demographics are strong here,” he said.
In 2017, roughly one year after graduating from University of Washington, Sauvage opened the first BB’s Teriyaki Grill in the University District.
As a senior in college, he worked at Yoshino’s Teriyaki in Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood. Sauvage said the owner, named BB, would mentor him on the ins and outs of the business out of the “goodness of his heart” for 3-4 days per week.
Sauvage felt indebted to BB for his support, so he named the restaurant after him. While the recipes are different from Yoshino’s, he said, the techniques for making them are similar.
Poke Highlands:
927 NE Park Drive, Suite 530
Poke means “to slice or cut” in Hawaiian, referring to chunks of raw fish—usually tuna—which is then tossed over rice and topped with vegetables and flavorful sauces and toppings. In May, our very own Poke restaurant opened in the space formerly occupied by Scout & Molly’s Boutique.
Highlands Poke follows a five-step process to build a bowl.
- Choose your base: white rice, brown rice, mixed greens or kale.
- Choose your mix: cucumber, onion, crab salad, seaweed or avocado.
- Choose your proteins: tuna, salmon, albacore, yellowtail, spicy ground tuna, spicy ground salmon, shrimp, scallop, octopus, mushroom, tamago or tofu.
- Choose your sauce: spicy, medium spicy, spicy mayo, black truffle oil, cilantro aioli or gochujang sauce.
- Choose your toppings: sesame seeds, cilantro, wasabi, sushi ginger, green onion, quinoa, seaweed salad, mango, masago, crispy onion or sweet corn.
The restaurant also offers signature bowls and sides. Patrons can order meals online for pickup and delivery.
“If you like raw fish, come to Highlands Poke,” owner Younghwan Ji said.
With his wife, Ji owns this restaurant as well as Poke Alice 2 near the Amazon Spheres in Seattle. The duo wanted to branch out from the city to a safer and cleaner location.
Despite this, the new restaurant was still vandalized several months ago. Ji said his heart was warmed to see members of the community stop by the restaurant to offer support and kindness. In fact, the community raised several thousand dollars to help with damages.
Ji wants to thank the community for rallying around Highlands Poke during that time. He plans to give the same support back to people in Issaquah Highlands, he said.
Crumbl Cookies:
1520 Highlands Drive NE, Suite 110
A group of siblings are bringing Crumbl Cookies, a gourmet cookie shop, to Issaquah Highlands this winter. The high-end shop is currently undergoing construction and permitting, but it’s expected to open ahead of Christmas.
Brittany Adams, one of the franchise owners, said her business partners have been trying to bring Crumbl to Issaquah Highlands for the last two years.
“The community has lots of families, schools and local businesses to support,” she added.
After moving to Washington state from Utah with her husband in 2018, Adams quickly realized that late-night desert spots were few and far between. She said there was no Crumbl in Washington state at the time.
In 2020, Adams launched the state’s first Crumbl in Covington alongside her two siblings and their significant others. Now, they operate four other franchise locations across King County. In total, the six of them each balance other careers outside of managing Crumbl. Adams is a nurse and health consultant, whereas her husband works in finance. Her brother runs an insurance company, and her sister is focused on fitness tech. This opportunity forced everyone outside of their comfort zone, she said.
“Food is different,” Adams said. “It’s been a fun adventure for us.”
“It’s a young, fun vibe,” she said. “We also do our own hiring and training. We’re going to give good jobs to people in the community.”
Each store starts with roughly 75 employees, she said, which will provide lots of jobs for minors. Crumbl offers quick and easy shifts as well as a fun work environment, she added.
She said franchise owners are individually responsible for sourcing all materials and ingredients for Crumbl Cookies. Each cookie is scratch made with fresh ingredients and always served warm. Recipes come directly from the company.
Each location follows a rotating menu of cookies, which is announced every Sunday night on social media. Instagram is a huge communication tool for the company, Adams said.
There are six specialty cookies each week, however, the chocolate chip and pink sugar cookies remain staples. Additionally, franchise owners can select a special mystery cookie every week.
Crumbl will be located in what was once occupied by the Verizon store.
Danji Korean Cuisine:
936 NE Park Drive, Suite 103
Few Korean restaurants exist on the Eastside. And now, Issaquah Highlands has its very own. Danji Korean Cuisine opened its first location in June.
Sungtae King and his wife have worked in restaurants throughout most of their lives. They figured it was time to open their own place, especially in an area where Korean cuisine is lacking. Additionally, the husband-wife duo loved the neighborhood and its diverse population.
On the menu, Korean fried chicken is always a hit. Another popular dish is Stone Pot Bibimbap (pictured), which features protein options such as beef, chicken, tofu, seafood and pork belly. Rose Udon, a spicy cream udon with bacon and sausage, is also ordered frequently.
Among the appetizers, one server said Haemul Pajeon is a community favorite. Pajeon is a savory pancake made with scallions. However, its most popular variation is created with seafood (haemul).
Patrons can order online for pickup or sit down in the restaurant for full service.
You’ll find Danji Korean Cuisine where Chinoise Café was located, until it closed in May.
