Hey 425'ers, Love Local?
Find remarkable gems with Eastside Stories.
We put the spotlight on passionate business owners
and inspiring stories that make our main streets thrive.
📍 Issaquah, Bellevue, Redmond & More
In the Community Spotlight
Community Spotlight
The Daily Crumb - Issaquah, WA
The Daily Crumb - Issaquah, WA
On a chilly Tuesday morning in downtown Issaquah, the aroma of toasted nuts and caramelized sugar spills onto Front Street, a warm, fragrant invitation that is almost impossible to resist. This scent is the calling card of The Daily Crumb, a thriving local bakery, and the realized dream of its owners, Cindy and Jake Harris.
The couple, who are as complementary as salt and yeast, didn’t always work side-by-side. Cindy, 38, spent a decade in customer relationship management for a tech firm down I-90. Jake, 41, was a skilled woodworker, known for crafting bespoke cabinets, but always kept his hands in the flour, experimenting with sourdough in his off-hours.
“I was staring at spreadsheets all day, and Jake was making these incredible loaves that we couldn’t give away fast enough,” Cindy recounted, cheerfully wiping down the antique counter. “The moment of truth came when we realized we were talking about dough more than our 401ks.”
Summit Sips - Issaquah, WA
Summit Sips - Issaquah, WA
Where Gilman Boulevard meets the morning shadows of the Cascades, you’ll find a place less defined by its walls and more by its warm, steady hum: Summit Sips. This local institution is the brainchild of childhood friends, Mary Peterson and Mike O’Connell, a duo whose partnership is as well-blended as their signature dark roast.
Mary, 42, is the soul of the shop. Having worked in various Issaquah eateries since her high school days, she has an uncanny knack for remembering faces, family news, and precisely how much foam her regulars need. She handles the counter, the rotating gallery of local art, and the intricate scheduling of their baristas. Mary describes her role simply: “I manage the people; Mike manages the beans.”
Mike, 43, is the quieter force, a man whose passion lies in the precise science of the roast. After a brief, unfulfilling stint in finance, he spent three months trekking through Central America, learning the cultivation and drying process directly from coffee farmers. He brought that dedication back home, installing a small, prized roaster in the back of the shop.
The Brandfam Media Mission:
Brandfam represents a new generation of marketing media. We believe that behind every business is a story. Our mission is to build genuine relationships between real people and the companies that truly matter in our lives.
Much like you would support your local football team, we believe local businesses deserve a loyal, passionate fan base. That is why we created Eastside Stories; to highlight the personal passion, sacrifice, and unique effort behind the Eastside’s best local companies. We transform these unseen efforts into authentic stories that drive community support.
