Moka's Cafe Will Close in Two Weeks, Site Has Been Sold

Mokas, the charming coffee shop two blocks south of the new Mercer Street corridor in South Lake Union, will close in two weeks. Set back from the street, with a Thai spirit house decor, Mokas has occuypied the spot at the corner of Fairview and Harrison for the past nine years, offering house-roasted coffee, sandwiches, beer, and wine. Owner Dawn Loraas has her own coffee micro-roaster on Vashon Island. There is also plenty of free parking, which is like catnip to Seattle's flock of development vultures.

One half of the block between Thomas and Harrison is occupied by an elegant, classical brick building that formerly housed the Troy Laundry and is currently used for storage by the Seattle Times. The remaining building houses two antique dealerships. Given the rapid expansion of South Lake Union and the lot that Mokas sits on having just been sold, Eater would not be surprised to see the entire block redeveloped.

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[Photo: Gotime.com]