GNDT November 13 - 17

City of Seattle, Washington sent this bulletin at 11/12/2025 02:05 PM PST

Image of downtown seattle with the text Good News Downtown

Hi all,

Sending another Good News Downtown, a communication to showcase uplifting, interesting, positive stories about activities and people Downtown.

If you have news or events to share, or if you want to talk about the work being done to revitalize Downtown, send me an email.

Jan Johnson standing under the sign of the Panama Hotel

Tenant Improvement Program helps preserve Seattle’s historic Panama Hotel

The historic Panama Hotel in Japantown still has many of the features from when it first opened in 1910. Through support from the City of Seattle’s Tenant Improvement Program, owner Jan Johnson was able to restore many of the original double-hung windows, maintaining the buildings beauty of historical integrity.

The TI Program helps small businesses reduce the financial burden of upgrading their commercial spaces. This is part of OED's work along the commercial real estate continuum - from pop-ups, to supporting existing businesses to stay and grow, to ownership - alongside policy changes such as recently passed changes making it faster and expensive to go through the permitting process. The Panama Hotel illustrates how these investments help small businesses Downtown and across our city. We recently announced the 2025 TI Program awards for dozens of local small businesses across the city – 45 businesses are receiving more than $1.7 million for new equipment, signage, and construction, including 12 Downtown businesses.

Weekly digest

two women and a man holding paper jellyfish in front of the ferris wheel and puget sound

Credit: Brandon Patoc

It's time to rediscover Downtown! Visit Seattle launched a new Perks Pass with a curated collection of discounts and savings on attractions, wineries, restaurants, and more. The free, mobile-friendly passport is designed to help Seattleites make new discoveries: Download you passport and start rediscovering the Emerald City.

Book lovers have reason to celebrate: Barnes & Noble is returning to Downtown! 📖 The bookseller will open next April with a new two-story, 14,000-square-foot store on Pike Street. The comeback marks the retailer’s first Downtown presence since 2020, and signals renewed confidence in the City’s retail core. Downtown leaders say the opening reflects growing momentum, as record residential numbers and strong visitor traffic continue to revitalize Seattle’s center city: Barnes & Noble plans to return to downtown Seattle – Seattle Times.

Sonia Raman holding up a storm jersey with her name on it

Credit: Seattle Storm

🏀⛹🏼‍♀️It's a new chapter for the Seattle Storm. The team introduced Sonia Raman as their new head coach. Raman is the WNBA’s first person of Indian descent to lead a team. She brings two decades of coaching experience and a reputation for blending analytics, leadership, and player-centered development: Seattle Storm introduce Sonia Raman as new head coach, marking historic first for WNBA – NW Asian Weekly.

white and grey cat looking directly at the camera while seated in a carrier

🐈Seattle Center welcomed crowds of feline fans for Sea-Meow Con last week, the largest cat convention in the Pacific Northwest. The two-day event celebrated all things feline with special guests, adoption groups, contests, and local vendors – bringing together a joyful community of cat enthusiasts and their beloved companions.

Looking ahead

flyer with native artwork promoting native art market during the belltown art walk

This Native American History Month, head to the Holiday Native Art Market on Friday, November 14 from 6 – 9 p.m. during the Belltown Art Walk. The market at the Native Action Network space will showcase Native artists and makers. Featured artist Shana Yellow Calf will present her vibrant, multi-medium works inspired by her Arapaho, Chippewa, and Pacific Northwest roots.

Car enthusiasts, get ready: the Seattle International Auto Show rolls into Lumen Field Event Center November 14 – 16. 🚗🛻🚙 Explore the latest models, cutting-edge electric vehicles, and interactive exhibits from top manufacturers, all showcasing the future of driving right here in Seattle.

Celebrate Arab culture, art, and community at the Souk Seattle Fall Charity Pop-Up Market on Sunday, November 16 from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. at The 101 in Pioneer Square. This pop-up market embraces the spirit of the traditional Arab culture, featuring more than 35 local artists and makers, live DJs, henna, and more – all while raising funds for charity.