Greenwood's Yonder Cider to remain open after Seattle City Council approves microbusiness bill

Greenwood's Yonder Bar will get to keep their garage doors open for at least another year after the Seattle City Council approved a bill that loosened restrictions on home-based microbusinesses in the city.

The "Bringing Businesses Home" bill passed 8-1 on Monday with Councilmember Alex Pedersen in sole opposition.

Sponsored by Councilmembers Dan Strauss and Teresa Mosqueda as well as President Lorena Gonzalez, the bill will ease citywide restrictions for one year during the COVID-19 pandemic, suspending these regulations for home-based businesses:

— Customer visits are by appointment only

— There is no evidence of the home-based business visible from the exterior of the structure

— No more than two persons who are not residents of the building may work in a home-based business

— The home-based business shall not cause a substantial increase in on-street parking congestion or a substantial increase in traffic within the immediate vicinity.

"We know that the land use code was not written for life in a pandemic and the land use code has not kept up with our changing environment, especially when we are doing more than ever from our homes," Strauss said on Monday.

Following the vote, Yonder Cider founder Caitlin Braam expressed hope that the bill would lead to more home-based businesses operating in the neighborhood.

"I am so hopeful in the next two weeks, three weeks, two months to walk to another garage like Yonder Bar and see another small business that has gotten their start and can hopefully grow and dream into a bigger space just like we've done," said Braam.

Yonder Bar began making headlines in early February when they were forced to close their walk-up retail operation following complaints from a neighbor that the business was operating too close to a school and church. The woman-owned cidery only opened in July 2020, and the window sold growler fills and cans to be consumed offsite.

These walk-up window models that limit guest and employee contact have been successful during dining restrictions, and the owners of Yonder contended the model was best for their business amid the pandemic that has caused over 90 bars and restaurants in the city to close permanently.

While the disgruntled neighbor got their wish by seeing the garage bar shutter, the forced closure turned out to be a highly unpopular with neighbors and residents. Over 4,100 residents signed a petition to the city to allow Yonder to reopen, propelling the legality of these home-based businesses to the scope of the city council.

"We need to make sure that our land use code is able to respond to the crisis facing small businesses as a result of COVID-19," Strauss said during a committee meeting. "This legislation recognized that our code has not kept up with business owner's creativity and drive."

Home-based businesses would still be regulated by other entities such as the Department of Health and Liquor Control Board.

While the closure of Yonder's garage bar might have precipitated the bill, Strauss said that there are other businesses within his own district currently operating out of homes.

Pedersen expressed concerns that allowing more home businesses to operate out of compliance with city codes would create competition with already existing small businesses that are forced to abide by the city's requirements.

"The proposed changes will make it possible for retail, food and drink establishments to proliferate everywhere in the city with, in my opinion, too little consideration of the impacts on existing small businesses struggling to reopen and rehire within our many neighborhood business districts," Pedersen said.

Strauss stated that the Phinney Neighborhood Association, the neighboring business district to Yonder, supported the bill.

While Yonder has reopened its retail site, they will also soon be moving on to bigger and better: the cidery announced that it will open a new taproom in partnership with Yakima's Bale Breaker Brewing in Ballard later in 2021.