Before Seattle became associated with grocery powerhouses like Uwajimaya, PCC, and Whole Foods, little local markets shaped the city’s culinary and cultural landscape. Typically accessed by foot or trolley, mom-and-pop neighborhood shops served as crucial hubs in their respective microcommunities. According to some estimates, Seattle once boasted one grocer per every 315 residents—a ratio that would add up to around 2,500 grocery stores today.

But while many of these corner stores disappeared with the rise of the automobile, at least one former grocery lives on as an eccentric single-family home.

Founded by the Humphreys family circa 1922 in Seattle’s historically Black Central District, the shop “is remembered as the only Black-owned butcher and grocery store in the immediate neighborhood,” per listing agent Adam Heater. “Neighbors still recognize it as ‘the old store,’ which feels like a meaningful reminder of the area’s layered history,” Heater says.

The home proudly advertises its storefront origins with a windowed facade abutting the sidewalk. Plenty of rustic, reclaimed wood and concrete also reflect the home’s history throughout its cozily industrial main floor. A unique floating bed maintains the urban loft aesthetic and makes the most of tight living quarters.

Fitting butcher-block counters bring warmth to a sparse, utilitarian kitchen. A floor-to-ceiling, mint-green tile fireplace anchors the space, inviting visions of rain-soaked Seattleites tucking into their neighborhood shop to escape the cold.

A mid-aughts renovation added a second story to the building and, with it, the modern comforts of home. Bright, high-ceilinged bedrooms feel like a surprisingly contemporary departure from the historically rooted first floor. Even further up, an airy loft offers additional living space, a balcony, and views of a city the grocery store’s original owners wouldn’t recognize.

It’s difficult to imagine what local grocers from over a century ago would make of an era where 30-minute grocery delivery is easier than swinging by the corner store. But this home serves as a resilient reminder of the way things were.

Listing Fast Facts

112 18th Ave, Seattle, WA 98122
Size: 1,880 square feet, 3 bed, 2 bath
List price: $992,500
List date: 10/17/2025
Listing agent: Adam Heater and Ben Buckley, Windermere Real Estate