A Birthday Celebration
On October 15, our official 23rd Sip and Ship
birthday, we’ll be serving free 12-ounce lattes all day
at both store locations from 8 AM until 3:30 PM. Come celebrate with us and raise a warm cup of coffee to toast this new season together.
I still remember the mornings Steve and I shared coffee at a 7-Eleven on our way into work, dreaming of a place we could call home — a place to put down roots, a place to build community, a place to raise a family. That simple dream has grown, day by day, into Sip and Ship, a little corner of Ballard
where the quiet, cheerful ping of the door opening greets you, where neighbors know each other by name, where every package tells a story, and where connection — simple, human connection — is at the heart of everything we do.
Over the years, so many of you have left your mark — customers who trusted us with milestones, with joys, with the heavy moments too; employees who poured their hearts into every single day, through the busiest seasons and the quietest ones. The other day, a customer who first came to us navigating her new business left the store glowing with excitement. Watching her confidence grow, knowing we played even a small part, reminded me why we do what we do.
We are equally moved when employees return season after season, stepping in with heart, skill, and a sense of shared purpose. Mira is a perfect example — she started with us at 16 during high school, returned as a seasonal team member while attending Western Washington University, and now comes back as she embarks on her career path. Her father, Todd — one of our first mailbox customers, who helped us navigate through difficult times — adds another layer to this full-circle moment. Mira has referred friends to join the team, learned countless aspects of the business, and now steps in with ease, grace, and a shimmer of the Emerald City, bringing hope, energy, and enthusiasm to everything she does.
Our crew
continues to amaze us in so many ways. Working alongside them is a daily joy — often wise beyond their years, bringing experiences from the world that enrich the way we collaborate. And when we see them out in the world carving their own paths, our hearts skip a beat. Knowing they too are forging their way with compassion, with conviction, with enthusiasm for all things imaginable — it excites us, it inspires us, it reminds us of the gift it is to be part of something larger than ourselves.
Over the years, we’ve had the joy of hiring not just employees, but also the children and friends of our customers. We’ve seen referrals come from people who have experienced our service firsthand. Those are the highest compliments of all — the candles on the cake of this 23-year celebration — because from the very beginning, and still today, service has been all we have ever known, and service has been all we have ever wanted to do. These connections, rooted in trust, in care, in respect, are what make every day meaningful.
As we celebrate 23 years, we feel so honored to have found this little corner of Ballard
— a place to build something meaningful. Our customers, our crew, our friends, our neighbors — you mean the world to us. Thank you to everyone who has shared time and space with us, creating this vibrant, living story under the warmth and hum of our little “ballroom of community.” Here, the quiet, cheerful ping of the door opening is like the soft tap of ruby slippers leading to the Emerald City; the swirl of coffee steam is a glimmer of magic; the laughter of neighbors and the shuffle of packages along the counter are the rhythms guiding us home.
And to those we haven’t met yet, we look forward to welcoming you — to share in this space, to create your own stories, to write new chapters together. This is not a farewell. This is a moment in our story, one we are living right now, and we invite you to come along with us.
Through it all, our children — Joe, Jack, and George, the official CEOs of Sip and Ship — were often pulled into the rhythm of the business, whether they wanted to be or not. They sat through team meetings, did homework at our counters, ate as many pastries as they could stomach, sorted and packed boxes, lifted heavy packages, and greeted customers with kindness — even when they would have much rather been hanging out with friends or playing on their Xbox. They went with the flow, learning alongside us, carrying with them the lessons, the laughter, the memories that come from being part of something bigger than themselves. These are the seasons we love to host, the moments we treasure, and the community we are devoted to serving.
There’s no place like home.
There’s no place like home.
There’s no place like home.
The quiet, cheerful ping of the door, the swirl of coffee steam, the shuffle of letters, the warm smiles of neighbors, the gentle hum of shared effort — it all comes together like a trail of ruby slippers shimmering toward the Emerald City, guiding us back, again and again, to where we belong. This is home. This is Sip and Ship. And here, together, our story continues.
We look forward to seeing you again soon.
