White Center Now: The blog about White Center

The White Center Food Bank‘s biggest fall event is a little more than one month away. Here’s your invitation to the event at Sea Mar Community Center (9635 Des Moines Memorial Drive S.):

CULTIVATING COMMUNITY DINNER & AUCTION
PRESENTED BY WHITE CENTER FOOD BANK, OCTOBER 10, 5 PM-9 PM

Attendees will enjoy delicious local food from White Center restaurants, delightful entertainment from the Khmer Community of Seattle King County Dance Group, and a “fire-side chat” focusing on our mission to keep the community fed, featuring Representative Brianna Thomas & King County Councilmember Teresa Mosqueda.

In the wake of many cuts to safety net programs and rising costs across all sectors, we continue to see an increase in need in our community. With your help we can continue to work toward addressing food security for our neighbors, while also making sure to celebrate the diversity of the community we serve.

More Info & Purchase Tickets Here:
whitecenterfoodbank.networkforgood.com/events/90319-cultivating-community-dinner-and-auction

The new Wendy’s in White Center was exoected to open today at 16th SW/SW 102nd, and we’ve verified that it’s indeed open.

No permanent signage outside so far but lots of banners and balloons. Here’s what the franchisee’s spokesperson told us last week the hours would be, once they opened:

Pick-Up Window:
Sunday–Thursday: 6:30 AM – 1:00 AM
Friday & Saturday: 6:30 AM – 2:00 AM
Dining Room: 9:00 AM – 10:00 PM (All days)

Kids in White Center and vicinity are invited to play with West Seattle Baseball, which has two programs it’s pitching with this announcement:

Two opportunities to play baseball this fall!

Fall Ball is West Seattle Baseball’s instructional league for the fall season, combining seasonal drills, stations, and opportunities for kids to advance their skills, build their confidence, and enjoy the game of baseball.

Fall Ball will be divided into three primary divisions: Pinto (8 & Under), Mustang (10 & Under), and Bronco (12 & Under). Tuesdays will be instructional days, building skills, and Fridays will be game-playing days, featuring sandlot baseball.

The season will run from September 9 through October 17. The cost to play is $125.

Sign-up link: go.teamsnap.com/forms/494738

Coach Ballgame is back at the Pee Wees on September 6 from 5-8 PM!

Coach Ballgame is back at the Pee Wee Fields on Saturday, 9/6! Don’t miss out on one of the best baseball training programs out there. Coach Ballgame and his team lead small, quick drills to build skills for kids to learn the game of baseball. He teaches the games of baseball through stories like Jim Abbott, Roberto Clemente, and more.

Sign-up link: hisawyer.com/coach-ballgame/schedules/activity-set/1365015

If you’re not grilling burgers on Labor Day, go get a free one in downtown White Center! Li’l Woody’s is offering a holiday giveaway, 2-5 pm Monday, basic burgers are free (but just the basics – “extras cost extras”).

(WCN/WSB photo, last week)

Just in from a spokesperson for the Wendy’s franchisee that’s about to open a White Center restaurant in the ex-KFC/A&W at 16th/102nd:

Opening Delay: The restaurant will not open this coming Friday due to final preparations.

New Target Opening: Aiming for Labor Day.

Exterior Work: Pennants will be installed Thursday, and most outside work will be completed — may appear as if it’s already open.

For the next few hours, there’s no better place to be than White Center/South Delridge for this month’s Rat City Art and Food Walk. Between now and 8 pm, you have 30+ places to visit, 100+ artists’ work to enjoy. The list is here (scroll through all the pages).

Thanks to Geoffrey for the photo. A crash left 16th/102nd closed for a while at midday today. We asked King County Sheriff’s Office whether that was because of, for example, the severity of injuries. A KCSO spokesperson replied:

This was an accident that did involve a deputy. Everyone involved was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. The roadway is back open.

King County Road Services has rescheduled the work it put on hold when the weather turned soggy. Here’s today’s update:

A portion of 16th Avenue SW in White Center will close Monday, Aug. 25, so crews can paint lane striping over fresh pavement that they installed as part of a pedestrian safety and traffic calming project.

King County Department of Local Services’ Road Services Division originally planned to complete this work last week but had to postpone due to weather.

Monday’s overnight work is scheduled from 6 p.m. to 4 a.m., in two locations:

-16th Avenue SW between SW 100th and 107th Streets. The roads that cross 16th Avenue SW in this section will be open. Drivers on this north/south section of 16th Avenue SW can expect delays of 10-20 minutes. Those on the east/west cross streets along this section should also plan for short delays.

-SW White Center Cutoff between SW 100th Street and 17th Avenue SW. 

The striping work will mark a milestone for White Center, which has seen road construction in its main business district since last month as Road Services performed a much-needed road refresh. The striping is expected to mark the last day of night work this summer for the 16th Avenue SW Pedestrian Safety and Traffic Calming Project. King County anticipates crews working for King County Road Services Division will return this fall for the project’s final phase.

Performing this work overnight is necessary to keep crews safe, protect the fresh paint, and allow crews to complete the work in one night instead of spreading it out over several evenings. The overnight striping work could be rescheduled based on weather and the availability of equipment and crews.

During the closure, businesses are expected to be open during their regular hours, and the sidewalks along 16th Avenue SW will be open. Customers will be able to access most of these businesses via 15th Avenue SW or 17th Avenue SW. King County encourages all customers to park nearby.

Crews working for Road Services Division will return in the fall to install the remaining pedestrian safety improvements that are part of the overall project. These final upgrades will help make 16th Avenue SW even safer for everyone who drives, bikes, rolls or walks.

A new business is coming to downtown White Center, in the ex-halal-market space next to Puffy Pandy. Here’s the announcement we received:

Tomb Of Treasure – Rat City Horror Store opening in White Center
Brick and Mortar Grand Opening September 13, 2025!
Address: 9830 16th Ave SW

Tomb of Treasure is now a brick and mortar shop!!! That’s right, we have sunk roots in White Center (aka Rat City). Our GRAND OPENING is Sept 13th! Come win prizes, buy cool stuffs, and celebrate the spooky season with us.

Established in 2021 as an online physical media shop, The Tomb began as a way to share our passion for physical media. Now a brick and mortar shop in White Center (aka Rat City). We have all things horror and physical media. The Tomb of Treasure cares about our community & customers. We are collectors and film freaks first and foremost. Physical media will never die!