What's New in Everett: New Downtown Spots, Pickleball at Forest Park, and the Transit Vote Ahead

Everett packed a lot into the final week of October: two new downtown spots opened, the city's first dedicated pickleball courts debuted at Forest Park, an affordable housing project for older adults broke ground, and the biggest transit decision in decades heads to a vote next week. Here is the verified rundown, pulled from the city's own pages, the Port of Everett, the Everett Herald, and the businesses themselves.

Downtown keeps adding new spots

Downtown picked up two new places to eat and drink in the last couple of weeks, and a long-running favorite changed hands:

• The Alley Lounge opened at 1709 Hewitt Avenue in the former Catalyst Cafe space, serving breakfast, brunch, lunch, dinner, and cocktails. Owner Hector Lizarraga also runs Tacos and Beer on Hewitt, which opened in 2024. My Everett News has the full story.
• Tapped Social opened at 2900 Grand Avenue at the foot of the Waterline Apartments: an Italian-American kitchen with 16 craft beer taps, pool tables, and event space. It comes from The Way Group Hospitality, the same group behind Tapped Public House and The Net Shed at the waterfront.
• Brooklyn Bros. Pizzeria changed hands on October 25 after 20 years in the same downtown spot. The new owners grew up in the restaurant, so the menu stays the same, pineapple topping stance included. The changeover was announced the same day.
• PAWSOME Park & Lodge at 2820 Rucker Avenue held its grand opening October 11: a membership indoor dog park with daycare and boarding, plus the Barkside Cafe next door.

Forest Park's pickleball courts are open

Everett opened its first dedicated pickleball facility on October 28: the Forest Park Sport & Pickleball Courts, seven courts in the upland open space. It is the payoff of the project the city approved last year, and like the rest of the park system it is free to use. Everett Post covered the opening.

Affordable housing for older adults breaks ground

Housing Hope broke ground October 28 on its first affordable older-adult housing community in Everett: 67 units on land provided at a reduced price by Everett United Church of Christ. Older adults on fixed incomes are the group squeezed hardest by the county's rent and price growth, so this one matters. My Everett News has the details.

The marina and waterfront keep moving

• Harbor Marine, the marina maintenance and repair business that has anchored the Port of Everett waterfront for nearly 50 years, is changing hands. Founder Lauren Bivins handed the business to Steve Carver, CEO of Northwest Marine Services, with the Port Commission approving a 12.5-year lease covering about 56,000 square feet across two Harbor Marine buildings. The Lynnwood Times reported the handoff.
• The Port of Everett and the Port of South Whidbey opened a public survey October 6 on the next steps for the Harbor Hopper walk-on ferry, the seasonal passenger service between the two ports. If you ride it, or want to, the survey is where your input lands. The Port's news page has the link.

The transit merger heads to a vote

The biggest city decision in years is the proposed move of Everett Transit into Community Transit. The city council held a public hearing October 28, with the final council vote scheduled for November 4 and the Community Transit board vote November 5. If both pass, Everett's transit sales tax rises from 0.6% to Community Transit's 1.2% rate, and riders get the countywide network: Swift bus rapid transit, more routes, and connections the city-only system cannot match. The Herald's explainer is worth a read before you decide where you stand.

Ballots are due Tuesday

If you vote, ballots are due Tuesday, November 3. Everett voters have five city charter amendments on the ballot, covering everything from council residency rules to how many times the council must meet each year, plus county charter amendments and a prosecutor race. Snoho.com walks through each one.

Holiday events to put on the calendar

• Downtown Everett's Trick-or-Treating runs Saturday, October 31, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with Trunk or Treat at Trinity Episcopal Church from 2 to 4:30 p.m.
• Wintertide's tree lighting kickoff is Friday, November 27, 2 to 8 p.m. at Hewitt and Colby downtown, and the citywide celebration runs through December with bazaars, lights, and Santa. Visit Everett has the details.
• Holiday on the Bay, the 19th annual, is Saturday, December 5, noon to 6 p.m. at Waterfront Place: food trucks, kids' crafts, touch-a-truck, a waterfront tree lighting, Santa by boat, and the lighted boat parade.
• The Holiday on the Bay 5K and Kids Dash follows Sunday, December 6 at 9 a.m., also at Waterfront Place.

Bottom line

New restaurants downtown, pickleball at Forest Park, an affordable housing groundbreaking, and a transit decision that will shape how the city moves for decades. That is the Everett story this week. If you are thinking about buying or selling here, the market update has the numbers to go with it.