Issaquah Buzz

Issaquah Buzz Episode 39 - New Cafe, Spring Plans & a Summer Festival!

A new cafe coming to the Talus neighborhood, a ribbon cutting at RaajGharana Indian Restaurant & Bar and announcing a festival coming to Issaquah in August!

Issaquah Buzz 38 - New Year, New Businesses: Coffee, Cuisine & Fitness in Issaquah

In this episode, Autumn Monahan and Alexis Fitzsimmons dive into local business gossip, new restaurants, and New Year fitness inspiration—all while highlighting the many ways to support Issaquah businesses in the new year. From exciting openings like Woods Coffee and a new Indian grill, to plant startups, neighborhood gathering spots, and a deep dive into Issaquah’s gyms, yoga studios, and outdoor fitness options—there’s something here for everyone to start of the New Year with a bang.
☕ Featured Food, Coffee & Drink Businesses •Woods Coffee •Indian Grill •New Front Street pan-Asian Restaurant at the old No. 96 Location •Trailhead Taps & Bottles
🌱 Featured Retail & Specialty Businesses •Nuta •Issaquah Lumber
🏋️ Featured Gyms & Fitness Centers Planet Fitness 24 Hour Fitness CrossFit Issaquah Monday Fitness Orangetheory Fitness Barre3 Iron & Company Fit Box Issaquah Community Center
🧘 Featured Yoga & Wellness Studios Spiral Yoga Hot Yoga Experience Yoga Six Issaquah Arise Yoga & Wellness Pilates Studio 11

Issaquah Buzz Ep. 37 - Holiday Hustle & Retail Buzz: New Stores, Local Gifts, & Festive Fun!

In this holiday edition of Issaquah Buzz, Autumn Monahan and Alexis Fitzsimmons cover it all—from post-storm business check-ins to major retail news, including J.Crew Factory coming to Gilman and updates on Costco’s fuel station expansion. They also highlight newly opened businesses, dog-friendly delights, hot yoga, family-friendly indoor play, and the best spots to shop local this season. Plus, don’t miss festive events and what’s coming up as Issaquah heads into the New Year.

Issaquah Buzz Ep. 36 - The Holiday Edition

Welcome to the Holiday Edition of Issaquah Buzz!In this episode, Autumn and Alexis dive into the latest business news, holiday events, and local shopping highlights happening around Issaquah.
🎄 What’s Inside This Episode:
Big retail news: UNIQLO coming to the former Ross space
New local businesses, including Clay Element and the expanding Northwest Pottery Collective
A full rundown of holiday pop-up markets, Small Business Saturday, Artists Sunday, Giving Tuesday, and shopping resources from Visit Issaquah
Gilman Village Holiday Fest, author events, and more community celebrations
Details on the Turkey Trot, Santa photos at the Commons, and a fun Nutcracker production at the high school
A special Business Spotlight featuring Cougar Mountain Zoo’s three new African lion cubs 🦁—and how you can help name them!
If you’ve got business gossip or rumors for a future episode, email us at ed@issaquah.gov.

Issaquah Buzz Ep. 35 - All About Salmon Days!

In this episode of Issaquah Buzz, Autumn Monahan welcomes Alexis Fitzsimmons, Issaquah’s new Economic Development Manager. Alexis shares her background in business attraction, retention, and workforce development, and her excitement about joining the community.
We also dive into: * Retail Gossip: A new luxury men’s clothing store opening in Gilman Village * Burger Master Update: Construction progress and what to expect in 2026 * Family Fun: Indoor Sand Garden play space now open * Tourism Spotlight: Lake Sammamish State Park ranked a top Puget Sound attraction * Salmon Days Preview: Parade, vendors, dock dogs, live music, Sasquatch photo booth, food favorites, and more!
Whether you’re new to town or a longtime local, this episode is packed with insights, updates, and all the excitement leading up to Issaquah’s biggest celebration of the year.

Issaquah Buzz Ep. 34: Visit Issaquah, New Indoor Play Area, Wine Me Up & Much More

In Episode 34 of Issaquah Buzz: Autumn Monahan sits down with guest Co-Host Christy Garrard, Executive Director of Visit Issaquah, to chat about all things business in Issaquah. Like family-friendly spots like Sand Gardens and Kid Strong, to the debut of JoJo’s Café and all the BUZZ around Wine Me Up in Gilman Village, there’s plenty happening in Issaquah! We also highlight upcoming events including the Wine & Art Walk, Culture Fest, Salmon on Sunset, the Issaquah Open Studio Tour, and more.
✨ Business Spotlight: Wine Me Up – a locally owned wine bar with a fresh vibe, small-business collaborations, and an unforgettable guest experience.
👉 For more events and things to do, check out visitissaquahwa.com.

Issaquah Buzz Ep. 33: New Businesses, Farmers Market Week & Roller Skating at Pickering Barn

Join host Autumn Monahan and guest host Kelli Diann-Gordon as they dive into Issaquah’s latest business buzz! In this episode, they highlight exciting new spots like JoJo’s Café, Wine Me Up, and Lake Sammamish Paddle Company, plus updates on the Cleanscapes store and Evolve Clinic. They also preview Farmers Market Week, celebrate the market’s 35th anniversary, and share details on the new roller skating pop-ups at Pickering Barn. 👉 Stay connected to your community and get the inside scoop on all things Issaquah!

🚨 Emergency Buzz: Uwajimaya Eyes Issaquah!

In this special breaking edition of Issaquah Buzz, Autumn Monahan shares exciting news—Uwajimaya, the beloved Asian grocery store, is planning to open a new location in Issaquah! Learn about the proposed move into the former Rite Aid space and what this means for foodies and families across town. Stay tuned for future updates.

Issaquah Buzz Episode 32: Farewell & New Beginnings

In this bittersweet episode of Issaquah Buzz, Jen shares personal news about her departure after over 11 years supporting local businesses. Plus, get the scoop on exciting new additions like Trailhead Taps & Bottles, Kids Strong, and a pop-up roller skating rink at Pickering Barn!

Issaquah Buzz Episode 31: Issaquah’s Spring Business Bloom—Shops, Treats & Community Spirit

In this episode of Issaquah Buzz, hosts Autumn Monahan and Jen Davis Hayes dive into the latest business happenings around Issaquah—from exciting openings to heartfelt community updates.
🎉 May is Small Business Month and the return of the Issaquah Farmers Market! Support your favorite local spots, discover new ones, and enjoy community vibes every Saturday at Pickering Barn.
👉 Know a rumor or have a business tip? Email us at ed@issaquahwa.gov.