Downtown Kirkland's new openings were planned around a spring calendar. At least one aimed to open before the FIFA World Cup in June. Some made their target dates and others missed them, by a few weeks in one case and a full season in another. So the cafe, bar, ice cream shop and burger counter now open around Lake Street and Central Way did not open together. This fall is the first season all four have been open at once. The fifth storefront in the group, Luly Yang's flagship, has moved its target date twice and still lists itself as coming soon.
That is why October matters here. Summer crowds tell you little about how a new downtown business will do. The weeks after Labor Day are a better test.
The Dates on the Calendar, and the Dates That Happened
Each of these businesses announced a target date, and each kept or missed it differently. Here is the record so far, in the order the businesses announced themselves.
- Von's 1000 Spirits, 115 Park Lane. In December 2025, Von's told WhatNow it was aiming for a late April opening with construction starting in January, and a goal of being open before the World Cup in June. The announced opening date was June 10, 2026.
- Molly Moon's, 109 Central Way. A March 2026 report put the opening in April. In the State of the City address Mayor Kelli Curtis delivered on May 7, the shop had served its first scoops "last month," which means it opened on schedule.
- The Slip, 80 Kirkland Ave. The burger bar closed in September 2025. An April 2026 report said new owners planned to reopen it that spring. The Seattle Times confirmed it had reopened in a roundup published July 23.
- Le Croissant Bar, 116 Lake St. In April it had not announced an opening date. The mayor called it "soon to open" in her May address. By July 23 the Seattle Times listed it as serving.
- The Monarch by Luly Yang, Lake and Central. An August 2025 preview gave a target of "spring of 2026." The May address said "this summer." Luly Yang's locations page now reads "Opening Fall 2026."
Pieced together, the timeline shows the new lineup filling in from April through July. Molly Moon's came first, Von's opened in June, and The Slip and Le Croissant Bar were both serving by late July. October is the first month all four have faced the off-season together.
The Corner Where the Starbucks Used to Be
The most visible change is at 116 Lake St., where Le Croissant Bar took over the former Starbucks. A national coffee chain gave way to an independent bakery with one owner. Its founder, Monica Kuchman, started in 2020 with BraveHeart Mountain Coffee, a business built to support wounded veterans. She then sold croissants at farmers markets and trade shows before opening the cafe.
The menu covers savory and sweet croissants. The Seattle Times singled out a ham croissant sandwich and a dessert croissant topped with pear and figs. The house favorite listed on the cafe's own site is the Miss Figgy Piggy, made with fig jam, prosciutto, pears and brie. The site also lists tiramisu, espresso affogatos and banana pudding, along with a curated selection of wine and Champagne. The Seattle Times noted that Friday and Saturday visitors can order a glass of Champagne or other wine with their pastry.
Here is the posted schedule as of early October. It suits a morning or afternoon visit:
- Tuesday through Thursday: 7:30 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Friday and Saturday: 7:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Sunday: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
- Monday: closed
In spring, the plan described beer, wine and Champagne pairings on Friday and Saturday nights. The current hours end at 6 p.m., so a weekend glass here now happens in the late afternoon. On its site, the cafe still describes itself as in a soft opening. Kuchman told WhatNow the wine list may change quarterly or every other month, following the seasons and the schedule of her sister, who curates it. If that holds, the first rotation should land this fall.
Around the Corner on Park Lane
Von's 1000 Spirits is a short walk from Lake Street, at 115 Park Lane in the former Feast space. The Kirkland location covers about 3,300 square feet. It is the brand's second Eastside restaurant, after Woodinville's opened at Northwest Wine Village in 2022, and its third overall.
Of all the newcomers, this one has the longest history. The Von's name goes back to a Pine Street location in Seattle that opened in 1974. The downtown Seattle restaurant moved to 1225 First Avenue, across from the Seattle Art Museum, in 2013. The company's own site gives a different milestone, calling the First Avenue location a landmark since 1987. Heritage 1904, a fifth-generation Seattle company led by owner Merrisa Claridge, runs the restaurant. Kirkland's menu matches the other locations: sourdough pizzas and fresh pastas made from a long-running sourdough starter, Von's Signature Hamburgs, chowder made to order, and a large spirits list with scratch cocktails.
That matters in October. Of the new arrivals, Von's is the evening anchor, with a full kitchen and bar, a few steps from a cafe that closes at 6 p.m. and an ice cream shop that stays open until 11.
Central Way: One Storefront Open, One Still Waiting
The two Central Way newcomers are at opposite ends of the timeline.
Molly Moon's at 109 Central Way posts hours of noon to 11 p.m. daily. Its current seasonal flavors include cinnamon and vegan caramel apple. When the shop opened in April, the mayor said its first scoops went to "long lines of Kirklanders." The shop has not said whether those hours will continue into winter, so this fall will be its first test.
The Monarch by Luly Yang is the store that is still waiting. The concept goes beyond the bridal and couture work Luly Yang is best known for in Seattle. The 2025 preview described a showroom offering limited-edition luxury ready-to-wear, bespoke gifts and personalized "demi-custom" designs. The mayor named the store in her State of the City address:
"International fashion designer Luly Yang's flagship store is set to open at Lake and Central this summer."
Summer has ended. The designer's own page still says "Opening Fall 2026," with no specific date. Its target has moved from spring to summer to fall, the longest delay in the group. For now, the corner of Lake and Central is the one spot in the lineup still waiting on a date.
The Burger Bar That Came Back
The Slip at 80 Kirkland Ave. is the one returning name in the group. The previous operator closed it in September 2025. Ricky and Maria Eng, who also own BeachHouse Bar + Grill in Kirkland, took over, and the handoff was described as an effort to preserve the waterfront burger bar and its patio. No specific changes had been announced as of the April report, and the Seattle Times confirmed the reopening by late July. The Slip has not published fall hours, so check with the restaurant before planning a visit around the patio.
What Comes After These Blocks
The City says about 700 new business licenses were issued in Kirkland in 2025. The next round of openings is mostly outside the downtown core. In May, the mayor said Farine Bakery and Café would start construction on its fourth location, in Bridle Trails, later this year. Lime Social, described as a family-friendly Mexican restaurant, is listed as coming to The Village at Totem Lake later in 2026 at 12670 120th Ave NE, Suite 166. The City has also announced the Seattle Kraken iceplex project. It will include a City community center, a public restaurant and a team store, and the City expects it to bring new shops and restaurants near the future Bus Rapid Transit station.
Downtown has fewer announced openings left. The Monarch is the last storefront in the group still to open, and when it does, the newcomers around Lake and Central will finally all be open.
Changes on Lake Street and Central Way affect how a downtown Kirkland home is described and marketed. If you're thinking about how a walkable waterfront location fits into a sale or purchase, Brian Hopper and his team can show you how these storefronts play into today's buyer conversations. Request a private market strategy.
