Category: Exploring Everett

Everett, Washington is in the middle of something big. A $1 billion waterfront transformation. A Boeing workforce that built the world’s largest commercial jets. A port city with a downtown that’s finally catching up to its potential. A Navy presence at Naval Station Everett. A comedy and arts scene punching above its weight. And neighborhoods — Riverside, Silver Lake, Downtown, Bayside — each with their own identity and story.

Exploring Everett is Tygart Media’s hyperlocal coverage vertical for Snohomish County’s largest city. We cover the waterfront redevelopment, Boeing and Paine Field, city hall, the food and arts scene, real estate, neighborhoods, and everything in between — written for people who live here, work here, or are paying attention to what’s coming.

Coverage categories include: Everett News, Waterfront Development, Boeing & Aerospace, Business, Arts & Culture, Food & Drink, Real Estate, Neighborhoods, Government, Schools, Public Safety, Events, and Outdoors.

Exploring Everett content is also published at exploringeverett.com.

5 Keys to the 2026 WHL Championship Final: How the Silvertips Win the Ed Chynoweth Cup Starting Tomorrow Night
Q: Can the Everett Silvertips finally win the WHL Championship?
A: The 2026 Silvertips are the most talented team the franchise has ever sent into a WHL Final. With a historically elite goaltender, two first-round defensemen, and a forecheck that doesn’t let you breathe, they have every tool to close out Prince Albert in this series. Game 1 is Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena.

The Everett Silvertips have been to the WHL Championship Final three times. In 2004, they came close. In 2018, they came close again. Both times, the Ed Chynoweth Cup went somewhere else.

Tomorrow night, they get a third shot — and this time, the roster has no excuses. The 2026 Everett Silvertips swept Portland in Round 1, beat Kelowna in five in Round 2, and swept the Penticton Vees in four games in the Western Conference Final, finishing the regular season with a league-best 54 wins and 111 points — their second consecutive Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as the WHL’s best team. They are 12-1 in the playoffs heading into the WHL Championship Series. Their goaltender has been the most statistically dominant postseason goalie in WHL history by at least one measure.

Their opponent, the Prince Albert Raiders, got here by eliminating the defending WHL champion Medicine Hat Tigers in a wild six-game series — winning the clincher 7-6 in hostile territory. They have two teenagers quarterarting their defense who are playing like veterans. They have a power play that fires at the worst possible times. They are not here by accident.

This is the matchup. Game 1 is Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT at Angel of the Winds Arena. The series follows a 2-3-2 format, with Games 1 and 2 in Everett, Games 3-5 in Prince Albert, and Games 6 and 7 (if needed) back home. Here are the five things that will decide whether the Ed Chynoweth Cup finally comes to Everett.

1. Landon DuPont Has to Be the Best Player on the Ice

Let’s start with the big one. Landon DuPont is 16 years old and already widely projected as a potential top-five pick — possibly No. 1 overall — in the 2027 NHL Draft. He had 17 points in 13 playoff games heading into the Finals, leading all WHL defensemen in postseason scoring through the Conference Finals. He is the engine of Everett’s power play, distributing from the blue line with the reads of a player ten years older.

On the other side, Daxon Rudolph has been the story of the WHL playoffs — 23 points (9 goals, 14 assists) in 15 games, leading the entire WHL in postseason scoring as a 17-year-old defenseman. He was named WHL Player of the Month for April and quarterbacked the Raiders’ power play through their entire run against Medicine Hat. Two elite teenage defensemen, playing the biggest games of their lives. Whoever wins that battle wins the series.

The edge goes to DuPont. He plays with composure that defies his age, and in the Penticton series, he was the one who consistently solved defensive zone problems before they became crises. But Rudolph is no afterthought — and if Prince Albert wins two games in Everett, his name will be part of the reason.

2. Anders Miller Is Not Just Good — He’s Historic

If you want one reason to feel genuinely confident about Everett’s chances, look at the guy in goal. Anders Miller, a mid-season acquisition, is carrying one of the most statistically dominant postseason runs in WHL history. Through the playoff rounds leading into the Finals, he went 12-0-1 with a 1.79 GAA, a .936 save percentage, and one shutout — ranking among the WHL playoff leaders in wins, GAA, save percentage, and shutouts simultaneously.

No goaltender who has played nine or more games in a single WHL playoff has ever posted a higher save percentage than Miller did through the conference finals, per QuantHockey. That is the sentence coach Steve Hamilton gets to walk into this building with on Friday night.

Prince Albert’s Michal Orsulak is fine — he made the saves he needed to make in a wild six-game series that sometimes produced 13 combined goals in a game. He is not in Miller’s statistical neighborhood right now. For the Silvertips, goaltending is the one position where they have a significant advantage entering this series, and that advantage can cover a lot of ground.

3. The Power Play Battle Could Decide It in Four-Minute Swings

Both teams run dangerous power plays. Everett’s man advantage runs through DuPont at the half-wall, with Matias Vanhanen (19 playoff points, the WHL’s scoring leader among Western Conference teams through the conference finals), Julius Miettinen (18 playoff points), Carter Bear, and Rylan Gould rotating around him. Gould has four power-play goals in these playoffs. When everything is clicking, this unit is one of the most dangerous man advantages in recent WHL playoff history.

Prince Albert answers with Rudolph quarterbacking a unit that includes 16-year-old rookie Brock Cripps — who had three goals and 10 assists in 11 playoff games with a plus-8 rating — plus Braeden Cootes, who scored his sixth playoff goal in the clincher against Medicine Hat. The Raiders’ top power-play unit has been converting at a high rate all postseason.

Discipline matters enormously here. Everett showed one exploitable tendency in the conference finals: the Silvertips allowed three empty-netter goals when opponents pulled their goalie late. If Prince Albert finds themselves trailing by one late in a game, they have the composure to make it interesting. Both teams need to avoid taking bad penalties early — power plays in tight WHL Final games can redirect an entire momentum shift.

4. Can Prince Albert’s Young D Handle Everett’s Forecheck?

Everett’s forecheck is the thing that opponents have struggled with all season. Bear, Miettinen, and Vanhanen are not finesse players — they are physical and relentless on pucks, and they generate sustained offensive zone time that wears defenses down. The Silvertips create turnovers in the offensive zone regularly, and once they have zone time, they cycle with patience until the right opportunity opens up for DuPont or one of their high-skill forwards.

Rudolph’s offensive instincts mean he can turn a defensive-zone retrieval into a scoring chance with a single pass — giving the Raiders a quick-exit option that neutralizes sustained pressure better than most teams their age. Cripps alongside him means there’s always a second option out of the zone. But the Silvertips have faced experienced forechecks all playoffs and have only lost once in 13 games. Getting outworked in the corners isn’t something Everett’s opponents have been able to do consistently.

In a long series, Everett’s forecheck may grind the Raiders’ young D into mistakes late in games. In Everett, in front of 8,000 fans at Angel of the Winds Arena, that forecheck pressure is going to feel different than anything Prince Albert has experienced this playoffs.

5. The Weight of History — And Why This Time Is Different

Everett has been here before, and that is either the motivating chip or the weight that breaks a team. In 2004 and 2018, the Silvertips reached the WHL Championship Final and came away without the trophy. That scar shapes the narrative heading into this series. The Raiders, meanwhile, have won the title twice — 1985 and 2019 — and they know what it takes to close.

But this Silvertips group has something the 2004 and 2018 teams didn’t: a head coach who has been here before. Steve Hamilton, named WHL Coach of the Year this season, served as an associate coach on the 2013-14 Edmonton Oil Kings team that won the Memorial Cup. He understands high-leverage moments. He has managed this roster through adversity — including a blown 3-0 lead in Game 4 of the Kelowna series that required a third-period comeback — without the wheels coming off. Two Scotty Munro Trophies in two years says something about how this organization approaches the regular season. It is time to find out if that translates to the Final.

The honest assessment from outside the green-and-silver glasses: Everett is the better team. Home ice, elite goaltending, the deepest offensive roster in the series, and a coaching staff that has been building toward this moment. Prince Albert is capable of stealing games — they eliminated the defending champions — but they need Orsulak to be considerably sharper than he was in a high-event Medicine Hat series, and they need Rudolph to keep performing at the level that has made him the most talked-about teenager in the WHL this spring.

Prediction: Everett Silvertips in 5. The Silvertips are simply too deep, too well-coached, and too experienced in high-leverage games to let this one slip away. Get to Angel of the Winds Arena tomorrow night. This is what Everett hockey has been building toward.

Game 1 Details
- When: Friday, May 8 at 7:00 PM PT
- Where: Angel of the Winds Arena, 2000 Hewitt Ave, Everett, WA
- TV: TSN (Canada) / Victory+ (streaming)
- Tickets: Available at everettsilvertips.com/playoffs
- Series format: 2-3-2 (Games 1-2 in Everett; Games 3-5 in Prince Albert; Games 6-7 in Everett if needed)
Frequently Asked Questions

What time does WHL Final Game 1 start?

Game 1 of the 2026 WHL Championship Series starts at 7:00 PM PT on Friday, May 8 at Angel of the Winds Arena in Everett.

Where can I watch the WHL Final if I can’t attend?

Games are broadcast on TSN in Canada and streamed on Victory+ in the United States. Check everettsilvertips.com for the latest broadcast info.

Have the Silvertips ever won the WHL Championship?

No. This is Everett’s third WHL Championship Final appearance — they appeared in 2004 and 2018 without winning. This is the first time the Silvertips have faced the Prince Albert Raiders for the Ed Chynoweth Cup.

Who are the key players to watch for Everett?

Landon DuPont (17 pts in 13 playoff games, potential 2027 #1 NHL draft pick), Matias Vanhanen (19 playoff pts), Julius Miettinen (18 playoff pts), Carter Bear (13 assists through conference finals), and goaltender Anders Miller (12-0-1, .936 SV%, 1.79 GAA) are the names to know.

Who are the key players for Prince Albert?

Daxon Rudolph (23 pts in 15 playoff games, WHL playoff scoring leader) and Brock Cripps (3G-10A in 11 games, plus-8) form a precociously talented defensive pair. Braeden Cootes is the key forward. Goaltender Michal Orsulak has made big saves in big moments all playoffs.

What is the WHL Final series format?

The 2026 WHL Championship Series is best-of-seven with a 2-3-2 format. Games 1 and 2 are in Everett, Games 3-5 are in Prince Albert, and Games 6 and 7 (if needed) return to Everett.

Does the WHL Championship winner go to the Memorial Cup?

Yes. The winner of the 2026 WHL Championship advances to the Memorial Cup, hosted in Kelowna, B.C., from May 22 to May 31.

Related Everett Sports Coverage
May 8, 2026
What 15 Years and $350 Million Built: The Port of Everett Story That Other Cities Are Now Studying

What does a successful waterfront transformation actually look like? The Port of Everett spent 15 years and $350 million finding out — surviving a developer bankruptcy, a recession, and its own false starts. Today, Cascadia Daily News named it the regional blueprint other cities are studying. Here is the full story of how Everett got here, and what comes next.

A Major Pacific Northwest Outlet Just Called Port of Everett the Waterfront Model

Cascadia Daily News, the Pacific Northwest’s most-read regional outlet, published a deep feature today as part of its four-part “Sea Change” series examining waterfront redevelopment across Western Washington. Part two focuses entirely on the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place — and it positions Everett as the benchmark that other ports, including Bellingham, are now studying.

The headline says it plainly: “After a bankrupt developer and broken promises, Port of Everett is realizing its waterfront vision.” The subheading: “15 years and $350 million turned 65-acre windfall into restaurants, housing and marine trades.”

For those of us who live here, it’s easy to take the waterfront for granted. A Thursday evening in the rain, there’s still a line out the door at Tapped Public House. Families are walking the esplanade. Boats are in the marina. But to understand what we’re actually standing on, it helps to know the story of how this almost never happened — and the lessons Everett is now teaching to other communities wrestling with the same questions.

The Bankruptcy That Changed Everything

In 2005, the Port of Everett made what seemed like a reasonable bet. It sold 65 acres of prime north marina waterfront land to Maritime Trust Co., a Chicago-based developer, for a planned $400 million mixed-use redevelopment. The vision: 600 housing units, retail, office space, boat moorage, and light industrial boat businesses on land that had been dominated by mills and fishing since Everett’s founding.

Maritime Trust had development capabilities, but Lisa Lefeber — now the Port of Everett’s executive director, then a communications specialist — says the firm never quite got Everett. Some of their conceptual ideas drew on Vancouver’s Granville Island for inspiration, which she described as “a disconnect” from what this community actually was.

Then 2008 happened. Maritime Trust lost its main financier, Merrill Lynch, when the Great Recession hit. The developer filed for bankruptcy. The Port of Everett spent years in federal bankruptcy court to win back those 65 acres — land that had once been theirs, land that the community had entrusted them to steward well.

By 2012, the port had the land back. And a decision to make.

The Pivot That Made the Difference: No Master Developer

The most important strategic choice the Port of Everett made after the bankruptcy wasn’t a design decision. It was a control decision: this time, the port would not sell the land. It would retain ownership, lease to tenants and developers, and remain the anchor of the waterfront’s direction.

“When you don’t control the property, you don’t control how the site is used in terms of housing,” Lefeber told Cascadia Daily News. Maritime Trust, she noted, had wanted to turn the waterfront into “a private residential development” — the antithesis of why Washington state ports were created in the first place.

The port also made another unconventional move: it built out streets and utilities across the waterfront before tenants arrived. The goal was to “show value and proof of concept” and draw in the first housing development. It worked. The infrastructure investment de-risked the site for private partners and gave developers something tangible to build against.

The third shift was community engagement. Rather than hand the vision to an outside firm, the port went back to Everett residents to ask what they actually wanted. “We want it all,” Lefeber said in the CDN feature, describing the port’s philosophy. “We want industry. We want a place for people and families to be able to play and work and live. One of our big philosophies is a working waterfront.”

What $350 Million Built

Fifteen years and $350 million later — $175 million from private partners (hotel and apartment construction) and $175 million from a mix of federal grants, state funding, and Port of Everett financing and revenue — Waterfront Place encompasses five districts on and around the north marina.

Fisherman’s Harbor anchors the public-facing side: the “Restaurant Row” building with Tapped Public House, Rustic Cork, The Net Shed, Menchie’s, and Marina Azul is here, along with the Sawyer and Carling condo buildings, the Port’s administrative offices, and the hotel. The Craftsman District keeps more than 20 marine trades businesses — boat repair, storage, and service operations — embedded in the broader development. The state’s largest public marina sits steps from it all.

Jeff LaLone, co-owner of Bayside Marine, which specializes in boat storage and service for vessels under 50 feet, told CDN what the environment has meant to his business: “Everybody does a good job of just trying to have a good, nice, beautiful place to come to. For me to sit at my desk and look out the window, I’m looking at the boats, and you can walk down the street and grab something to eat. It’s just really nice.”

Jack Ng, owner of both Fisherman Jack’s and Muse Whiskey & Coffee Bar — the latter housed in the historic Weyerhaeuser building, complete with a private whiskey collection inside the building’s vintage vault — said he was drawn to the waterfront because of the port’s long-term vision. “That building is going to be a big icon piece. I just want to be part of the history.”

Ng also serves as a port commissioner for the Port of South Whidbey, so he understands the economic development role from both sides: “They can help a small business grow. They’re not there to have 100 percent of return on the investment, and their investment is more for bringing jobs for the local economy.”

The Honest Assessment: Still a Work in Progress

Lefeber doesn’t oversell what’s been built. Giant piles of dirt and gravel are still visible. Signs point to what’s coming next. The Millwright District — the 10-acre inland extension of Waterfront Place — still needs to be built out. The plans call for more than 300 housing units and 125,000 square feet of office space, but the port is actively reconsidering that mix.

“With the U.S. shift to remote work, it may not make sense to create a huge office building at the waterfront,” Lefeber said. The port is now asking: “Is there a better mix of balance? Like, do we look at 80,000 square feet of office, and then maybe a hotel?” The flexibility to revisit plans is part of the model — Waterfront Place is not locked into a master developer’s decade-old blueprint.

Lefeber’s description of waterfront redevelopment has become something of a mantra: “It’s been a little bit of a roller-coaster. I always joke with anything waterfront redevelopment, it’s two steps forward, and then you get punched back through the wall.”

The Alexa’s Café closure, the delayed Marina Azul opening, the long wait for Millwright Phase 2 to get moving — all of it fits the pattern. The progress is real, but it’s never linear.

What Fully Built Looks Like: $8.6 Million a Year in Local Tax Revenue

When Waterfront Place is complete across all five districts, the port projects $8.6 million a year in local sales tax revenue. That’s not a speculative forecast — it’s the mathematical outcome of the retail, restaurant, housing, and hospitality uses the port has already proven it can attract and sustain. The 3.4% retail vacancy rate across Snohomish County provides additional evidence that demand for this kind of space isn’t hypothetical.

The Port of Everett’s $70 million 2026 budget includes continued waterfront infrastructure investment. The $11.25 million federal Pier 3 grant secured in April 2026 extends the same logic to the working seaport side: federal confidence in the Port of Everett’s management and vision is showing up in competitive grant awards.

Why Bellingham — and the Rest of Washington — Is Watching

The Cascadia Daily News “Sea Change” series is explicitly benchmarking Bellingham against Everett and other ports. The parallel is uncomfortable but accurate: Bellingham’s waterfront, like Everett’s in the early 2000s, has sat partially undeveloped for years while port officials, city officials, and community members debate what should go there. Some sections have sat empty for decades.

What Everett’s story tells Bellingham — and any other community grappling with a waterfront opportunity — is that the critical decisions aren’t architectural. They’re about land control, infrastructure investment sequence, community authenticity, and patience with a 15-to-20-year timeline.

The port retained ownership of the land rather than selling to a master developer. It built infrastructure before tenants arrived. It kept marine trades in the mix rather than prioritizing higher-margin residential. And it never lost sight of the fact that the waterfront belonged to the whole city, not just to the people who lived or worked there.

That’s the lesson. And on a rainy Thursday evening in 2026, with a line out the door at Tapped and kids looking at the boats from the esplanade, it’s a lesson that appears to have worked.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much has been invested in Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place?

More than $350 million has been invested in Waterfront Place over the past 15 years. Of that, $175 million came from private partners (hotel and apartment construction) and $175 million from a combination of federal and state grants and Port of Everett financing and revenue.

Why did Port of Everett regain the waterfront land in 2012?

In 2005, the Port sold 65 acres to Maritime Trust Co., a Chicago developer, for a planned $400 million redevelopment. After Maritime Trust lost its main financier (Merrill Lynch) in the 2008 recession, the firm filed for bankruptcy. The Port of Everett won back the land in federal bankruptcy court by 2012.

What is the Millwright District at Port of Everett Waterfront Place?

The Millwright District is the next 10-acre phase of Waterfront Place development. Plans call for more than 300 housing units and over 125,000 square feet of commercial/office space. The Port is currently reconsidering the office portion of the plan, potentially scaling it to 80,000 square feet and adding a hotel component instead.

What will Waterfront Place generate in tax revenue when complete?

When fully built out across all five districts, Waterfront Place is projected to generate $8.6 million per year in local sales tax revenue.

What five districts make up Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place?

Waterfront Place encompasses five districts: Fisherman’s Harbor (Restaurant Row, condos, hotel, Port offices), the Craftsman District (20+ marine trades businesses), the state’s largest public marina, Pacific Rim Plaza (public gathering space and art), and the emerging Millwright District. The working seaport with Pier 3 is located approximately 2 miles away.

Why is Bellingham studying Port of Everett’s waterfront model?

Cascadia Daily News’s “Sea Change” series (published May 7, 2026) selected Port of Everett as a case study for Bellingham because the two cities share parallel histories: both had prime waterfront acreage tied up by troubled development deals, and both faced community questions about the right balance between working waterfront and public-facing amenities. Bellingham is at the beginning of its redevelopment journey; Port of Everett shows what 15 years of sustained execution can produce.

May 8, 2026
Tahoma National Cemetery Is Getting a National Moment This Memorial Day — Here’s What NAVSTA Everett Families Need to Know for May 2026

Quick Answer: Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent is one of only three VA national cemeteries in the country where Carry The Load holds a Memorial May march — and the annual Memorial Day ceremony takes place on May 25 at 1:00 p.m. The VA’s 2026 Memorial May campaign brings national attention and nonprofit partners to Tahoma throughout May. For NAVSTA Everett families with a deployed sailor, the Fleet & Family Support Center at (425) 304-3735 offers deployment support resources to help families mark the holiday from home.

Tahoma National Cemetery Has a National Spotlight in 2026: The Memorial Day Lineup Every Navy Family Near Everett Should Know

For Navy families living near Naval Station Everett, Memorial Day carries a particular weight. When a sailor is deployed, the holiday becomes more than a community observance — it’s a day when the distance between home and ship feels most real.

This year, Tahoma National Cemetery in Kent is at the center of something unusually significant: it’s one of only three VA national cemeteries in the United States where the nonprofit Carry The Load holds a Memorial May march. And the VA’s monthlong “Memorial May” campaign — now in full swing — makes May 2026 a more program-rich window for military families in Snohomish County than any prior year.

Here’s everything happening at and around Tahoma this month, and what NAVSTA Everett families can do with it. (For a broader look at every Snohomish County site holding ceremonies, see our earlier Memorial Day 2026 county guide.)

Carry The Load Came Through Kent on April 30

Carry The Load, a Dallas-based nonprofit founded by two former Special Operations veterans, runs a nationwide Memorial May series every year to raise awareness about military and first responder sacrifice. Their annual calendar includes marches in 75+ locations across the country — but only three of those stops are at VA national cemeteries: Tahoma in Kent, Los Angeles National Cemetery, and Jefferson Barracks National Cemetery in St. Louis.

On April 30, 2026, Carry The Load’s Memorial May march stopped at Tahoma from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. Participants walked the cemetery grounds as part of a regional relay that had moved through Seattle’s The Shop Club the same afternoon. The event is officially partnered with the VA’s National Cemetery Administration as part of the Memorial May campaign.

The significance of a national cemetery stop is more than ceremonial. It places Tahoma on the same three-stop list as two of the most recognized veteran burial grounds in the country — and it brings a new demographic of civilians, families, and community supporters into direct contact with the graves of those who served. That kind of public presence doesn’t happen at national cemeteries every month.

What VA’s Memorial May 2026 Campaign Means for Tahoma

The Department of Veterans Affairs formalized “Memorial May” as a monthlong campaign to activate public engagement at national cemeteries throughout May — not just on Memorial Day itself. In 2026, the VA is partnering with Carry The Load, Travis Manion Foundation, and Victory for Veterans throughout the month, coordinating volunteer activity, grave visits, and community programs at cemeteries across the country.

Travis Manion Foundation’s Honor Project places hand-crafted commemorative tokens at the resting places of fallen service members at VA national cemeteries during Memorial Day weekend. Families who have lost a service member can submit a Fallen Heroes request online to have a foundation volunteer visit a specific gravesite, place a token, and pause for a moment of reflection. The Honor Project has been expanding its reach each year; in 2026 it covers more than 30 VA national cemeteries nationwide over Memorial Day weekend. (For Navy families navigating loss specifically, May is also Navy Gold Star Remembrance Month — with specific resources at NAVSTA Everett.)

The May 25 Memorial Day Ceremony at Tahoma

The annual Memorial Day ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026 at 1:00 p.m.

Location: Tahoma National Cemetery, 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042

The ceremony follows the traditional format: flags placed on every grave site, a formal program with color guard, and remarks from guest speakers representing the veteran community and elected officials. It is open to the public, and the VA encourages families — including those without a service member interred at Tahoma — to attend.

Parking at Tahoma fills early. Plan to arrive at least 20 minutes before the ceremony begins. The cemetery grounds are on SE 240th Street with clearly marked entrances; GPS navigation works reliably to the address above.

A national moment of remembrance also takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time throughout the country on Memorial Day. Participants are invited to pause for one minute — wherever they are — to honor the fallen. This observance is separate from any local ceremony and requires no registration.

For NAVSTA Everett Families With a Deployed Sailor

For the families of sailors currently deployed from Naval Station Everett, Memorial Day is one of the harder dates on the calendar. Observing a day built around sacrifice while your sailor is still underway requires its own kind of navigation. Some families find that being in a space like Tahoma — surrounded by others who understand — makes the day easier. Others prefer something quieter.

Either way, the Fleet & Family Support Center (FFSC) at Naval Station Everett offers specific resources for families during deployment. Counselors are available to help families process the emotional complexity of holidays spent apart, and the FFSC’s peer support programs typically see higher participation around Memorial Day. The FFSC also maintains information on VA benefits, deployment financial planning, and community referrals for families who find themselves needing support this month.

FFSC contact: (425) 304-3735 | Building 268, 2000 W. Marine View Drive, Everett, WA 98207 | Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m. | After-hours emergency referrals available through the main line.

The FFSC’s full suite of support services — including counseling, financial readiness programs, and deployment support groups — are available year-round, not just during major holidays.

Other Snohomish County Observances to Know

For veterans and families not making the drive to Kent, Snohomish County has its own observances. The Eternal Flame at the Drewel Building in downtown Everett serves as a permanent county memorial and is near the Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program offices (425-388-3448) — a practical stop for any veteran navigating benefits or financial assistance this spring. Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Lynnwood and Evergreen Cemetery in Everett both hold community observances on May 25.

Coming Up: May 9 Veterans Food Drive in Edmonds

If you want to support Snohomish County’s 50,000+ veterans in a more hands-on way before Memorial Day, the Edmonds American Legion Post 66 and VFW Post 8870 are hosting a veterans food and hygiene drive on Saturday, May 9, at the Wilcox Construction Red Barn in downtown Edmonds. Drop-off hours are 10 a.m.–2 p.m.; donations are routed through the Edmonds Food Bank and Lynnwood Heroes’ Café to veterans in need across the county.

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is the Memorial Day ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery in 2026?

The ceremony is scheduled for Monday, May 25, 2026 at 1:00 p.m. at 18600 SE 240th Street, Kent, WA 98042. Arrive at least 20 minutes early — parking fills quickly.

What is Carry The Load and why did they march at Tahoma?

Carry The Load is a Dallas-based nonprofit that runs a national Memorial May march series to honor military, veterans, and first responders. Tahoma is one of only three VA national cemeteries in the country selected as a Carry The Load march stop. The organization marched at Tahoma on April 30, 2026 from 5:30–7:30 p.m.

What is the VA’s Memorial May campaign?

Memorial May is the VA National Cemetery Administration’s monthlong outreach initiative for May 2026. It activates nonprofit partners — Carry The Load, Travis Manion Foundation, and Victory for Veterans — to honor veterans at national cemeteries throughout the month, not just on Memorial Day itself.

What is the Travis Manion Foundation’s Honor Project?

The Honor Project places hand-crafted commemorative tokens at the graves of fallen service members at VA national cemeteries over Memorial Day weekend. Families can submit a Fallen Heroes request through travismanion.org to have a volunteer visit a specific gravesite and pause in reflection.

What resources does NAVSTA Everett offer for deployed families during Memorial Day?

The Fleet & Family Support Center at (425) 304-3735 offers counseling, peer support groups, and deployment family programs. Memorial Day is a period when the FFSC encourages deployed families to reach out. Hours are Monday–Friday, 7:30 a.m.–4:30 p.m., with after-hours referrals available.

Is there a national moment of remembrance on Memorial Day 2026?

Yes — a national moment of remembrance takes place at 3:00 p.m. local time on Memorial Day (May 25). Participants pause for one minute wherever they are to honor the fallen. No registration required.

Where else can Snohomish County veterans and families observe Memorial Day?

Key local observances include the Eternal Flame at the Drewel Building in Everett, Floral Hills Memorial Gardens in Lynnwood, and Evergreen Cemetery in Everett. The Snohomish County Veterans Assistance Program at the Drewel Building (425-388-3448) can provide additional guidance on benefits and events.

⚓ Exploring Everett — Tahoma Memorial Day Knowledge Cluster
Tahoma National Cemetery Memorial Day 2026 — Complete Guide
NAVSTA Everett Navy Families — Complete Memorial Day Guide

May 8, 2026
Boeing Wants to Keep Building 777 Freighters in Everett After 2027 — The FAA Decision Is Now

Q: What is Boeing asking the FAA to allow regarding 777F Classic production?
Boeing has asked the FAA for an exemption from international emissions rules so it can continue producing the 777F Classic freighter beyond December 31, 2027. The company wants to build 35 more 777F Classic jets starting January 1, 2028. The FAA’s public comment period on the request closes on or about May 7, 2026 — today. If approved, it would sustain Everett’s cargo freighter workforce through the gap before the 777-8F enters service in 2029.

Boeing Wants to Keep Building 777 Freighters in Everett After 2027 — The FAA Decision Is Now

At Paine Field’s south end, inside Boeing’s enormous widebody assembly complex, workers have been building the 777 Classic freighter for years. The 777F has become one of the most successful cargo aircraft in aviation history — a twin-engine widebody that FedEx, UPS, Qatar Airways Cargo, and Emirates SkyCargo treat as essential infrastructure.

The plan has long been for the 777F Classic to wind down at the end of 2027, replaced by the new 777-8F now in production testing at Paine Field. But the 777-8F’s path to service has stretched. Entry into service for the 777-8F is now targeted for 2029 at the earliest.

That gap — the potential for zero 777 freighter production at Everett from January 2028 until 777-8F deliveries begin in 2029 — is what Boeing is trying to close. And the federal agency that controls the answer closed its public comment period today.

The Emissions Rule That Complicates Everything

The Boeing 777F Classic is powered by General Electric GE90 engines — powerful, reliable, and beloved by cargo operators. The GE90 is also a 1990s design that predates international emissions and fuel efficiency standards adopted by the International Civil Aviation Organization (ICAO) in 2017.

Under those ICAO standards, production of the 777F Classic must cease by December 31, 2027. The rule isn’t aimed specifically at Boeing — it applies globally to any new aircraft powered by non-compliant engines. But for Everett, the deadline creates a concrete problem: the line that builds the world’s most popular widebody freighter goes dark before its replacement is production-ready.

Boeing’s solution was to ask the FAA for an exemption. The formal request asks the agency to allow Boeing to produce 35 more 777F Classic jets with GE90 engines starting January 1, 2028. Boeing originally asked for a decision by May 1, 2026. The FAA didn’t meet that deadline.

Instead, the FAA published a solicitation in the Federal Register opening a public comment period — with a deadline on or about May 7, 2026. That window closes today. The FAA will now review submissions and issue a ruling.

Why 35 Jets and Why 2028

The math on 35 aircraft is rooted in Boeing’s customer backlog and the 777-8F timeline.

Cargo carriers that have placed 777-8F orders — Cargolux, Qatar Airways Cargo, and others — are facing a delivery gap. They’ve been planning to transition from the current 777F platform to the new 777-8F, but the 777-8F’s certification timeline has continued to move. The 777-8 Freighter, distinct from the passenger-focused 777-9, has a targeted entry into service of 2029. A production-standard aircraft is currently undergoing ground and fuel system tests at Paine Field.

If Boeing can produce 35 more 777F Classic jets in 2028, it gives those cargo customers a bridge. Airlines that need replacement capacity before the 777-8F is certified and delivering can take a 777F Classic, knowing their 777-8F deliveries are coming in 2029 and beyond.

Thirty-five jets at roughly $350 million each in list price represents approximately $12 billion in additional revenue. For Everett’s widebody assembly workforce, it could represent another year or more of full-rate 777 production before the line transitions to the all-new 777-8F configuration.

Everett’s Freighter Employment Is the Real Story

The 777F Classic is assembled at Boeing’s Everett Paine Field complex in the same facility that houses 777-9 passenger aircraft production and 777-8F testing. The workforce that builds the 777F is the same workforce that will ultimately build the 777-8F — machinists, structures technicians, electrical assemblers, and quality inspectors who specialize in widebody aircraft.

A production gap at the 777F line wouldn’t mean immediate layoffs. Boeing’s widebody production ecosystem at Everett is complex, and workers can be transferred across programs. The 777-9 passenger aircraft is approaching certification for Lufthansa’s Q1 2027 delivery target — though the roughly 30 stored jets at Paine Field requiring multi-year change incorporation mean Everett widebody work extends well into the late 2020s regardless of the freighter line status. The KC-46 tanker line is running at a steady pace.

But a clean, uninterrupted transition from 777F Classic production into 777-8F production is better for workforce continuity, scheduling, and industrial knowledge retention than a gap year with partial utilization. The 35-jet exemption request is Boeing’s ask to maintain continuous widebody freighter production in Everett from now through the 777-8F ramp.

This isn’t the first time Everett has navigated a program transition of this kind. The 767 commercial freighter — a 45-year Everett icon — is concluding production in 2027 as the line pivots entirely to KC-46 tanker production. The 777F is a different situation: it’s being succeeded by a direct replacement, not a military variant. The transition is supposed to be clean. The FAA exemption is Boeing’s attempt to make it so.

And the first 777-8F freighter already rolled out of Everett in April 2026 — a visible sign that the next generation is real, but not yet at the rate needed to fill the 777F Classic’s shoes.

What Happens If the FAA Says No

If the FAA denies the exemption, Boeing will cease 777F Classic production on December 31, 2027 as the emissions rule requires. The 777-8F production would continue ramping, with EIS still targeted for 2029.

For cargo customers who need widebody freighter capacity in 2028, a denial likely means greater reliance on Airbus A350F orders — the competing cargo aircraft from Toulouse that has attracted significant customer interest as airlines have grown cautious about Boeing’s program timelines. For Everett, a denial would likely accelerate pressure to get the 777-8F certified faster and push resources toward production ramp.

There’s also a strategic dimension. Boeing’s credibility with cargo customers — FedEx, UPS, Qatar Airways Cargo — depends on its ability to deliver product on schedule. If the 777F Classic line ends and the 777-8F is delayed, those customers face a gap Boeing can’t fill. The FAA exemption is partially about Everett jobs and partially about keeping Boeing’s most loyal cargo customers from looking elsewhere.

Where the Decision Stands Today

As of today, the FAA comment period has closed. The agency will review public submissions — likely including comments from cargo airlines, aviation industry groups, and environmental advocates concerned about the emissions standard being waived — and issue a ruling. Boeing wants this resolved quickly; production planning for 2028 cannot wait indefinitely.

The decision will be watched closely by FedEx, UPS, and the air cargo operators that depend on the 777F. It will be watched by labor organizations representing Boeing’s Everett widebody workforce. And it will be watched here in Everett, where the widebody assembly complex at Paine Field is the industrial heart of one of the most significant aerospace manufacturing communities in the world.

Boeing has asked the FAA for a bridge. The FAA has to decide whether to build it.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Boeing need an FAA exemption to keep producing the 777F Classic?

The Boeing 777F Classic uses GE90 engines that don’t meet international emissions standards adopted by ICAO in 2017. Under those standards, production must cease by December 31, 2027. Boeing is asking the FAA to exempt the 777F from that deadline so it can produce 35 more aircraft in 2028 to bridge the gap before the 777-8F enters service in 2029.

What is the difference between the 777F Classic and the 777-8F?

The 777F Classic is the current-generation Boeing freighter, powered by GE90 engines, that has been in production and service for over 15 years. The 777-8F is the next-generation all-cargo variant of the 777X family, with GE9X engines and new composite wing technology, targeted for entry into service in 2029.

Where is the Boeing 777F Classic built?

The 777F Classic is assembled at Boeing’s Everett facility at Paine Field in Snohomish County, Washington, in the same widebody production complex that builds the 777-9 passenger aircraft and is ramping 777-8F production.

Who are the main customers for the Boeing 777F Classic?

Major 777F Classic operators include FedEx, UPS, Qatar Airways Cargo, Emirates SkyCargo, Cargolux, and Korean Air Cargo, among others. Several of these operators have also placed orders for the 777-8F.

What happens if the FAA denies Boeing’s exemption request?

If the FAA denies the request, Boeing’s 777F Classic production would end on December 31, 2027. Cargo customers needing widebody freighter capacity in 2028 would need to look at alternatives, including the Airbus A350F. For Everett, the 777-8F production ramp would become the primary focus of the widebody freighter assembly workforce.

How does this relate to Boeing’s other Everett program changes?

The 777F situation is part of a broader Everett program transition: the 767 commercial freighter line ends in 2027 as it shifts to KC-46-only production, the 777X certification process is ongoing with roughly 30 stored jets requiring multi-year rework, and the 737 North Line is opening this summer. The 777F exemption request, if approved, would add a year of production continuity to a factory already navigating multiple major transitions simultaneously.

✈️ Exploring Everett — Boeing 777F Knowledge Cluster
Boeing 777F FAA Decision — Complete Guide for Everett
For Paine Field Workers: What the Decision Means for Your Line

May 8, 2026
Copa Airlines’ World Cup 737 MAX Was Built in Everett — And the $13.5 Billion Order Behind It Matters Here

Q: What happened at Boeing’s Everett factory on May 5, 2026?
Copa Airlines unveiled a fan-designed “Marea Roja” (Red Tide) 737 MAX livery at Boeing’s Everett campus, celebrating Panama’s national soccer team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup. The ceremony coincided with Copa’s announcement of an order for up to 60 additional 737 MAX jets — the largest new commercial aircraft order tied to a ceremony at the Everett site in recent memory.

Copa Airlines’ World Cup 737 MAX Was Built in Everett — And the $13.5 Billion Order Behind It Matters Here
On a Tuesday afternoon at the end of the first week of May, Boeing’s Everett campus hosted an unusual ceremony. Copa Airlines representatives, a Panamanian Football Federation official, and Panama’s national soccer team head coach gathered on the factory tarmac to unveil a new 737 MAX painted in red and white — the colors of La Marea Roja, the Red Tide, Panama’s national soccer team nickname. The plane looked different from the usual Boeing blue-and-white test aircraft or the airline-branded jets that roll out of Everett’s paint hangars every week. This one was dressed for the 2026 FIFA World Cup. For Boeing’s Everett workforce, the Marea Roja event was a reminder that the 737 MAX they build doesn’t stay in Everett for long — and the customers ordering them keep coming back.
The Order That Put Copa in Everett
Copa Airlines didn’t fly a painted jet to Boeing’s Everett campus just for a photo opportunity. The May 5 ceremony followed a larger announcement: on April 29, 2026, Copa and Boeing announced an order for up to 60 additional 737 MAX jets — 40 firm orders with options for 20 more — valued at approximately $13.5 billion at list prices. That order makes Copa one of the more significant narrowbody customers Boeing has landed this year. Copa Airlines, the flag carrier of Panama, already operates one of the most efficient and punctual airline networks in the Americas, built almost entirely around the 737 family. Adding up to 60 more aircraft represents a major fleet expansion — and a significant vote of confidence in the Boeing product being assembled in Everett and Renton. Copa operates primarily out of Tocumen International Airport in Panama City, with an extensive Latin American and Caribbean route network serving roughly 80 destinations across 33 countries. The 737 MAX is the backbone of that network. The new order will allow Copa to expand routes and retire older aircraft over the coming years. Copa’s CEO, Pedro Heilbron, has been one of Boeing’s most publicly loyal airline customers — a fact that carries weight at a moment when Boeing is working to rebuild its reputation following the 2024 quality crisis and the 737 MAX production slowdowns.
What “Marea Roja” Means in 2026
The red and white livery unveiled on May 5 isn’t just a branding play. Panama’s national men’s soccer team has emerged as a genuine World Cup contender in recent years, and with the 2026 FIFA World Cup being hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada — including matches at Seattle’s Lumen Field — Copa Airlines has a direct commercial stake in moving passengers across the Americas to World Cup venues. The fan-designed “Marea Roja” livery was selected from a public competition. Thomas Christiansen, the Danish-born head coach who has built Panama’s program into a consistent World Cup qualifier, attended the Everett ceremony alongside Fernando Arce Mendizabal, vice president of the Panamanian Football Federation. Daniel Gunn represented Copa Airlines at the event. For Everett, the World Cup connection runs deeper than a single ceremony. Seattle’s Lumen Field is one of the primary World Cup venues in the Pacific Northwest, and Copa Airlines will be one of the carriers transporting Latin American fans from their home countries to matches. Paine Field’s growing commercial network — including Alaska Airlines’ upcoming June 10 Portland nonstop — connects Snohomish County to the broader Pacific Northwest aviation hub that will serve World Cup travelers.
What 60 Jets Means for the Paine Field Factory Floor
The direct impact of Copa’s 60-jet order on Everett’s assembly lines is harder to calculate precisely, but the context matters. Boeing is currently producing 737 MAX aircraft at Renton at approximately 42 jets per month, with a target to reach 47 per month this summer as the North Line at Paine Field activates and begins low-rate initial production. The North Line is being staffed at 100 to 140 new hires per week through training programs at Boeing’s Everett and Renton facilities. Large new orders from customers like Copa — 40 firm aircraft and 20 options — add to the production backlog that justifies continued rate increases. Each order that extends that backlog supports the business case for expanding Everett’s North Line capacity beyond its initial phase, toward the rate 53 target Boeing has outlined for the longer term. The Boeing 737 MAX 10 — which will be built exclusively in Everett and has accumulated more than 1,200 orders — makes Copa’s 60-jet commitment especially relevant. Copa’s order likely includes MAX variants across the 737 family. As Boeing works toward MAX 7 and MAX 10 certification in 2026, having committed customers in the backlog validates the North Line’s production case. For Snohomish County, the economics work through the multiplier effect. The Everett factory employs approximately 30,000 people directly and indirectly. Higher sustained production rates mean more overtime, more supplier orders to the 600+ aerospace companies in Snohomish County, and more demand in communities where Boeing workers live.
Customer Confidence Is the Real Signal
Copa’s 60-jet order also reinforces something the Everett aerospace community has been watching closely: customer confidence in the Boeing product is recovering. After the production pause, the quality crisis, and the post-strike rebuilding, Boeing’s Q1 2026 results showed it out-delivered Airbus for the first time since 2019 — 143 jets to 114. Copa’s large new order is the kind of customer signal that confirms the recovery has commercial substance, not just factory metrics. The Marea Roja 737 MAX unveiled in Everett won’t fly passengers to World Cup matches directly from Paine Field. But it was built here, or will be built here, as the North Line begins production. The plane will eventually fly Copa’s routes connecting Panama City across Central America, the Caribbean, and South America — carrying the passengers who make onward connections to Seattle, Los Angeles, Dallas, and the other World Cup host cities. For Everett’s aerospace workers, the ceremony on May 5 was a visible reminder that the work they do reaches further than the factory walls. The planes leave. The customers keep coming back.
Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Copa Airlines “Marea Roja” 737 MAX?
The “Marea Roja” (Red Tide) is a fan-designed livery that Copa Airlines unveiled at Boeing’s Everett campus on May 5, 2026, celebrating Panama’s national soccer team ahead of the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
How many jets did Copa Airlines order from Boeing?
Copa Airlines ordered 40 firm 737 MAX jets with options for 20 more, totaling up to 60 aircraft. The order was valued at approximately $13.5 billion at list prices and was announced on April 29, 2026.
Where are Copa Airlines’ Boeing jets built?
Boeing’s 737 MAX jets are assembled primarily at the Renton facility. As Boeing’s North Line at Everett’s Paine Field opens this summer, additional 737 MAX production capacity will come online in Snohomish County.
Why did Copa Airlines hold a ceremony at Boeing’s Everett campus?
Copa Airlines chose the Boeing Everett campus to celebrate the Marea Roja livery reveal alongside Panamanian football officials. The Everett site is Boeing’s flagship Washington state factory and home of the incoming 737 North Line.
What is the FIFA World Cup connection to Everett?
The 2026 FIFA World Cup is hosted across the United States, Mexico, and Canada. Seattle’s Lumen Field is one of the U.S. host venues. Copa Airlines will transport Latin American fans to World Cup destinations, and Paine Field’s growing commercial connections make the Everett aviation cluster part of the regional World Cup infrastructure.
What is Boeing’s current 737 production rate?
Boeing is currently producing approximately 42 737 MAX jets per month at Renton and is targeting rate 47 per month this summer, with the North Line at Everett’s Paine Field beginning low-rate initial production to support the capacity ramp toward rate 53 and beyond.

May 8, 2026
Sodam Chicken Just Opened Its First Washington Location in Everett — The Korean Fried Chicken Is the Real Thing

Address: 607 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite K/L, Everett, WA 98208
Phone: (425) 595-6172
Hours: Monday–Saturday 10:30 AM – 9:30 PM | Closed Sunday
Price range: $$
Parking: Free lot at SE Everett Mall Way complex
Delivery: DoorDash, Grubhub, Uber Eats
What to order: D2 Yangnyeom Chicken, D3 Soy Garlic Chicken, Lunch Combo

Korean fried chicken is not a trend anymore. It passed through trend and arrived at institution somewhere around the time every major American city got a minimum of three competing Korean chicken spots and the debate shifted from “have you tried it?” to “which sauce?” Everett got its answer in 2025 when Sodam Chicken opened at 607 SE Everett Mall Way — the brand’s first location in Washington state and an addition to an SE Everett corridor that has been quietly stacking up worth-knowing-about food options for two years.

Sodam is a South Korean chain. The name means “plentiful and tasty food” in Korean, which is either a mission statement or a promise, and from what the menu delivers, arguably both. The original brand was founded in South Korea in 2010 and has expanded internationally. The Everett location is its first foothold in Washington — and based on the concept, it will not be the last one in this state.

What Makes Korean Fried Chicken Different

Korean fried chicken differs from American fried chicken in method and result. The chicken is typically double-fried at high heat, which produces a thinner, crispier crust that does not soften under sauce the way American breading tends to. The crust at Sodam is described as “gold fried” — a uniform, tight, crackly shell that holds its texture even after sauce is applied. This is the technical achievement that separates mediocre Korean chicken from the real thing.

The sauce repertoire is where the differentiation happens. Sodam’s core menu runs three variations on fried chicken: the D1 Gold Fried Chicken (unsauced, crispy and savory, with two dipping sauce choices), the D2 Yangnyeom Chicken (the signature sweet-spicy Korean sauce, coating the fried shell without compromising it), and the D3 Soy Garlic Chicken (lightly coated with a bold, rich soy garlic glaze). All three are $16.99. All three are the right entry point to the menu depending on your sauce preference.

The Menu Beyond the Core Three

Sodam’s menu extends well past fried wings and boneless pieces. The grilled and stir-fried category covers chicken in different preparation styles for anyone who wants the flavor without the deep fry. Lunch combos run at a lower price point and give you a faster entry into the menu during weekday hours — Sodam opens at 10:30am Monday through Saturday, which means it is genuinely available for an early lunch when most competitors in the area are not yet running.

The Sodam Combo and Family Combo Set are designed for groups — buying in bulk at Sodam is the correct strategy if you are feeding more than two people, because the per-piece economics shift significantly at combo scale. Rice, noodles, and sides round out the menu enough to make a full meal without supplementing elsewhere. Delivery runs through DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats if you are not near SE Everett Mall Way.

The SE Everett Mall Way Cluster

Sodam’s location at 607 SE Everett Mall Way is in a commercial complex that has developed into a quiet concentration of worthwhile food destinations. Dumpling World at 620 SE Everett Mall Way makes handmade xiaolongbao fresh to order — the kind that you can watch being pleated at the counter. Middleton Brewing operates a 1.5-barrel nano-brewpub in Suite 27-A of the same complex, run by owner Geoff Middleton since 2013.

The combination of Korean fried chicken, handmade dumplings, and craft beer in the same parking lot is not something we expected SE Everett Mall Way to become, but here we are. This corridor has emerged as one of the more interesting food destinations in south Everett, and Sodam Chicken is a meaningful addition to it.

Why Yangnyeom Is the One to Order

If you have never been to Sodam and are ordering for the first time, get the D2 Yangnyeom Chicken. Yangnyeom is the benchmark sauce at any Korean fried chicken restaurant — it is the sweet-spicy red glaze that defines the category, and the version you make your opinion of the spot on. If the yangnyeom is thin, too sweet, or fails to coat the crust without softening it, the kitchen has a problem. If it is balanced, sticky without being cloying, and arrives on a crust that is still audible, the kitchen knows what it is doing.

The soy garlic (D3) is the move for anyone who wants savory over sweet — it is richer and less assertive than yangnyeom, and for garlic-forward eaters, it often becomes the preferred repeat order. The Gold Fried (D1) with dipping sauces is the traditional entry point for anyone who wants to taste the crust itself before the sauce conversation starts.

Sodam Chicken opened quietly and has been operating without much local fanfare since 2025. That changes now. There is a first Washington location of a South Korean chain sitting in a food cluster in SE Everett, open six days a week starting at 10:30am, with a menu that delivers on the Korean fried chicken promise. We are not sure what more you need to know. Go try the yangnyeom.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Sodam Chicken in Everett?

Sodam Chicken Everett is located at 607 SE Everett Mall Way, Suite K/L, Everett, WA 98208. Phone: (425) 595-6172.

What are Sodam Chicken’s hours in Everett?

Sodam Chicken Everett is open Monday through Saturday from 10:30 AM to 9:30 PM. Closed Sundays.

What should I order at Sodam Chicken?

Start with the D2 Yangnyeom Chicken ($16.99) — the sweet-spicy signature sauce is the benchmark for Korean fried chicken quality. The D3 Soy Garlic Chicken is the go-to for savory eaters. The D1 Gold Fried Chicken with dipping sauces lets you taste the crust first.

Does Sodam Chicken deliver?

Yes. Sodam Chicken Everett delivers via DoorDash, Grubhub, and Uber Eats.

Is this the first Sodam Chicken in Washington?

Yes. The Everett location at 607 SE Everett Mall Way is Sodam Chicken’s first Washington State location. The brand originated in South Korea in 2010.

May 8, 2026
Jallos Jollof Rice Is Bringing West Africa’s Most Contested Dish to SE Everett Three Days a Week

Address: 710 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett, WA 98208
Phone: (206) 999-8377
Hours: Monday, Wednesday, Friday 12:00 PM – 6:00 PM
Price range: $
Halal: Yes
What to order: Senegambian Jollof, Naija Jollof — try both if you can

Jollof rice is the most argued-over dish in West Africa. The question of who makes it best — Senegal, Nigeria, or Ghana — has fueled internet wars that have lasted decades and show no sign of resolution. The dish is rice cooked in a tomato-based sauce until the grains are saturated with flavor, each regional variation claiming superiority through a different mix of spices, preparation technique, and national pride. There is no neutral party in this debate.

Jallos Jollof Rice, operating out of 710 SE Everett Mall Way three days a week, has chosen a diplomatic position: make both. Senegambian Jollof and Naija Jollof, side by side, and let the customer decide. We respect this approach. It is the right call for Everett, where the SE Everett corridor has quietly become one of the most culinarily diverse stretches in Snohomish County.

The Two Jollofs on the Menu

The Senegambian Jollof is the origin story — the dish that, in its Wolof form, is argued to be the ancestor of all the regional variations that followed. Jallos makes it as a one-pot rice simmered in a rich tomato sauce built with onions, garlic, and traditional Senegambian spices. The result is aromatic and layered, more perfumed than punishing, with a depth that comes from the sauce absorbing into each grain during a slow cook.

The Naija Jollof — Nigeria’s version — runs hotter and more assertive. It starts with parboiled rice, then introduces a sauce blend of tomatoes, bell peppers, and onions spiced with thyme, curry powder, and a touch of hot peppers. The Naija version is what the internet fights are actually about. It is bolder than its Senegambian counterpart, with a smokier quality that Nigerian cooks often achieve through high heat at the end of cooking. Both traditions are represented at Jallos, and both are worth ordering.

Where It Fits on the SE Everett Map

Jallos operates on SE Everett Mall Way, which has become a quiet hub for international food concepts that do not get enough coverage. A few hundred feet away, Dumpling World is making handmade xiaolongbao to order. Nearby, Middleton Brewing operates a nano-brewpub in an industrial suite. This stretch of SE Everett is doing something real, and Jallos is part of it.

The jollof rice is halal, which matters for a significant portion of the community in this part of Everett. The Monday-Wednesday-Friday schedule with 12pm to 6pm hours means Jallos is positioned for lunch and early dinner, operating lean rather than trying to cover every slot on the calendar. That discipline is often a sign that a small operation is focused on doing one thing well rather than spreading itself across too many days.

The Broader Context: Everett’s West African Food Scene

Everett’s West African food presence has grown without much announcement. Heritage African Restaurant on Hewitt Avenue has been serving Gambian-Senegalese cooking including jollof since early 2024. Ubuntu Bar & Grill on Hardeson Road brings South African braai — a distinct tradition from the West African canon, but part of the same growing awareness that African cuisines in Snohomish County are not a monolith.

Jallos Jollof Rice fits into this picture as a food-truck-format specialist: one dish, two traditions, done well, available three days a week. For anyone who has been eating Gambian jollof at Heritage on Hewitt and wants to compare the Nigerian preparation, Jallos is the next stop on that research project.

What to Know Before You Go

Jallos operates Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from noon to 6pm. That is a focused schedule — plan accordingly. At 710 SE Everett Mall Way, parking is available in the surrounding commercial lot. The operation accepts catering orders, which suggests the jollof travels well and has found customers who want it for events rather than just counter service.

The mission of Jallos, per their own framing, is to make jollof a staple in American homes. That is an ambitious goal. Three days a week in SE Everett is how it starts. Go try both versions and form your own opinion on the great jollof debate. It is one of the more enjoyable arguments in food, and having a local source for the research makes it much easier to continue.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is jollof rice?

Jollof rice is a West African one-pot dish of rice cooked in a spiced tomato-based sauce. It is one of the most popular dishes across West Africa, with regional variations in Senegal, Nigeria, Ghana, and elsewhere, each claiming superiority through different preparation techniques and spice profiles.

Is Jallos Jollof Rice halal?

Yes. Jallos Jollof Rice is halal.

What are Jallos’ hours?

Jallos Jollof Rice is open Monday, Wednesday, and Friday from 12:00 PM to 6:00 PM at 710 SE Everett Mall Way, Everett, WA 98208.

What is the difference between Senegambian and Naija jollof?

Senegambian jollof is traditionally aromatic and slower-cooked, built on tomatoes, onions, and garlic with traditional Senegambian spices. Naija jollof (Nigerian) is bolder and spicier, using parboiled rice in a tomato-bell pepper-onion blend seasoned with thyme, curry powder, and hot peppers. Both are on the menu at Jallos.

Does Jallos offer catering?

Yes. Jallos Jollof Rice accepts catering orders. Contact them at (206) 999-8377 for details.

May 8, 2026
Mexicuban Is Puget Sound’s Original Cuban-Mexican Fusion Food Truck — And It Keeps Showing Up in Everett

Address: Rotates — regularly at Beverly Food Truck Park, 6731 Beverly Blvd, Everett, WA 98203 (Mon–Sat, afternoons) | Check current schedule at mexicuban.com
Price range: $$
Parking: Free lot at Beverly Food Truck Park
What to order: Fluffy Tacos with Cuban Roast Pork, Custom Bowl, any of the sauce-glazed specials

Somewhere between Mexico and Cuba — geographically, culturally, and culinarily — there is a dish that does not exist in any restaurant we know of in the Puget Sound. It is a taco, but not quite. The shell is fried corn tortilla, puffed and golden. The filling is Chicken Pibil (Yucatán-style, achiote-marinated, slow-cooked) or Cuban Roast Pork (lechon, the kind that runs on time and patience, not shortcuts). The toppings are pickled red onions and cheese. The whole thing lands in your hand and immediately explains itself.

This is the Fluffy Taco. Octavio Ortega invented it — or at least invented it for the Pacific Northwest — when he launched Mexicuban, Puget Sound’s first Cuban-Mexican fusion food truck, as a way to represent both sides of his heritage at once. He describes the truck as the first of its kind in the region, and we have no counter-argument to offer. We have looked, and there is nothing else doing what Mexicuban does.

Two Cuisines, One Truck, One Owner’s Heritage

Ortega’s concept is not a novelty fusion grab — it is a genuine expression of a bicultural background brought to food. Mexican cooking and Cuban cooking share roots: Spanish colonial influence, indigenous ingredients, a deep relationship with pork, and an understanding of rice as a staple, not a side thought. But they diverge sharply in technique and spice philosophy. Mexican cooking is often sharper and hotter, Cuban cooking longer and slower, more aromatic than incendiary.

Ortega’s menu navigates that overlap without papering over the differences. The Fluffy Taco is genuinely bi-national — the shell is Mexican street food logic, the filling is Cuban kitchen logic, and the combination is his own invention. Custom bowls let you build your own version of the same hybrid. Vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options are available across the menu, which matters because the food truck crowd in Everett is genuinely diverse in its dietary requirements.

Where to Find Mexicuban in Everett

Mexicuban is a truck, which means its schedule moves. In Everett, you are most likely to find it at the Beverly Food Truck Park at 6731 Beverly Blvd — the rotating lot that runs Monday through Saturday during afternoon hours with two to four trucks on any given day. Mexicuban is one of the regulars there, alongside Tabassum and other park anchors.

The truck has also participated in the Everett Food Truck Festival and shows up at events across the broader Puget Sound. For the current week’s schedule, mexicuban.com maintains a live calendar — check there before driving. If you miss Mexicuban at Beverly, the brand now has a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Renton at 15279 Maple Valley Hwy, but the truck’s appearance in Everett is regular enough that you should not need to commute.

We checked Yelp in April 2026 and found 103 reviews with photos actively uploading — this truck has an audience that shows up repeatedly, takes pictures, and comes back. That is not a fluke. That is a menu doing something right.

What to Order

Start with the Fluffy Tacos. Order the Cuban Roast Pork version if you want to understand what Ortega is actually building here — the lechon filling is the heart of the concept, and the fried shell carries it without competing. The Chicken Pibil version is excellent for anyone who wants the same architecture with a different protein, and the achiote marinade is genuine enough to make the switch worthwhile.

If you are feeding more than one, the Custom Bowls let you build across both sides of the menu simultaneously. The vegan and gluten-free options mean you can bring a mixed-diet group without drama. On a good afternoon at Beverly Food Truck Park, you are probably ordering two or three items and comparing them, which is the correct way to approach a new truck.

Why It Belongs in Your Food Truck Rotation

Everett’s food truck scene has grown quietly into something genuinely interesting. Das Bratmobile is doing German street food from Rheinland-Pfalz. Tabassum is the only Uzbek food truck in the Pacific Northwest. Port of Everett Food Truck Fridays brings a rotating cast every week to the marina. And in the middle of all of it, Mexicuban has been quietly building the only Cuban-Mexican fusion truck in the region for long enough that they have more than a hundred Yelp reviews and a brick-and-mortar expansion.

This is what an original concept looks like when it actually works. If you have been to Beverly Food Truck Park and skipped Mexicuban in favor of something more familiar, correct that error. The Fluffy Taco is the move. It is not like anything else on the lot.

Frequently Asked Questions

Where does Mexicuban park in Everett?

Mexicuban regularly rotates through Beverly Food Truck Park at 6731 Beverly Blvd in central Everett. Check mexicuban.com for the current week’s schedule.

What is a Fluffy Taco?

A Fluffy Taco uses a fried, puffed corn tortilla shell filled with either Cuban Roast Pork (lechon) or Chicken Pibil, topped with pickled red onions and cheese. It is Mexicuban’s signature dish and the item to order on a first visit.

Does Mexicuban have vegan options?

Yes. Mexicuban offers vegan, vegetarian, and gluten-free options across its menu.

Who owns Mexicuban?

Mexicuban was founded by Octavio Ortega, who created the concept to honor both his Mexican and Cuban heritage. He describes it as Puget Sound’s first Cuban-Mexican fusion food truck of its kind.

Does Mexicuban have a restaurant location?

Yes. Mexicuban has expanded to a brick-and-mortar restaurant in Renton at 15279 Maple Valley Hwy, but the Everett food truck presence remains active.

May 8, 2026
The Vote Passed. Now Here Are the Four Steps Between Today and Everett’s September 2026 Stadium Groundbreaking

What comes next after the April 29 stadium vote? The council approved $10.6 million in design and acquisition funding — but that decision set four more in motion. Here is the exact sequence of decisions Everett must make before a shovel goes in the ground in September 2026, and what could still stop it.

The April 29 Vote Was Not the Finish Line

When the Everett City Council voted 6-1 on April 29 to approve an additional $10.6 million for the downtown stadium project, it made the biggest single step forward in the three-year effort to keep the Everett AquaSox in town and bring United Soccer League teams to a new outdoor venue. But it was a step, not the finish line.

Council member Scott Bader put it precisely in remarks before the vote: “certain dominoes have to fall before the next domino can fall.” The $10.6 million approval was one domino. There are four more between today and a September 2026 groundbreaking — each dependent on the one before it.

Here is what those four dominoes look like, where they stand, and what can still knock them over.

Domino 1: The Stadium Fiscal Advisory Committee Reconvenes

Immediately after the April 29 vote concluded, Council Vice President Paula Rhyne made a formal request: reconvene the Stadium Fiscal Advisory Committee before the council takes any further binding financial action on the stadium project.

The Fiscal Advisory Committee was formed in 2024 to provide independent financial analysis of the stadium’s funding structure. It was active during the design-build procurement process but has not been formally reconvened since the project’s cost escalated to $120 million and the funding gap came into clearer focus.

Rhyne’s request reflects a real concern that has been raised by multiple council members and community members: the city has not yet published detailed financial statements showing exactly how a stadium construction bond would be structured, repaid, and serviced. Former council member Scott Murphy voiced the same concern at the April 29 meeting: “There’s a big difference between having an economic development study and discussion around $100 million and seeing it on a piece of paper to understand how that will actually service the debt.”

The committee’s work sets the terms under which the council can responsibly proceed to the bond vote. Until it completes its review, the bond vote cannot happen.

Domino 2: Property Acquisitions

The April 29 package allocated $5.6 million toward acquiring the remaining properties needed for the 12.5-acre stadium site. City staff reported that 14 property acquisition offers have been made: some purchase agreements are already completed, others are still pending.

The stadium site is located north of Pacific Street between Broadway and Smith Avenue, adjacent to Angel of the Winds Arena. Full site control — meaning every parcel acquired — is required before construction can begin. The timeline depends on how quickly the remaining property negotiations close.

The city has already allocated approximately $7.2 million in capital funds on the project before this vote, including prior property acquisition work and consulting fees. The new $5.6 million extends that work to the final parcels. City staff project that all properties can be acquired by fall 2026, which keeps the September groundbreaking timeline alive — but any negotiation that drags into litigation could push that date.

Domino 3: The Bond Vote (~July or August 2026)

The $10.6 million the council approved on April 29 was funded as an interfund loan from the city’s general fund — a bridge loan the city is lending to itself, structured to be repaid in a few months from a construction bond. The bond vote is the next major council decision, expected in July or August 2026.

The bond package is expected to exceed $30 million. The full stadium budget is $120 million, which includes the $7.4 million state grant the council unanimously accepted on April 29, plus the $17 million the AquaSox and United Soccer League have agreed to contribute under their 30-year lease terms, plus the city’s accumulated $7.2 million in prior capital expenditures, plus the new $10.6 million package.

There is still a funding gap of approximately $25 million — about 21% of the project’s cost. The city is pursuing public-private partnerships to close it. Economic development director Dan Eernissee has argued the gap is manageable: “We know this is going to be our growth area. We are counting on lots of residents to be in this downtown core, and we’re strategically investing before that time in real estate that can serve as an urban park, that can serve as a destination, can serve as a connector between our transit hub and downtown jobs.”

The risk is clearly understood. Interim finance director Mike Bailey said at the April 29 meeting: “There’s an element of risk here. Again, we believe it’s manageable, or we wouldn’t have proposed it.” If the bond vote fails or a major contributor backs out before the bond is issued, the city faces the cost of repaying the interfund loan from its general fund — though some of that exposure is offset by the property acquisition component, which creates tangible city-owned assets.

Domino 4: September 2026 Groundbreaking

If the Fiscal Advisory Committee completes its work, the property acquisitions close, and the bond vote passes, construction can begin in September 2026. The design-build team — DLR Group (architecture, based in Seattle) and Bayley Construction (general contractor, based in Mercer Island) — is already active. DLR Group has designed multiple sports stadiums including Alex Box Stadium at LSU; Bayley Construction’s previous design-build work includes Husky Ballpark at the University of Washington.

The design is roughly 60% complete. The facility will include 5,000 seats, a premium club section with a covered deck seating 200 (400 standing), a clubhouse building with team locker rooms and batting cages, an artificial turf field convertible between baseball and soccer layouts in a matter of hours, and a public walking path around the perimeter. The main entrance is planned for where Wall Street meets Broadway.

The construction timeline targets completion by late 2027, in time for the Everett AquaSox to open their 2028 season at the new venue. The AquaSox have been explicit that without a new stadium, MLB’s requirements could force the franchise to relocate — which is why council member Bader framed the April 29 vote as a crossroads moment: “If we don’t move forward on this, I think the AquaSox will leave town and MLB will tell them to do that.”

The One Unresolved Question: USL Team Ownership

The AquaSox and United Soccer League have agreed to the financial terms of a 30-year lease for the new venue. But USL still needs to find an owner or ownership group to purchase the expansion teams that would actually play in the facility. That ownership search is ongoing. It doesn’t block the construction decision directly, but it remains an important loose end in the stadium’s long-term financial picture — since the lease revenue from the soccer teams is built into the stadium’s revenue projections.

Labor and Community Perspective

Labor representatives who spoke at the April 29 meeting were uniformly supportive. The city plans to use prevailing wages and apprenticeship requirements in the construction contracts. As Miguel Edmonson told the council: “I have some apprentices that have to go down to Tacoma for work. They’d be able to live here and work here and be a part of this community while they’re on the clock and then when they get off the clock.”

Resident Erryn Guilfoyle framed the stadium’s strategic value as a second downtown anchor: “Right now, downtown Everett has Angel of the Winds arena. A stadium nearby would give us a second anchor that changes what downtown becomes. People park once and stay longer. They spend their time and their money downtown instead of somewhere else, and the businesses around them feel the difference.”

Not everyone is convinced. Council member Judy Tuohy — the lone dissenting vote on April 29 — said explicitly: “My vote tonight is not a vote against the project. It’s really a vote of caution regarding the city’s financial risk. We need to ensure the funding foundation is in place before we commit more of our city dollars.” Her concerns will almost certainly surface again when the bond package comes before the council this summer.

The Bottom Line: A Tight but Survivable Timeline

For the September groundbreaking to happen, the Fiscal Advisory Committee needs to complete its review, property acquisitions need to close, and the bond vote needs to pass — all between now and late August. That is doable. It is also genuinely uncertain.

The April 29 vote was the biggest single step this project has taken. The next step — the Fiscal Advisory Committee reconvening and the bond structure taking shape — will tell us whether September is a real target or an optimistic one. We’ll be watching closely.

You can also review the full construction tracker for major Everett projects to see how the stadium fits into the broader development picture downtown.

Frequently Asked Questions

When will Everett break ground on the new stadium?

The city is targeting September 2026, contingent on completing property acquisitions and passing a construction bond vote expected in July or August 2026.

How much will the Everett stadium cost?

The total project cost is $120 million. Funding sources include a $7.4 million state grant, $17 million from AquaSox and USL lease commitments, approximately $17.8 million in city capital and interfund funds, and a construction bond of $30+ million still to be voted on. A funding gap of approximately $25 million (21% of total) is being addressed through public-private partnerships.

Who is building the Everett stadium?

The design-build team is DLR Group (architecture) and Bayley Construction (general contractor). DLR Group is a global architecture firm with a Seattle office; Bayley Construction is a Mercer Island-based GC whose previous work includes Husky Ballpark at the University of Washington.

What teams will play at the new Everett stadium?

The Everett AquaSox (MLB High-A affiliate) and two United Soccer League expansion teams (men’s and women’s) are planned tenants under a 30-year lease agreement. USL still needs to identify ownership groups for the soccer teams.

What is the Everett Stadium Fiscal Advisory Committee?

The Stadium Fiscal Advisory Committee is an independent body formed in 2024 to review the financial structure and risks of the stadium project. Council Vice President Paula Rhyne requested at the April 29 meeting that it be reconvened to review the final bond financing plan before the council votes on the full funding package, expected this summer.

When will the new Everett stadium open?

The current target is late 2027, with the Everett AquaSox hoping to open their 2028 baseball season at the new venue.

🏟️ Exploring Everett — Stadium Knowledge Cluster
The Four-Step Pathway to September Groundbreaking — Complete Guide
For Everett Residents: Timeline, Traffic, and the $25M Gap

May 8, 2026
What 15 Years and $350 Million Built: The Port of Everett Story That Other Cities Are Now Studying

What does a successful waterfront transformation actually look like? The Port of Everett spent 15 years and $350 million finding out — surviving a developer bankruptcy, a recession, and its own false starts. Today, Cascadia Daily News named it the regional blueprint other cities are studying. Here is the full story of how Everett got here, and what comes next.

A Major Pacific Northwest Outlet Just Called Port of Everett the Waterfront Model

Cascadia Daily News, the Pacific Northwest’s most-read regional outlet, published a deep feature today as part of its four-part “Sea Change” series examining waterfront redevelopment across Western Washington. Part two focuses entirely on the Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place — and it positions Everett as the benchmark that other ports, including Bellingham, are now studying.

The headline says it plainly: “After a bankrupt developer and broken promises, Port of Everett is realizing its waterfront vision.” The subheading: “15 years and $350 million turned 65-acre windfall into restaurants, housing and marine trades.”

For those of us who live here, it’s easy to take the waterfront for granted. A Thursday evening in the rain, there’s still a line out the door at Tapped Public House. Families are walking the esplanade. Boats are in the marina. But to understand what we’re actually standing on, it helps to know the story of how this almost never happened — and the lessons Everett is now teaching to other communities wrestling with the same questions.

The Bankruptcy That Changed Everything

In 2005, the Port of Everett made what seemed like a reasonable bet. It sold 65 acres of prime north marina waterfront land to Maritime Trust Co., a Chicago-based developer, for a planned $400 million mixed-use redevelopment. The vision: 600 housing units, retail, office space, boat moorage, and light industrial boat businesses on land that had been dominated by mills and fishing since Everett’s founding.

Maritime Trust had development capabilities, but Lisa Lefeber — now the Port of Everett’s executive director, then a communications specialist — says the firm never quite got Everett. Some of their conceptual ideas drew on Vancouver’s Granville Island for inspiration, which she described as “a disconnect” from what this community actually was.

Then 2008 happened. Maritime Trust lost its main financier, Merrill Lynch, when the Great Recession hit. The developer filed for bankruptcy. The Port of Everett spent years in federal bankruptcy court to win back those 65 acres — land that had once been theirs, land that the community had entrusted them to steward well.

By 2012, the port had the land back. And a decision to make.

The Pivot That Made the Difference: No Master Developer

The most important strategic choice the Port of Everett made after the bankruptcy wasn’t a design decision. It was a control decision: this time, the port would not sell the land. It would retain ownership, lease to tenants and developers, and remain the anchor of the waterfront’s direction.

“When you don’t control the property, you don’t control how the site is used in terms of housing,” Lefeber told Cascadia Daily News. Maritime Trust, she noted, had wanted to turn the waterfront into “a private residential development” — the antithesis of why Washington state ports were created in the first place.

The port also made another unconventional move: it built out streets and utilities across the waterfront before tenants arrived. The goal was to “show value and proof of concept” and draw in the first housing development. It worked. The infrastructure investment de-risked the site for private partners and gave developers something tangible to build against.

The third shift was community engagement. Rather than hand the vision to an outside firm, the port went back to Everett residents to ask what they actually wanted. “We want it all,” Lefeber said in the CDN feature, describing the port’s philosophy. “We want industry. We want a place for people and families to be able to play and work and live. One of our big philosophies is a working waterfront.”

What $350 Million Built

Fifteen years and $350 million later — $175 million from private partners (hotel and apartment construction) and $175 million from a mix of federal grants, state funding, and Port of Everett financing and revenue — Waterfront Place encompasses five districts on and around the north marina.

Fisherman’s Harbor anchors the public-facing side: the “Restaurant Row” building with Tapped Public House, Rustic Cork, The Net Shed, Menchie’s, and Marina Azul is here, along with the Sawyer and Carling condo buildings, the Port’s administrative offices, and the hotel. The Craftsman District keeps more than 20 marine trades businesses — boat repair, storage, and service operations — embedded in the broader development. The state’s largest public marina sits steps from it all.

Jeff LaLone, co-owner of Bayside Marine, which specializes in boat storage and service for vessels under 50 feet, told CDN what the environment has meant to his business: “Everybody does a good job of just trying to have a good, nice, beautiful place to come to. For me to sit at my desk and look out the window, I’m looking at the boats, and you can walk down the street and grab something to eat. It’s just really nice.”

Jack Ng, owner of both Fisherman Jack’s and Muse Whiskey & Coffee Bar — the latter housed in the historic Weyerhaeuser building, complete with a private whiskey collection inside the building’s vintage vault — said he was drawn to the waterfront because of the port’s long-term vision. “That building is going to be a big icon piece. I just want to be part of the history.”

Ng also serves as a port commissioner for the Port of South Whidbey, so he understands the economic development role from both sides: “They can help a small business grow. They’re not there to have 100 percent of return on the investment, and their investment is more for bringing jobs for the local economy.”

The Honest Assessment: Still a Work in Progress

Lefeber doesn’t oversell what’s been built. Giant piles of dirt and gravel are still visible. Signs point to what’s coming next. The Millwright District — the 10-acre inland extension of Waterfront Place — still needs to be built out. The plans call for more than 300 housing units and 125,000 square feet of office space, but the port is actively reconsidering that mix.

“With the U.S. shift to remote work, it may not make sense to create a huge office building at the waterfront,” Lefeber said. The port is now asking: “Is there a better mix of balance? Like, do we look at 80,000 square feet of office, and then maybe a hotel?” The flexibility to revisit plans is part of the model — Waterfront Place is not locked into a master developer’s decade-old blueprint.

Lefeber’s description of waterfront redevelopment has become something of a mantra: “It’s been a little bit of a roller-coaster. I always joke with anything waterfront redevelopment, it’s two steps forward, and then you get punched back through the wall.”

The Alexa’s Café closure, the delayed Marina Azul opening, the long wait for Millwright Phase 2 to get moving — all of it fits the pattern. The progress is real, but it’s never linear.

What Fully Built Looks Like: $8.6 Million a Year in Local Tax Revenue

When Waterfront Place is complete across all five districts, the port projects $8.6 million a year in local sales tax revenue. That’s not a speculative forecast — it’s the mathematical outcome of the retail, restaurant, housing, and hospitality uses the port has already proven it can attract and sustain. The 3.4% retail vacancy rate across Snohomish County provides additional evidence that demand for this kind of space isn’t hypothetical.

The Port of Everett’s $70 million 2026 budget includes continued waterfront infrastructure investment. The $11.25 million federal Pier 3 grant secured in April 2026 extends the same logic to the working seaport side: federal confidence in the Port of Everett’s management and vision is showing up in competitive grant awards.

Why Bellingham — and the Rest of Washington — Is Watching

The Cascadia Daily News “Sea Change” series is explicitly benchmarking Bellingham against Everett and other ports. The parallel is uncomfortable but accurate: Bellingham’s waterfront, like Everett’s in the early 2000s, has sat partially undeveloped for years while port officials, city officials, and community members debate what should go there. Some sections have sat empty for decades.

What Everett’s story tells Bellingham — and any other community grappling with a waterfront opportunity — is that the critical decisions aren’t architectural. They’re about land control, infrastructure investment sequence, community authenticity, and patience with a 15-to-20-year timeline.

The port retained ownership of the land rather than selling to a master developer. It built infrastructure before tenants arrived. It kept marine trades in the mix rather than prioritizing higher-margin residential. And it never lost sight of the fact that the waterfront belonged to the whole city, not just to the people who lived or worked there.

That’s the lesson. And on a rainy Thursday evening in 2026, with a line out the door at Tapped and kids looking at the boats from the esplanade, it’s a lesson that appears to have worked.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much has been invested in Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place?

More than $350 million has been invested in Waterfront Place over the past 15 years. Of that, $175 million came from private partners (hotel and apartment construction) and $175 million from a combination of federal and state grants and Port of Everett financing and revenue.

Why did Port of Everett regain the waterfront land in 2012?

In 2005, the Port sold 65 acres to Maritime Trust Co., a Chicago developer, for a planned $400 million redevelopment. After Maritime Trust lost its main financier (Merrill Lynch) in the 2008 recession, the firm filed for bankruptcy. The Port of Everett won back the land in federal bankruptcy court by 2012.

What is the Millwright District at Port of Everett Waterfront Place?

The Millwright District is the next 10-acre phase of Waterfront Place development. Plans call for more than 300 housing units and over 125,000 square feet of commercial/office space. The Port is currently reconsidering the office portion of the plan, potentially scaling it to 80,000 square feet and adding a hotel component instead.

What will Waterfront Place generate in tax revenue when complete?

When fully built out across all five districts, Waterfront Place is projected to generate $8.6 million per year in local sales tax revenue.

What five districts make up Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place?

Waterfront Place encompasses five districts: Fisherman’s Harbor (Restaurant Row, condos, hotel, Port offices), the Craftsman District (20+ marine trades businesses), the state’s largest public marina, Pacific Rim Plaza (public gathering space and art), and the emerging Millwright District. The working seaport with Pier 3 is located approximately 2 miles away.

Why is Bellingham studying Port of Everett’s waterfront model?

Cascadia Daily News’s “Sea Change” series (published May 7, 2026) selected Port of Everett as a case study for Bellingham because the two cities share parallel histories: both had prime waterfront acreage tied up by troubled development deals, and both faced community questions about the right balance between working waterfront and public-facing amenities. Bellingham is at the beginning of its redevelopment journey; Port of Everett shows what 15 years of sustained execution can produce.

May 8, 2026

Category: Exploring Everett

1. Landon DuPont Has to Be the Best Player on the Ice

2. Anders Miller Is Not Just Good — He’s Historic

3. The Power Play Battle Could Decide It in Four-Minute Swings

4. Can Prince Albert’s Young D Handle Everett’s Forecheck?

5. The Weight of History — And Why This Time Is Different

Game 1 Details

Frequently Asked Questions

What time does WHL Final Game 1 start?

Where can I watch the WHL Final if I can’t attend?

Have the Silvertips ever won the WHL Championship?

Who are the key players to watch for Everett?

Who are the key players for Prince Albert?

What is the WHL Final series format?

Does the WHL Championship winner go to the Memorial Cup?

Related Everett Sports Coverage

A Major Pacific Northwest Outlet Just Called Port of Everett the Waterfront Model

The Bankruptcy That Changed Everything

The Pivot That Made the Difference: No Master Developer

What $350 Million Built

The Honest Assessment: Still a Work in Progress

What Fully Built Looks Like: $8.6 Million a Year in Local Tax Revenue

Why Bellingham — and the Rest of Washington — Is Watching

Frequently Asked Questions

How much has been invested in Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place?

Why did Port of Everett regain the waterfront land in 2012?

What is the Millwright District at Port of Everett Waterfront Place?

What will Waterfront Place generate in tax revenue when complete?

What five districts make up Port of Everett’s Waterfront Place?

Why is Bellingham studying Port of Everett’s waterfront model?

Tahoma National Cemetery Has a National Spotlight in 2026: The Memorial Day Lineup Every Navy Family Near Everett Should Know

Carry The Load Came Through Kent on April 30

What VA’s Memorial May 2026 Campaign Means for Tahoma

The May 25 Memorial Day Ceremony at Tahoma

For NAVSTA Everett Families With a Deployed Sailor

Other Snohomish County Observances to Know

Coming Up: May 9 Veterans Food Drive in Edmonds

Frequently Asked Questions

What time is the Memorial Day ceremony at Tahoma National Cemetery in 2026?

What is Carry The Load and why did they march at Tahoma?

What is the VA’s Memorial May campaign?

What is the Travis Manion Foundation’s Honor Project?

What resources does NAVSTA Everett offer for deployed families during Memorial Day?

Is there a national moment of remembrance on Memorial Day 2026?

Where else can Snohomish County veterans and families observe Memorial Day?

Boeing Wants to Keep Building 777 Freighters in Everett After 2027 — The FAA Decision Is Now

The Emissions Rule That Complicates Everything

Why 35 Jets and Why 2028

Everett’s Freighter Employment Is the Real Story

What Happens If the FAA Says No

Where the Decision Stands Today

Frequently Asked Questions

Why does Boeing need an FAA exemption to keep producing the 777F Classic?

What is the difference between the 777F Classic and the 777-8F?

Where is the Boeing 777F Classic built?

Who are the main customers for the Boeing 777F Classic?

What happens if the FAA denies Boeing’s exemption request?

How does this relate to Boeing’s other Everett program changes?

Copa Airlines’ World Cup 737 MAX Was Built in Everett — And the $13.5 Billion Order Behind It Matters Here

The Order That Put Copa in Everett

What “Marea Roja” Means in 2026

What 60 Jets Means for the Paine Field Factory Floor

Customer Confidence Is the Real Signal

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Copa Airlines “Marea Roja” 737 MAX?

How many jets did Copa Airlines order from Boeing?

Where are Copa Airlines’ Boeing jets built?

Why did Copa Airlines hold a ceremony at Boeing’s Everett campus?

What is the FIFA World Cup connection to Everett?

What is Boeing’s current 737 production rate?

What Makes Korean Fried Chicken Different

The Menu Beyond the Core Three

The SE Everett Mall Way Cluster

Why Yangnyeom Is the One to Order

Frequently Asked Questions

Where is Sodam Chicken in Everett?

What are Sodam Chicken’s hours in Everett?

What should I order at Sodam Chicken?

Does Sodam Chicken deliver?

Is this the first Sodam Chicken in Washington?