Founded in 1903 and revived in 2021 as a popular hub for morning coffee, food, snacks, wine, Frosé, neighborhood connection and more, the historic Three Tree Point Store is preparing to leave its longtime beachside home. Soon, the beloved biz will pack up and move up the hill to a new location in downtown Burien.

Owner Nelle Reichert confirmed that the store will close its historic Maplewild Ave SW location on Friday, Aug. 22, and reopen in the fall at 646 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien. The new space, formerly home to Helen Custom Upholstery is near Be Yoga, Centro Mexican Kitchen, and Sitka Living.

The new Three Tree Point Store will be located at 646 SW 152nd Street in downtown Burien.

“After nearly three wonderful years at Three Tree Point, it felt like the right time to take the next step,” Reichert told The B-Town Blog. “Moving into downtown Burien is an opportunity to bring the spirit of the store into a new, more accessible location—while continuing to offer the connection, quality, and charm our customers love.”

“The move is rooted in growth rather than conflict,” Reichert said, explaining that the transition to downtown Burien will give the store room to thrive in a space better suited to its future. She added that ongoing lease challenges at the current location also made the relocation a practical choice.

The historic original store, first opened in 1903, was restored and re-launched in September 2021 as a charming neighborhood store offering coffee, food, drinks, trivia nights, and a welcoming space for community connection. Its revival was made possible in part by owner Todd Manola and the Burien City Council’s February 2021 approval of the “Legacy Storefronts Zoning Code Amendment,” which allows historic old neighborhood storefronts like this one to reopen with limited commercial use.

Reichert emphasized that the spirit of the store will remain the same.

“This move isn’t goodbye, it’s a continuation,” she said. “What made the store special will remain: connection, great food and drinks, and the joy of coming together.”

The new Three Tree Point Store location is expected to open later this fall, pending buildout and permitting.

“Even before a formal announcement, word has gotten out, and the feedback has been incredibly positive,” Reichert added. “People are excited to see the store continue and grow. Many have expressed that it’s not just about the address – it’s about the people, the spirit, and the energy that make the Store what it is.”

Historic photo of the Three Tree Point Store, circa 1929.

History of the Store

Opened in 1903, the historic Three Tree Point Store at 16957 Maplewild Ave SW is considered Burien’s first grocery and a cornerstone of its beachside community. In its early days, the neighborhood was accessible only by foot, horse or boat – often via the Mosquito Fleet dock just to the west – or by hiking the historic region-wide Indian Trail, as Maplewild Ave SW was not developed until the 1920s.

Over its 120+‑year history, the store has served many purposes, including grocery, butcher shop with one of the area’s first electric meat slicers, lending library, dive shop, art gallery, and coffee counter, all while housing a residence in the back.

After purchasing the property in 2019, Manola carefully restored the building, repainting it, preserving its original scale, cash register, meat slicer, signage and history.

Reichert Starts GoFundMe

Store owner Reichert has started a GoFundMe page, hoping to raise $7,500 to help her pay for the relocation, where she wrote:

“After nearly a year of difficult and unexpected lease negotiations, I’ve made the heartbreaking—but ultimately necessary—decision to relocate the Three Tree Point Store. While I don’t know what the landlord plans to do with the space after I vacate, the repeated changes to my lease and the uncertainty around its future no longer make it financially sustainable to remain in my current location.”

She added, “It’s deeply emotional to leave behind the space that has meant so much to me, to my family, and to this community. But with your help, I’m hopeful for what comes next.”

What Will Take Over the Old Location?

Manola said a new tenant is already lined up for the historic space, though he wasn’t quite ready to reveal the details. He hinted that an exciting announcement is expected after Sept. 1, so stay tuned…