On a stretch of Seattle’s newly reimagined waterfront, where ferries glide in and out of Elliott Bay and foot traffic ebbs between Pike Place Market and the piers, a familiar Ballard brewery is preparing to plant new roots.
Urban Family Brewing, long known for its boundary-pushing fruited sours and hazy IPAs, is expanding beyond its industrial neighborhood origins with a second location set to open in early 2026 at 1022 Alaskan Way. But this isn’t just another taproom. It’s a deliberate evolution of what the brewery can be.
The new Urban Family Waterfront is envisioned less as a brewery outpost and more as a full-spectrum gathering place, one that mirrors the changing energy of downtown Seattle itself. In recent years, the waterfront has shifted from a tourist corridor into a more local, year-round destination, with breweries helping lead the charge.
Inside, the scale alone signals something different. The space will span roughly 8,500 square feet, including a 4,000-square-foot interior and a sprawling 4,500-square-foot patio designed for soaking in bay views, whether under summer sun or a gray, misty sky.
But the biggest shift might be what’s on the menu.
Yes, the beers remain, those vibrant, fruit-forward pours that built Urban Family’s reputation, but they’ll now sit alongside craft cocktails, local wines, coffee, and a full kitchen. The food program, led by seasoned local restaurateurs Chris and Sandra Curtiss, leans into comfort and shareability. Expect Grandma-style square pizzas with caramelized cheese edges, stacked focaccia sandwiches, fresh salads, and soft serve for dessert.
It’s a notable departure from the Ballard brewery’s food truck model and a signal of how Urban Family is rethinking the taproom experience.
Owner Andy Gundel describes the waterfront project as a long search for the right next step. The goal is a space that meets people where they are. Tourists discovering the city, locals heading to a game, commuters killing time before a ferry, or families looking for somewhere relaxed to gather all have a place here.
That inclusivity extends to the atmosphere itself. The design emphasizes openness and connection, with large glass walls and expansive patios blurring the line between indoors and out, echoing both Ballard’s industrial roots and the working waterfront beyond.
In many ways, Urban Family Waterfront feels like a reflection of Seattle’s broader beer culture, one that has always been as much about community as it is about what’s in the glass. Taprooms here double as neighborhood living rooms, places where families, dogs, and die-hard beer fans coexist.
Come 2026, Urban Family will bring that ethos to the edge of Elliott Bay, just with a little more space, a broader menu, and a front-row seat to one of the city’s most dynamic transformations.
Follow the progress @urbanfamilywaterfront
