Angelina's In West Seattle

Angelina’s in 140 characters words or less:
“Big food, big family, big fun!”

Skip and Allison Rich took ownership of Angelina’s in West Seattle’s Admiral District on September 1, 2009 with specific goals. “We wanted to keep the fantastic things that were there and update them for today,” Allison explains. Those fantastic things include comfort Italian food, members of the previous staff, a family friendly environment and a strong connection to the neighborhood.

Angelina’s is first and foremost a family place. Thanks to two young ones of their own, Skip and Allison put careful thought into including kid-friendly features, from chalkboards built into every booth, play dough available for entertainment, and a kids menu easily customizable for particular tastes or dairy and gluten allergies. Even the staff is a family affair with Allison’s father Ken often providing support staff while Skip makes cocktails or Allison serves tables in the restaurant.

Social media came into play even before the restaurant opened. During the two-month remodel Angelina’s started a Facebook fan page to create anticipation and invited the West Seattle Blog to document the transformation. The Facebook presence provides an interactive experience that supplements the basic information and menus posted on their website at www.angelinaswestseattle.com, whose name alone was given strategic thought. They considered AngelinasWS.com but chose the longer address over any abbreviation for clarity to people outside of the area.

When asked how often they update Facebook Allison instinctively replies, “Not enough!” although they maintain a frequent and unobtrusive presence to their fans posting three to four times a week. These updates explain daily specials like Kids Eat Free Mondays, Wii tournaments in the bar, all day Happy Hour on Sundays and an upcoming Super Bowl party. Both Allison and Skip maintain the social media accounts as opposed to delegating the position, allowing them to both share the responsibility and control the message.

Angelina’s involvement in social media is simply a reflection of their larger commitment to community interaction. Their walls were originally adorned with art from longtime customer Bob Elder and they have upcoming plans to showcase many other West Seattle artists. The bar is frequented by employees from neighboring businesses giving it a Cheers-like feeling where everyone knows your name and your favorite drink.

Angelina’s

2311 SW California Ave
Seattle, WA 98116
206-932-4550
manager@angelinaswestseattle.com
www.angelinaswestseattle.com
Facebook: Angelina’s in West Seattle