With a thriving downtown core, easy access to Seattle and Sea-Tac
Airport, miles of Puget Sound waterfront, and lively events and
entertainment, Burien is one of the Puget Sound’s hottest up-and-coming
communities.
“If cities had coming-of-age parties, this would be Burien's.” – Marc Stiles, Puget Sound Business Journal
Burien’s walkable downtown is noted for its authentic
‘main street’ feel, with boutique retail and a foodie paradise of
diverse restaurants serving a large segment of the population in South
King County and West Seattle. The affordable real estate options,
creative spirit, and entrepreneurial energy has created a downtown with
what Sunset Magazine calls a ‘decidedly Brooklyn bent’.
Main Street Appeal
With
the third highest Walk Score in Washington state, thriving independent
businesses, and a mid-century modern aesthetic, Burien’s downtown exudes
a main-street charm that has turned visitors into residents, and
business owners into “Burien believers.” The community has made major
investments in the downtown as it evolves into multi-modal urban core,
including: wider sidewalks, multimodal amenities, and the recently
completed $193 million Burien Town Square development.
Creativity and Creators
Community
events fill the calendar with live theater productions at the Burien
Actors Theatre, musical performances by The Northwest Symphony
Orchestra, weekly Farmers Markets, art exhibitions, and seasonal
festivals generating year-round activity and excitement. Arts-A-Glow,
Día de los Muertos, and the longest running Independence Day parade in
the region (since 1921!) showcase the creative energy and can-do spirit
that run deep in the community. Keep an eye out for new masterpieces
from internationally acclaimed artists in Burien’s Art Alley, exciting
new restaurant concepts opening monthly, monthly art walks and pop up
art galleries, and innovative events like SeaCompression born out of
this relentlessly imaginative community of creators.
Natural Beauty
The crown jewel of Puget Sound’s urban area beaches, Seahurst Park offers
182 acres of spectacular beauty, nearly a mile of saltwater beaches,
and recreational facilities for families and friends to gather. Bring
your camera to snap photos of eagles, herons, seals, whales, and sunsets
over the Olympic Mountains. Take a moonlight beach walk with the Environmental Science Center
and explore marine life in a whole new light. Or hike up in the miles
of park trails and experience the thick canopy of trees that Burien’s
neighborhoods enjoy.
Neighborly Spirit
Burien
is a welcoming and friendly community, loyal and supportive of its
local businesses and organizations, humble yet proud, and boasting an
authentic small-town feel that supports neighbor-to-neighbor
connections. Businesses support each other, regardless of their
competitive nature. The community connection makes it easier for
entrepreneurs to achieve their ambition. You can create, build, and be something in Burien.
Foodie (& Startup) Paradise
Burien’s
affordable real estate allows businesses to get more space for their
dollar, while still getting all the benefits of a location that is a
regional hub location with a walkable urban core. This rare opportunity
has created a fertile ground for entrepreneurs and locals starting up
their first business. It has also been noticed by Seattle businesses
relocating to Burien who wanted to increase their footprint or
experiment with fresh ideas and concepts. The mix of new entrepreneurs
and established businesses has created a collaborative environment and a
burgeoning “foodie paradise.” In the last two years, 13 diverse and
exciting restaurants opened, representing a long term investment in
Burien’s small town charm and big city opportunity.
