PNW Event Recap: Seattle Restored: Designing for Community Connection

On September 26, the PNW Retail Design Institute gathered at Inside, a thriving small business born out of the Seattle Restored program, for an evening that celebrated creativity, community, and urban revitalization. Attendees explored how local talent is transforming downtown Seattle, one storefront at a time.

Mia Stephenson, Program Manager of Seattle Restored, and Sierra Jones, founder of Inside, took center stage to share their experiences and insights. Mia explained how the initiative activates vacant storefronts by giving artists and entrepreneurs the opportunity to test ideas and build community-facing businesses. Sierra offered a firsthand account of growing her brand through the program, showing the power of design and commerce in shaping the future of Seattle.

Guests engaged with the speakers, asked thoughtful questions, and mingled over drinks and light bites in a space that perfectly embodied the mission of Seattle Restored. The atmosphere buzzed with connection, inspiration, and excitement for what’s next.

We’re thrilled with the turnout and energy at this event and extend our sincere thanks to everyone who joined us. Together, we continue to uplift local creativity, fuel economic growth, and reimagine our city’s shared spaces.

We look forward to building on this momentum and supporting even more community-driven design in the future.