“Marta and Dan Kurtz opened Grumpy D’s in the spring of 2011. Their vision was a Ballard coffee house serving great coffee with — despite the shop’s name — excellent, friendly service. Grumpy D’s has become that and so much more. The Kurtz’s are staunch supporters of everything local. From the Ballard Boys & Girls Club to local musicians, with weekly open mic and weekend singer-songwriter showcases. They also offer space for local artists to display and sell their paintings, sculptures, photography, and other pieces of art work.

Arthur James, a regular reports of the tasty offerings, “They’ve got delicious locally sourced snacks for breakfast, lunch and dinner, with wine served in the evening. If you have a sweet tooth, they have Gelato here every day, all day.” Above all, they’ve created a sense of community in this Northeast pocket of Ballard. “You can step into Grumpy D’s one time and instantly be added to the family tree,” James adds, “and you will find you can’t wait to come back ‘home’ again.” -Seattle Magazine 2017