(Image: Tougo Coffee)

Tougo Coffee, a second home for many and a hotspot for community gatherings on Yesler Terrace, closed shop this summer after 17 years serving Seattle. Owner Berhanu “Brian” Wells plans to move to Japan next year to reunite with his son, Tougo.

“Tougo Coffee has been a fabric that has been woven together by the locals to Seattle, and global community,” Wells told CHS. “We are grateful to have served Seattle families and friends for 17 years. It’s been our absolute pleasure and honor that you allowed us to be your bodega.”

Wells recently launched a GoFundMe, and donations will help pay for legal, governmental and intermediaries hired to assist with the visa process, like the translation of documents and any challenges related to obtaining a visa.

“The ultimate goal here is for me to reunite with my son, Tougo, and I really need your help,” Wells said in the GoFundMe.

(Image: Tougo Coffee)

Eventually becoming one of the few Black owners in the Seattle coffee scene, Wells began his coffee career in Boston in the early 1990s. He moved to Seattle where he spent much of his time working within the service industry. As Tougo’s opening coincided with the growth of CHS and its coverage of its original 18th Ave location, some memorable — and very public — moments have taken place.

In 2009, Tougo patrons helped catch a burglar who robbed Gossamer Collective by chasing the suspect down. At the time, SPD said witnesses reported a sounding alarm in the boutique, and that someone was inside the store. The suspect, who was high on cocaine and wine and required hospitalization following the arrest, was seen leaving Gossamer through a broken window.

Tougo worked through financial and tax troubles, which led to a temporary closure in 2010. Wells worked to raise funds to pay back business taxes in order to renew his business license. Wells said there was confusion with the city about business taxes, and that he didn’t want to put this issue behind him because it was a motivator for him to work smarter and harder.

(Image: Tougo Coffee)

By 2014 Wells opened Bannister next door, a charcuterie-wine spot named after Edward Mitchell Bannister—one of the very few African American painters of the 1800s—that Wells admires. The closure of Bannister led Wells to revert all of his focus on Tougo Coffee. He would open a Westlake location before also closing that cafe.

In 2020, Wells closed the original Tougo to focus on its Yesler Terrace expansion.

Now, after 17 years serving Central Seattle, Wells is ready to move on from the city.

“Tougo Coffee ushered in some new ways and doors of specialty coffee in Seattle and globally,” Wells told CHS. “We are so very grateful to Seattle in particular for loving on us and believing in our ethos of brave inclusive space for all.”

“Migrating to Japan to be with family is important as life continues to life, and we should all choose to get on life’s train,” Wells said.

Learn more about how to support Wells here.

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