Our Story

Alison & Ryan took over the Lockspot Cafe in September of 2021. Hand selected by previous owner, Pam Hanson, to carry on the legacy and historical greatness that has existed here at the Lockspot for OVER 100 YEARS! Their focus when taking over the Lockspot has been to improve the quality of food that is being produced here as well as creating a space that families and bar flies alike all feel comfortable in. Really changing the atmosphere from a "tourist place" to the community living room and a place you want to bring your family for dinner on a weekly basis. They have been a part of the Ballard community for over 20 years and take their commitment to its legacy seriously.

Ryan hails from Tacoma, WA and as a military brat has traveled the country living in multiple different regions throughout his life, absorbing all there is to know about food along the way. His entrepreneur roots started in Tacoma with his grandfather Willie T. Little. Willie was one of the first black restaurant owners in Tacoma and owned a variety of different joints that Ryan was raised in. Ryan's father, Edward "Butch" Faniel, was a lead butcher for native NW chain, Costco. Butch gave Ryan his passion for all things protein, smoking his own meats, perfecting fried chicken, marinades and so much more. Ryan took his passion for food even further and got a degree in Restaurant Managment in 2008 from Western Culinary Insitute in Portland. Engaging in his military roots Ryan spent quite a few years working in the kitchens on base at Fort Lewis, ensuring our military member were well fed!

Alison's roots are in Eastern Washington where she was born and raised. Her passion for baking and cooking started with her grandmothers, Joan Soike and Marilla Petersen. Both were passionate about the art of home cooking and baking. With their help and those of her own mother, Alison entered all sorts of baked creations and hand sewn clothing into the county fair through Girl Scouts and 4H when she was in elementary and middle school. She moved to Seattle in 1999 for college and has made Ballard her home ever since. She was a director at the Ballard Boys & Girls Club for almost 12 years before venturing out on her own to open Alison's Coastal Cafe & Bakery. She has always loved cooking and creating amazing desserts for her family and friends, almost always catering her own birthday parties!

Alison & Ryan met in 2017 and it was an explosion of taste buds and creativity from jump. They created a mobile food/festival business in 2018, slinging hand fried chicken in waffle cones that they call 'Show Me Your Cones'. After the festival circuit took a pause due to COVID, they shifted their focus to mobile food delivery with their dog/burger cart 'Show Me Your Buns'. These ventures gave them the drive and the jumping off point to keep looking for more ways to share their gifts with this area. A good friend led them to the Lockspot sale and the rest is history.