Published: August 20, 2024 | Read Time: 8.5 Minutes
Since its founding in 2004, Seabrook has entered its twentieth year having completed town updates and a $20 million expansion that showcases exciting growth! These enhancements, with many more underway, have propelled Seabrook to a tipping point in its journey as a new beach town.
There are five reasons why Seabrook has reached this inflection point that has Seabrookers abuzz with the energy and excitement of what’s already here and what’s just around the corner. Check out what is happening ‘behind the scenes’ on the Washington Coast as Seabrook’s evolution accelerates.
1. Retail District - New Merchants & Expanded Spaces
Seabrook’s expanding retail scene is a large part of reaching its current inflection point with 22 businesses in the thriving town center with new and expanded shops and restaurants. Several more shops and eateries will be on the way within the next five years that will double the size of the Town Center, bringing it to completion.
Fresh Foods Market - The 13,000-square-foot full-service market on Market Street with its selection of approximately 15,000 products has become an integral part of the North Beach community since opening in June of 2023. Shoppers enjoy a wide selection of meats, seafood, wine and liquor, fresh produce, gluten-free products, sundries, and much more available year-round.
Seabrook Goods & Apparel - Seabrook’s signature logowear store has a new location along with new and classic merchandise! Shoppers find favorites in goods, apparel, gifts, and accessories for all ages.
Blue | Juice & Salad Bar - Fresh, healthy food and drink options are met with a delicious selection at Blue. Their varied menu includes smoothies, salads, bowls, wraps, and sandwich melts.
The Seabrook Arcade - Front Street welcomed an 80s retro-style arcade that has adults and children alike flocking to play new and classic games all throughout the year. Popular games like PacMan and pinball bring on the nostalgia while newer games like dance games, pop-a-shot, or skee ball round out the gameplay to redeem those fun arcade prizes everyone knows and loves.
PONDR - The men’s clothing and accessories store showcases curated merchandise from local artisans and also from around the world. A unique selection of items that suit all occasions to accessories like belts, hats, bags, and more can be found at PONDR.
Mr. Walrus - Experience inspired living at Mr. Walrus, a high-end kitchen and bath shop with kitchen gadgets, hand-picked items, plants, unique decor, and more elevating the Seabrook shopping scene.
Basecamp Adventure & Bike Shop - Seabrook’s new adventure shop is bringing return and new outdoor activities to the Seabrook community, along with boards, beachwear, e-bike and bike rentals, and much more.
Lorraine’s Candle Studio - Custom candle-making has become a must-do activity for Seabrook fans. The inviting space located on Market Street is the perfect location to make a great take-home memory, purchase gifts, and enjoy small bites and drinks while crafting a candle blend.
The Stowaway Wine Bar Expansion - The wine bar’s new location with a one-of-a-kind ocean view is a 1,900-square-foot space with a stand-up bar, plenty of seating, small bites from charcuterie to flatbreads and an expansive wine list with more than 500 labels.
Vista Bakeshop Expansion - The fan-favorite bakeshop now has a walk-up order window along with expanded indoor and outdoor seating and new menu items, including must-have sandwiches, breads, and pastries.
Frontager’s Pizza Co. expands with Frontager’s Social - Frontager’s Social offers new menu items along with all of the pizza, pasta, appetizers and full drink menu to enjoy with expanded outdoor and indoor seating available.
A New Hospitality Lobby And Real Estate Office - The expanded hospitality lobby accompanied by the expanded Seabrook Real Estate Office has elevated every arrival that takes place in Seabrook since summer of 2021. Guests and visitors receive the best of an in-person hospitality experience with every stop into the lobby.
Upcoming Retail at Pacific Landing - Pacific Landing in Seabrook’s town center is currently under construction. Upon completion, Seabrook will welcome more than 5,500 square feet of additional retail in the form of an oceanfront restaurant and shops along Market Street.
2. New Oceanfront Living & A Gateway to Adventure in Fernwood
Urban Oceanfront Living at Pacific Landing - Condos, townhomes, and live-works have been released for Pacific Landing, taking Seabrook one step closer to the completion of the town center.
“What makes a town really shine is a vibrant town center with curated dining and shopping that cater to the customer experience,” says Casey Roloff, CEO and Town Co-Founder. “Pacific Landing will elevate life here in Seabrook providing a front row sea on the ocean, just steps away from town.”
The Gateway to Adventure in Fernwood, Seabrook’s New Neighborhood - Fernwood is where adventure begins with instantaneous access to the mountain biking and hiking trails, along with a neighborhood hub, Fernwood Station, Fernwood Square, and the expansive Meadowview Park.
“People are really prioritizing quality of life, having the connection to nature, to their neighbors, having places to go with their friends and family to create special traditions,” Casey says. “This is what Seabrook is all about and this new neighborhood really epitomizes that by having all this natural space around the community, but also access to our growing town center and these beautiful beaches.”
3. Partnering with Online Travel Agencies
In addition to an exceptionally strong direct-booking option, Seabrook Hospitality has taken measures that have widely increased its reach to regional markets, offering even more convenience for travelers near and far to discover and book a stay in Seabrook.
- Airbnb - Super Host Status
- VRBO - Premier Host Status
- Marriott Homes & Villas
- Booking.com
Seabrook vacation rental homes are currently bookable through:
4. Qualified Opportunity Zone
Since 2017, Seabrook has been in a Qualified Opportunity Zone when the Washington coast was designated as an “opportunity zone”. People can purchase a new home in Seabrook and put it into the vacation rentals program and receive tax benefits that would otherwise be unavailable.
How this works: in the 2017 Jobs Act, these zones were created to encourage additional investments. Buying through the opportunity zones allows buyers to sell stock, a home, or a business and take the capital gains that buyers would pay tax on and defer that tax for seven (7) years. And then, the investment that buyers are making in the opportunity zone is tax free after owning it for 10 years.
It’s getting quite a bit of buzz in the real estate community, and the fact that Seabrook has all the pieces in place to make it easy to buy in a qualified opportunity zone is really going to give us a good position as people look to take advantage of these programs.
But again, talk to a CPA, talk to an attorney, and get more details on opportunity zones before making a decision.
5. Adding New Experiences
Mountain Biking and Hiking Trail Expansions - Brand new and improved trails are constantly underway in Seabrook and on the Department of Natural Resources land that connects to the town. With miles of trail options, riders can find trails to match all skill levels.
Sunrise Pool & Fitness Center - The new 25-yard, 3-lane lap pool, 20-person hot tub, and sauna has become an unforgettable Seabrook highlight. This year-round amenity has made splashing around on the Washington coast a popular activity for guests and homeowners alike. The fitness center has doubled in size since its previous location with all of the must-have workout equipment available.
More Pickleball Courts - With three new pickleball court conversions in the Farm District, pickleball fans can find a home away from home on Seabrook’s courts. And during the summer, complimentary pickleball lessons are offered on Saturdays!
The Completion of Meadowview Park - Seabrook’s largest park located in Seabrook’s newest neighborhood, Fernwood, offers a serene location with a variety of activities. The park includes a large activity lawn, a meditation lawn, an overlook mound with a community fire pit, swings and a children’s slide. Seabrook’s 20th Anniversary celebration for Founders Day is set to take place in Meadowview Park!
New Event Hosting Spaces - In addition to the Seabrook Town Hall, Crescent Park, as well as other parks around town, new event spaces have been added with a corporate meeting room in the town center and new, seasonal tented venue in Barn Hill Park.
Concierge Services - Seabrook Hospitality proudly debuted concierge services for Seabrook guests and homeowners. From shuttle services to and from the Sea-Tac airport, to in-town shuttle services, delivery services, outdoor adventures, gift baskets, and more, concierge services has elevated each stay in Seabrook and brought modern conveniences to a new level.
Ice Skating & Roller Skating Rink - The outdoor skating rink has brought wintertime and summertime fun to Growler’s Alley! Check out skate rentals and skate the afternoon or evening away while enjoying the energy of the town center.
Anybody that thinks that those five (5) reasons are good reasons Seabrook is at an inflection point and have been thinking about purchasing a home here, take a look at the current inventory with several summer-ready homes: Seabrook Real Estate - All Listings
If you are interested in learning more about Seabrook and learning more about the purchasing opportunities, feel free to reach out to our sales team and they would love to help you.
Those are some of the reasons why we couldn’t be more excited about the direction Seabrook is going, all of these improvements are transforming the way people think about Seabrook.
A Recap of the “Five Barriers of Entry”
The “five barriers of entry” notions in Seabrook have set it apart as a destination for vacation homes and second homes.
1. The Spectacular Property
Seabrook has a unique and spectacular property on the Washington Coast. Most of the property on the Washington Coast is built on sand spits from Long Beach on up. Seabrook is really where the land changes and becomes a lot more rugged and beautiful up into Olympic National Park, it’s a site that can’t be replaced.
2. The Proximity to Seattle and the Greater Puget Sound Area
With the proximity to Seattle and the Greater Puget Sound, there was so much pent-up demand for a beach town that would compete with Cannon Beach that Seabrook decided to build in its location because it has over double the population and over five times the household wealth. Seabrook wouldn’t want to be anywhere else on the coast because Seattle is in its backyard and is the closest destination to the Pacific Ocean from there.
Most people that were going to Cannon Beach already changed their traditions and they’re now coming to Seabrook and that’s only going to grow over time.
3. A Strong, Growing Community
In Seabrook, there is a really strong sense of community, everyone looks out for each other. Roughly 10% of homeowners live in Seabrook full-time and people move to their Seabrook homes full-time to be a part of the community. It’s designed in a way where it’s easy to connect with your neighbors, people remember your name, and homeowners truly get to know one another.
4. The Art of Town Building
What brought Casey and his team to the Washington Coast is the art of town building. They have been studying the art of town building for the last 20+ years and are putting those efforts into practice. This isn’t an easy thing to duplicate, there are a lot of things that go into building a town from scratch and the Seabrook team has really become experts at that. It’s something that gives Seabrook a competitive advantage.
5. An On-Site Property Management Program
Finally, Seabrook has a really unique on-site property management program that takes care of all of the needs of a rental home. If there is any type of emergency there is maintenance and housekeeping on-site, along with security. Homeowners are able to connect with Seabrook staff in-person, adding a unique experience for a rental program.
Interested in learning more about purchasing Seabrook Real Estate? Please fill out the form here to get in touch with our team: Discover Seabrook Real Estate