By Dr. Wtpho:

The coffee @ Empire Espresso is good and strong. It’s a smaller coffee shop that seems to always be buzzin’ and busy. The owners Ian and Tino are friendly and personable. The name “Empire” is from “Empire Way” which was the original name of Martin Luther King Way (in the 80?s). Martin Luther King, Jr. Way runs along South Seattle, one of the more diverse areas of Seattle. Read more.

Top: Bus accident on the old Empire Way, 1933 (Now Martin Luther King, Jr. Way). Photo/Seattle Municipal Archives (South-End Scenes Flickr Group). Bottom: Empire Espresso is located at 3823 S. Edmunds St. in Columbia City. Photo/do communications