When customers walk through the door at Asensio Coffee, they not only are struck by the aroma of certified organic coffee but by the striking, colorful paintings on the walls.
“People always comment on the art and love it,” said owner Jeff Aasen.
Aasen and his cousin, Amy Siltanen, opened their coffee shop at 33610 21st Ave. SW in Federal Way on Aug. 1, 2013.
“We wanted a community place and our mission was to become fully organic,” Aasen said. “We wanted a great coffee and to be part of the community. This location became available by the grace of God.”
About a year ago, Trudy Hart-Jerdal, a painter, offered to put up some of her work on the walls of the shop. Emily Danae Westfall, then an employee at Asensio, soon followed putting up her own work. Following those two, three additional artists submitted work: William Yates, Casey King and Joe Pelanconi.
“People enjoy the art,” Aasen said. “The response we have heard is customers say it’s cool that we allow artists to feature their art.”
Aasen said several paintings have been sold over the past year. One artist to sell a painting is Yates, 55, who started patronizing Asensio about a year ago after moving to Federal Way from Las Vegas.
Three years ago, Yates, a retired electronics technician and U.S. Navy veteran, decided to try out an art party in Las Vegas, where he and others learned how to emulate an artist’s original work. Before this, Yates always denied he had artistic ability.
“I feel lucky to have discovered this (artistic ability),” Yates said. “This has given me an outlet and gives me joy.”
Over the past several years, Yates said he has produced more than 100 paintings. Yates’s preferred medium is what he likes to call semi-abstract art and also modern-post-impressionism.
“I’m a big fan of the large brush strokes of (Vincent) van Gogh,” Yates said. “I like to paint from my brain and from my heart. I believe in creativity, of coming up with my own idea over artistic style or realism.”
When Yates moved to Federal Way and started going to Asensio, the artist instantly gravitated to the shop’s warm, friendly atmosphere. Yates said he thought it would be a nice place to put up his art. So, he asked Aasen and got the OK.
Yates said the opportunity to display his art at Asensio has validated him as an artist.
“It provides an opportunity to receive feedback,” Yates said.
Aasen and his cousin are quickly working on a website and building their coffee shop’s social media presence. Once the website goes live, Aasen said it’s likely the art on display at the shop will also be on display on the website.
In addition to the visual art, Aasen and Siltanen are also bringing back monthly open mic nights. The next open mic night is at 7 p.m. on Friday, Sept. 25. All family-friendly artistic expression is welcome from singer-songwriter performance to poetry reading to spoken word.
Asensio Coffee serves certified organic Poverty Bay Coffee and also certified organic teas. There are also certified organic syrup options, espresso and non-espresso blended drinks and smoothies.
Aasen and Siltanen both worked in the restaurant division at Nordstrom in the 1980s and introduced and managed the coffee espresso bar at the Northgate location.
“Nordstrom really instilled in us that philosophy of providing really good customer service and being genuine,” Aasen said.
Asensio is open from 6 a.m. to 9 p.m., Monday through Friday; 7 a.m. to 9 p.m., Saturday; and 8 a.m. to 7 p.m., Sunday. Aasen and Siltanen may be reached at 253-517-9904. Asensio can be found on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.
Patrons at Asensio Coffee in Federal Way can sit and relax in a comfy chair, while enjoying certified organic coffee and looking on at sophisticated paintings on display.
