Several of Federal Way’s own are featured in Evening Magazine’s the Best of Western Washington contest.

The 17th annual competition takes nominations from around Western Washington, then asks voters to determine which businesses stand out the most. The contest is designed to highlight local businesses. It features businesses from 178 categories, including best wedding planner, hot dog, principal, dentist, pet supplies, music and place to watch people. Federal Way is well represented with 51 nominations.

Anyone may nominate a business, including the business owner, according to the rules. Voting is open through Oct. 11. Those who wish to vote may visit http://best.king5.com. Participants may also leave comments and reviews about the local services and people. Voters are only allowed to vote once in any specific category.

“By inviting people to the site to browse, vote and post comments, we are creating the premier destination for local content,” according to the Best of Western Washington contest rules.

The nomination is an honor for many of the businesses, including Poverty Bay Coffee Company, which was nominated in the coffee shop category. Poverty Bay, located at 1108 S. 322nd Place, was entered into the contest by an anonymous individual, owners Alice and Dan Olmstead said.

“I guess it’s an honor,” Dan said. “I don’t know how you could look at it any other way.”

Poverty Bay began as two coffee stands. Dan, at the age of 30, was single, ambitious and looking for a simple, yet profitable business.

In 1998, he decided to grow Poverty Bay Coffee. He and three other working partners, including wife Alice — who first met Dan when she was a customer at one of his coffee stands — opened a roastery.

“My partners and I got to the point, we wanted to take it to another level,” Dan said.

Coffee beans are roasted using a hot air roaster. This blows off the thin outside skin on the coffee bean before preparing it for consumption. The method gives Poverty Bay’s beans a consistent flavor, Alice said.

“We feel we have a cleaner, fresher tasting coffee,” she said.

Poverty Bay Coffee Company roasts organically shade-grown coffee beans. No pesticides or fertilizers are used. The method makes harvesting and producing large amounts of the product more difficult. But for Poverty Bay, which uses the beans in its walk-in store and drive-through in Milton, and also sells the beans wholesale, shade grown is the responsible choice. It’s good for the farmers and the environment.

“We have what we call relationship coffee,” Dan said. “It’s really important to us to have that direct relationship.”

The partners know the farmers that supply their coffee beans. The two farmers that grow Poverty Bay’s beans make their living off the beans and the trees, some of them fruit trees, that supply the shade, he said.

“We understand we’re supporting two ants on an elephant’s backside,” Dan said.

In 2002, the walk-in shop on South 322nd Place was opened. It offers coffee and food, including a special ingredient used in the Reuben sandwiches.

“We didn’t want to be the deli that has coffee,” Dan said. “We wanted to be the cute little coffee shop that has food.”

The shop offers a friendly face and sense of community as well. The regulars gather each morning at a table to chat. The city’s mayor and interim city manager meet there weekly.

“It’s fun to see that type of community togetherness in our business,” Dan said.

Poverty Bay is a business that started small and continues to grow. Hard work, research and a dedication to good food, coffee and customers make it unique.

“We hope a little bit of all of that is why somebody would pick us,” Dan said.

The list

Check out the Federal Way businesses that were nominated for the Evening Magazine Best of Western Washington contest:

• Photography: Amanda Howse Photography, (530) 412-0730; Beaux Arts Studio, Lorie Wood, (253) 838-2941; Nymar Imagery, Tanya I. Jose, (206) 304-2476

• Wedding planner: Bridezilla Events, (206) 372-7083

• Fun place for kids: Wild Waves, 36201 Enchanted Parkway S., (253) 661-8001; Kids Zone at Christian Faith Center, (253) 943-2400

• Body shop: Bob Bjorneby’s, 1750 S. 327th St., Bldg. A

• Auto repair: Eagle Tire and Automotive, 1515 S. 344th St.; Performance Prep, 34703 16th Ave. S.

• Dealership: Jet Chevrolet, 35700 Enchanted Parkway S.

• Barber: Gents Fine Grooming For Men, 1634 S.W. Dash Point Road

• Day spa: Aruba Tanning Company, (253) 815-8826

• Hair salon: Hair Lounge, 1626 S. 310th St. Suite A, (253) 941-3680

• Tattoo and Piercing: 7 Deuce, 29500 Pacific Highway S., Suite M, (253) 529-0881

• Pizza: Pizza Pizazz, 32925 1st Ave. S., (253) 661-6161

• Hot dog: Johnnie’s Dog House, 1715 S. 352nd St. Home Depot Kiosk, (253) 321-1738

• Children’s clothing: Heaven Sent, 1200 S. 324th St., (253) 952-2124

• Thai: Thai Bistro, 34817 Enchanted Parkway S., (253) 874-8800

• Asian Fusion: Pacific Island Grill, 2012 S. 320th St., (253) 529-8667

• Chinese: Peking Wok, 32921 1st Ave. S., (253) 874-9301

• Brunch: Black Bear Diner, 32065 Pacific Highway S., (253) 945-8332

• Mediterranean: Shish Kabab Mediterranean Grill, 34024 Hoyt Road S.W., (253) 835-3444

• Italian: Vince’s Italian, 32411 Pacific Highway S.; La Casa Bella, 31254 Pacific Highway S.

• Coffee Shop: Poverty Bay, located at 1108 S. 322nd Place; Jump Start Espresso, 29005 Military Road S.

• Martial Arts: Master Shon’s Tae Kwon Do, 2136 S.W. 336th St., (253) 838-5660

• Yoga Studio: Three Trees Yoga, 204 S. 348th St., (253) 815-9642

• Sports Bar: Scoreboard Sports Bar and Grill, 1200 S. 324th St., (253) 839-4791

• Teacher: Nick Birklid

• Principal: Damon Hunter, Saghalie Middle School; Tom Leacy, Decatur High School

• Bartender: Melissa Foster

• Cheerleader squad: The Federal Way Hawk Cheerleaders

• Doctor: Estelle Yamaki, MD, St. Francis Hospital

• Hottest firefighter: Barry Hassell, South King Fire and Rescue

• Dentist: Dr. Brian K. Filbert, 33507 9th Ave. S., (253) 838-5474; Mark Nordlie, DDS, 32020 1st Ave. S. Suite 117, (206) 838-6314; Dr. John Hodges DDS, Joseph Ardizzone DDS, 30317 16th Ave. S., (253) 839-7270

• Doggie Day Care: Biscuits, 34016 9th Ave. S. #D-9, (253) 529-7870

• Pet Supplies: Simply Paws, 35419B 21st Ave. S.W., (253) 839-7297; The Pet Market at Dash Point, 4618 S.W. 320th St., (253) 661-9100

• Pet Grooming: Golden Shears Pet Salon, 1500 S. 336th St. Suite 4, (253) 927-7784

• Pet Sitting: Janice’s Critter Care, (253) 874-2143

• Beer Store: 99 Bottles, 35002 Pacific Highway S., (253) 838-2558

• DJ: Integritas Group Events with Integrity, 1600 S.W. Dash Point Road, (425) 577-0278

• Flowers: Timeless Garden, (253) 838-1069

• Music: Sonic Funk Orchestra, (253) 686-6263

• Venue: Twin Lakes Golf and Country Club, 3583 S.W. 320th St., (253) 927-4440

• Place to People Watch: Federal Way Farmers Market, 1928 S. Commons