Black Owned: Lizzie Lou's
Lizzie Lou’s Comfort Food or Lizzie Lou’s Too is a business owned and operated by a black woman. We first learned about the owner Warnessa and her business through our store manager Daz. Daz is someone who does his best to stay closely connected to the black community in the T and does so by utilizing not only his own network but those around him and his mother’s network is often at the top of the list.
Lizzie Lou makes several specialty items, but she does one in particular that sent Daz sprinting to the office to preach the gospel of Lizzie Lou and her “Soul Rolls”. He would not stop talking about them but he also could never get his hands on them in a way that he could show us exactly what all the excitement was all about. So we dismissed him and Lizzie Lou because there was a ton of talk but no proof.
The proof came almost a full year later while I was running our first collaborative pop-up location inside the Tacoma Art Museum. Not only did we get a chance to try her (actually infamous) “Soul Rolls” but we were also able to see the creative that Warnessa is behind or in front of the burners. We have learned that it isn’t so much about making the same things all the time, no matter how good they are, for the Lizzie owner it is about the creative opportunities that come from having a refrigerator full of ingredients and pairing them well to make something new or alternative and exciting.
As if everything about this business isn’t already unique enough the location is such a juxtaposition. Lizzie Lou’s is located inside of the Tacoma Harley Davidson brick and mortar. Originally she was out front, in the parking lot, with Tacoma’s version of a food truck which is actually more of a food-stand because owners are not allowed to move it around with free will. Permission and tons of permitting is required. By the time we fell for her skillset she had been inside the Harley Davidson for a bit and become a staple to those in the know.
She does a ton of things well but her favorite thing to do is make you something “off-menu” by just telling her what you’re craving in the moment. But there are a few easy-to-get menu items we recommend:
Lizzie Lou lemonades - they are all incredibly incredible but my personal favorite is the Pineapple
Burgers - she has a special touch when it comes to this - it’s not so much the protein as it is the way she dresses up the flavors and pairs them with the protein.
Any scramble, all the scrambles, tell her what flavors you enjoy and take the first bite with your eyes closed. Its like a rollercoaster drop except your stomach loves it.
Address: 2303 Pacific Hwy E Fife, WA 98424
Hours: Mon-Tue CLOSED; Wed-Sat 9:30AM-4PM; SUN 10AM-2PM
