F/T SUMMER FOOD RUNNER $35/hr+ w/ FREE MEALS, (Health Ins, 401(k))

Lowell's in Pike Market is hiring for the Front of House: - FOOD RUNNER

The biggest requirement of this job is to be a pleasant and unique individual who likes interacting with people (and is also physically fit enough to spend 8 hours moving/on your feet)!

We are looking for someone to work through AT LEAST Labor Day Weekend, and through September if available. Then, if an opportunity arises, a full time permanent position may be offered, or at the next opportunity. The permanent position comes with health insurance and 401(k) benefits.

We are closed evenings, so this is as close to a "normal" job as you can get working in a restaurant!

I usually hire pretty quickly, so if you responded to a previous ad and didn't hear back, there's simply a chance I didn't see it! Also, my main reason for hiring this time is that a long time employee fell off his bike and broke his arm. He's fine, but can't lift more than a coffee cup for the rest of the summer! Feel free to either submit again, or tell me your name in your response and that you applied before and I'll look again. That way if you typed out a nice letter but no longer have a copy, I can find it!

While this position would suit someone looking for a temporary position, anyone hoping for a permanent position would be offered the first opportunity if it should arise.

Availability through Labor Day Weekend is essential.

Us:

Breakfast and lunch open at 8, closed (currently) by 5pm

Full table service and bar on 2nd floor

Fast casual style counter service on 1st and 3rd floor

Only 2 Owners since being founded in 1957

Close FAMILY team - yeah, I know, everywhere says this, but when some of us have worked side by side for over 20 years it shows, and we welcome new employees into that dynamic. 11 employees with 10+ years, on a team of about 50 including FOH and BOH.

3 floors of restaurant all with panoramic views of Elliot Bay and Olympic Mountains

Fresh fish and produce sourced daily from Pike Market

“Respect, communication, honesty” – the cornerstone of everything we do

Tiny management team of 3 that busses tables, cooks, and sweats like everybody else (including the signatory on paychecks) - that's Ops/FOH/BOH - for great day to day cohesion.

Great employee retention, the longest employed top ten employees (including all 3 managers) have 183 years experience on the floor and in the kitchen at this restaurant. That doesn't include the owner's 44 years at the helm.

The Job:

Long periods of standing/walking

Good attention to detail

The ability to work hard with a sunny disposition

Cashier/Barista: lots of talking/providing direction to welcome guests

Food runner: carrying trays of food up flights of stairs

We offer 100% coverage health insurance (to permanent employees at 32 hours per week) and 401(k) (no minimum hour requirement)

We provide complimentary meals daily to all staff

Being primarily a breakfast and lunch restaurant, we close (with seasonal variation) in the early evening - lead a normal life with evenings to yourself!

Closed on Easter, Thanksgiving, Christmas Day, New Year's Day

You:

Restaurant experience not entirely necessary, but useful, entry level positions

Hard working

Willing to put in the effort on the front end to make things flow better

Organized

Good at following direction but also a creative thinker for welcome solutions

Polite, friendly, and engaging

Take COVID seriously and are vaccinated

Make sure to supplement your resume with a GOOD COVER LETTER that shows off your personality! Personality is the most important factor! If there's no cover letter, I won't consider your application! I'd like to clarify what a cover letter looks like to me. Some business want you to state your employment history and why you'd be good for the job. That's fine, but what I'm looking for is who you are as a person. What are your hobbies, what are your ambitions, where did you grow up, why did you move to Seattle, what are your favorite movies or bands, etc.? - anything you think is interesting! The one thing I already know about you because you applied is that you are looking for a job and you'd like to work at Lowell's!

P.S.

People respond to this ad telling me I'm lying about the money in the title, I'm happy they have enough free time to sit and scroll through Craigslist ads for which they don't intend to apply. For people wanting to take this opportunity seriously, it's here waiting!

Income in permanent job title ($76K) is based on real W2s from 2024, and then adjusted for 2025 wage increases. Given the seasonal nature of business in Pike Market, allow for an average of total dollars for a calendar year, rather than an exact hourly rate. One full time employee filed $70200, averaging 34 hours per week, coming in at $43 per hour after 2025 wage increase. In reality they had a few weeks off vacation, so the weekly hours is probably closer to 36-37. Another employee worked an average of 31 hours per week and filed $63700. This position will be closer to 35/36 hours per week

Other roles exist which employees can access (with proven ability, loyalty, availability, and to some degree seniority) that have capacity for higher income as well. We rarely advertise these positions due to our internal structure. 80% of our servers and hosts, and 50% of our bartenders started as either a runner or a cashier.

I always tell people, if you don't want to work in a restaurant, I can't help you with that. If you want to work in a restaurant - there is no better job. Come and find out for yourself!