The Lake City Pub
Owner Lauren Lively shares how she built a unique community space in Lakewood.
Hi, I'm Lauren Lively, owner of Lake City Pub — a neighborhood bar and live music venue located in Lakewood, Washington.
From the start, my goal was to fill a gap I saw in our community: a place that could be beautiful, serve good food, and feel genuinely comfortable — all brought together by the power of live music.
Turning Limitations into Opportunity in Lakewood
When I took over the space, I was working with an older building. No fryer. None of the conventional equipment a big commercial kitchen would typically have. For a lot of people, that would have been a dealbreaker.
But instead of seeing those limitations as a block, I saw them as an opportunity to do something different — something that fit the character of Lakewood and what our community was actually missing.
Building Something Beautiful for the Lakewood Community
What came out of those constraints was a concept rooted in atmosphere and experience. Good food, a comfortable space, and live music at the center of it all.
Open mic night is hosted by my father — my bandmate and my best friend. Live music really is everything. It brings people in, it makes people happy, and it gives our community a place to gather and feel at home.
A City That Shows Up for Small Business Owners
My overall experience with the City of Lakewood has been wonderful. Every time I went in, there was a real person there to meet with me face-to-face.
I was able to sit down, have a genuine one-on-one conversation, and really put my heart on the table — share my mission and what it meant to me to make this place beautiful again. That kind of personal, accessible support makes a real difference when you're a small business owner trying to bring a vision to life.
Why Lakewood Works for Independent Business Owners
Lakewood offers something that's hard to find: a community with real needs waiting to be met, and a city government that works with you — not around you — to help make it happen.
For entrepreneurs willing to think creatively and invest in their community, Lakewood is a place where you can build something meaningful.
For me, it hasn't just been a place to open a business — it's been a place to defy the odds, serve my neighbors, and build my better.
From the start, my goal was to fill a gap I saw in our community: a place that could be beautiful, serve good food, and feel genuinely comfortable — all brought together by the power of live music.
Turning Limitations into Opportunity in Lakewood
When I took over the space, I was working with an older building. No fryer. None of the conventional equipment a big commercial kitchen would typically have. For a lot of people, that would have been a dealbreaker.
But instead of seeing those limitations as a block, I saw them as an opportunity to do something different — something that fit the character of Lakewood and what our community was actually missing.
Building Something Beautiful for the Lakewood Community
What came out of those constraints was a concept rooted in atmosphere and experience. Good food, a comfortable space, and live music at the center of it all.
Open mic night is hosted by my father — my bandmate and my best friend. Live music really is everything. It brings people in, it makes people happy, and it gives our community a place to gather and feel at home.
A City That Shows Up for Small Business Owners
My overall experience with the City of Lakewood has been wonderful. Every time I went in, there was a real person there to meet with me face-to-face.
I was able to sit down, have a genuine one-on-one conversation, and really put my heart on the table — share my mission and what it meant to me to make this place beautiful again. That kind of personal, accessible support makes a real difference when you're a small business owner trying to bring a vision to life.
Why Lakewood Works for Independent Business Owners
Lakewood offers something that's hard to find: a community with real needs waiting to be met, and a city government that works with you — not around you — to help make it happen.
For entrepreneurs willing to think creatively and invest in their community, Lakewood is a place where you can build something meaningful.
For me, it hasn't just been a place to open a business — it's been a place to defy the odds, serve my neighbors, and build my better.
