From a couple's shop to a place for everyone.

SPROUT was founded on the ideal of Seattle's café communities. How did it evolve after opening?

"As the sign says, 'OUTDOOR ESPRESSO,' my wife and I initially opened SPROUT with the idea of creating a café for outdoor lovers. But as our staff grew, we had people working with us who had no interest in the outdoors at all. That's when I realized, why force them into our mold?"

He noticed that each staff member had their own community. For instance, on days when a staff member with a deep knowledge of music was working, music lovers would gather. When a snowboard enthusiast was on duty, their snowboarding friends would come by, creating a different community each day.

And after Mr. Touge had children, the café also became a bustling spot for local mothers and families.

"I truly feel that what started as a shop for just the two of us has gradually become a shop for everyone. They've shown me so many worlds I had never encountered before."

While he watched with amusement as SPROUT evolved, blending Seattle's café culture with a unique Niseko flavor, Mr. Touge also felt that there were few places where these unique individuals could fully express their talents.

Around that time, an adjacent building connected to the current SPROUT had to be demolished due to its age. Since Mr. Touge also owned that building, he began to wonder, "Could I do something with this space?"

"One-off events or markets are easy to do, but I thought if I could create a place for continuous expression, we could do something much more interesting."

The building to the right of SPROUT was torn down after a beam broke under the weight of snow, leaving an empty lot. The air was ripe with the promise of something new.