Glowies, a bakery in Olympia on 4th Avenue, opened their doors to the public in March 2026. Co-owned and run by Lexie Castaneto and Tiernan Gillan, the shop focuses on serving house-made egg sandwiches and specialty lattes with flavors that aren’t commonly found in other shops around the area, bringing a playful energy to the breakfast scene. The store caters to customers who need a fast breakfast before the day begins and those who want to have a more drawn-out visit to the store.
“Our vision was to create a place that feels comforting and exciting at the same time,” shares Lexie. “Somewhere you can grab a quick coffee on the way to work, or slow down and enjoy a really good sandwich and conversation.”
Lexie and Tiernan have always worked in food service, Lexie having served in a number of different restaurants and Tiernan spending years in coffee. Glowies emerged from their combined passion for the industry. They decided to place a specific emphasis on breakfast and brunch due to the importance it has in people’s morning routine and their desire to contribute fun and creative options that can jumpstart someone’s day.
Creating a Welcoming Downtown Olympia Cafe Experience
The name of the store was inspired by a couple different factors. “Glowies is actually a term related to diesel engines,” Lexie explains. “Glow plugs help start the engine. Both of us own Japanese imported vans and the name came from that world. We liked the idea because it connected to starting the day, warmth, and energy, which all felt fitting for a coffee and breakfast shop.”
The endless hours they spent cleaning, organizing, and revamping the space to open have helped develop the atmosphere they want customers to walk into – one where people feel seen and appreciated, whether that’s through remembering their order and name or simply providing a friendly interaction people can recall later on. When imagining the store, they wanted to present a spot that felt homey and comfortable as opposed to excessively polished and intimidating.
Glowies in Olympia also offers many interesting flavor combinations that aren’t commonly found in other stores. Their SPEC sandwich is one of the most popular and distinctive items they feature and their drinks include unexpected options like the cereal milk latte and the banana pandan latte. “A lot of the menu comes from combining comfort food with things we personally crave or grew up loving,” Lexie says. “I’m Chamorro and grew up eating a lot of Spam and rice, so it’s deeply tied to comfort and familiarity for me. It’s definitely an ode to my culture, my dad, and the kinds of foods I grew up with.”
In creating the menu, their goal was to retain personal significance while making it fun and memorable for customers too.
Inside the Kitchen Powering Glowies
Lexie and Tiernan try to be thoughtful about their sourcing since, as a small business, it’s important that they use ingredients and produce of value to them. But, as new owners juggling growing popularity and a menu that has been consistently selling out, they admit they’re still learning when it comes to sustainability. Decisions for the shop are based on being realistic so they can maintain consistency in the freshness of their goods and the intention behind them.
All of their products are made in-house, including the coffee syrups, pastries and brioche buns (regular and vegan) used in their sandwiches. With a relatively small kitchen, it’s been difficult making everything run smoothly, but all the consistent hard work and movement has been greatly fulfilling for Lexie and Tiernan.
Despite only having been open for a few months now, they hope to be a continuous spot people visit in coming years. “One of the most exciting things so far has been seeing how many different types of people and age groups connect with the shop,” Lexie says. “It feels holistic in a way that’s really meaningful to us, like it’s something everyone can be a part of.”
There’s a huge learning curve that comes with running a business. “I think one of the biggest things I’ve learned is how different Tiernan and I are in the way we do things, while still sharing the same goals and vision when it comes to Glowies,” Lexie says. “I move a little faster and he moves a little slower, and I think we’ve both learned to really appreciate that about each other. I push Tiernan, and he grounds me.”
Moving forward, Glowies aims to up their community involvement through collaborating with other businesses downtown, some of which are already in the works, and getting to know their neighbors further. They’re excited to enrich the strong community feel that Olympia is already known for by providing a vibrant atmosphere people can kick off the day with.
Check out Glowies in the heart of downtown Olympia next time you are craving something different or want to just relax while enjoying a meal.
Glowies
113 4th Ave W, Olympia
