Fircrest
Fircrest is a distinct neighborhood. It’s a friendly, walkable community with its own traditions, and its own business district where neighbors can sit for coffee, meet for lunch, get a haircut, stop for some loose leaf tea blends, browse the jewelry shop, and even pick-up tasty treats for pets. If you’re the homebody type, with a coffee shop, cafe, and salon all right here in downtown Fircrest you might find yourself sticking pretty close to home.
Community & Festivals: Fircrest, named Regents Park back in 1909, is situated between Tacoma and University Place. This little city within a city calls itself “The Jewel of Pierce County” and its curving streets, and parks, as well as the beautiful Fircrest Golf Club, help it live up to the name. At the center of town you’ll find 10 acre Fircrest Park with its brand new pool and community center where residents celebrate events and gatherings throughout the year, with a special focus on National Night Out in the summertime. From annual strawberry shortcake feeds, to fireworks, to Fircrest Fun Days, this place is all about community. An ice cream truck tours the streets in the summer, there’s an annual tree-lighting ceremony, and Santa even comes through town every year. Speaking of holidays, Halloween is full of fun and community spirit with so many trick-or-treaters some folks set up a table near the sidewalk for passing out candy so they don’t wear out the front door.
Downtown Fircrest: Residents meet for meals at Spring Lake Cafe, pick up sandwiches at Espresso Yourself, or sit out on the cafe patio with a latte and fair scone. Pick-up pet food and treats with personable staff at Chopper’s, get a watch repaired, a ring cleaned, or find an engagement ring at Fircrest Jewelers, and be sure to stop at Brown’s Flowers where you’ll also find Mimi’s Teas for a comforting brew and friendly faces.
On Mildred: Another cluster of small businesses stands on Mildred St W. Paper Luxe & The Curious Bear Toy & Book Shop are excellent places to find a birthday gift. Fill a growler, enjoy a pint, or pick up some bottles to go at Pint Defiance next door, or visit nearby restaurants for Thai or Japanese cuisine.
Getting Around: If you’re all for a small town feeling at home, but like a bit more bustle in your night-life, downtown dining—at restaurants like Wooden City, Indochine, and en Rama—is only about 15 minutes away. That’s to say, Fircrest is a place all its own, with its own pace, unique businesses, and quiet streets, but “the city” is within easy reach and highway access is close and convenient.
What else? The waterfront is under 10 minutes away by car. We don’t mean the Ruston Way waterfront; nope. This side of the city has a waterfront all its own with views of the Narrows Bridges, its own brewery, waterfront dining, and the best views of the sunset in the whole city.
Order a turkey-cranberry sandwich, a latte, cup of chai, or a fair scone at Espresso Yourself, then sit in the little cafe, or out on the patio when the weather’s good.
Become a member (or just play with one when you get the chance!) at Fircrest Golf Club.
Fircrest has its own little downtown, a business district with cafes, a swim shop, tea shop, pet store, and more. It’s hard to say goodbye to longtime staple Viafore’s Italian Delicatessen, but the family retired in the summer of 2020.
PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Tacoma Public Schools offers open enrollment based on availability and transportation. Some local neighborhood schools are:
HOUSING
Housing styles in Fircrest span the 20th Century—including Craftsman, mid-century modern, cottage style, and minimal traditional homes—and extend into new builds in a few areas of development. Apartment complexes and townhome styles rentals offer options for making Fircrest home.
