As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to decimate businesses, arts and cultural organizations across the state, every once in a while there comes a silver lining. That was the case this fall when a business in Burien, Wash., forced to close its doors this past spring, ushered in an opportunity for Seattle’s Italian American community.

A large property occupied by the London House Salon & Spa at 13000 1^st Avenue South in Burien was purchased October 3, 2020, by a newly formed nonprofit entity called Casa Italiana – Italian Cultural Center. The location will house a permanent center to celebrate Italian culture and heritage, language and lifestyle, with a focus on the Pacific Northwest.