Seattleites are searching for local businesses in record numbers, but a growing body of data suggests the city’s supply of certain services is struggling to keep up. A new analysis by small business lender OnDeck cross-referenced monthly Google search volumes with the number of active business locations across Seattle to pinpoint where the sharpest gaps between consumer demand and local availability exist. Here’s what their research found Seattleites are looking for only to find limited options in the Emerald City, from thrift stores to diners.
Thrift stores: High demand, low supply
Thrift stores represent Seattle’s single largest supply-and-demand gap among all business types analyzed. Residents generate roughly 1,000 Google searches per month for secondhand shops, yet only 28 thrift store locations currently operate across the city. If you’re one of those people searching for a Seattle thrift store, be sure to use our guide to the best thrift stores in Seattle—and you should know that the world’s largest Goodwill is right here in Seattle.
Tailors: The most-searched underserved category
In terms of raw search volume, tailors actually outpace thrift stores, drawing approximately 1,600 monthly searches — the highest of any business type in the study. Despite that level of interest, Seattle counts only 46 tailoring businesses, suggesting consistent unmet demand for clothing alterations and custom garment work across the metro area.
Car Washes: Third in demand, short on locations
Car washes rank third overall, with 1,300 monthly searches set against just 55 operating locations. For a city where rain dominates much of the year, the appetite for professional vehicle cleaning services remains notably strong relative to available options.
Diners: The top restaurant gap in Seattle
Among food-and-beverage categories, diners lead the pack. Seattle residents conduct around 480 monthly searches for diners, but the city only has 24 such establishments — making it the fourth-largest overall gap and the number-one shortfall within the restaurant sector specifically. Diners such as Luna Park Cafe in West Seattle and Glo’s in Capitol Hill consistently have long waits on weekends, while Beth’s Cafe, Lost Lake Cafe, and 5 Point Cafe are all 24-hour diners that cater to Seattle’s late-night crowd. The popularity of all these spots makes it clear: Seattleites want more diners!
Finally, plumbers and locksmiths also feature in Seattle’s top six most under-supplied local business categories. Adding those to tailors and car washes rounds out a picture of broad, everyday service needs going unmet across the city. For more details, you can read the full findings by OnDeck.
