Marcus Lalario has been shaping Seattle since he was a teen. He launched the Beat Box—an all-ages Capitol Hill club—in 1995 and went on to build a portfolio that includes a music label, record store, hip-hop barbershop, production company, art gallery, cannabis and streetwear brand, and nightclubs including the War Room, HG Lodge, and 95 Slide. His culinary ventures span Captain Black’s, Fat’s Chicken and Waffles, Lil Woody’s (with locations in Tokyo and Sea-Tac Airport), Ciudad, Mezzanotte, and Darkalino’s.

Hometeam, launched alongside Darkalino’s in 2023, is the thread that ties it all together and played a notable role in transforming the local landscape in 2025. More than a brand (though it turns out streetwear products and buzzy collaborations with brands like Nike, Dickies, Filson, and XTRATUF), Hometeam is a project rooted in Lalario’s belief that brick-and-mortar spaces are still vital to building community. In just two years, its corner of Occidental Mall has become a hub where food, music, retail, art—and, most importantly, people—meet.

“I’ve always wanted Seattle to be a great city,” says Lalario, a Seattleite since birth. “Whenever my friends come from out of town, I want them to be like, fuhg, Seattle’s dope. So, I always try to fill the voids I feel are missing.”

As downtown struggled to find its post-pandemic footing, Darkalino’s and the adjacent Hometeam Gallery emerged as an anchor, hosting art shows, community events, pop-ups, and makers markets like the monthly Lava Market, a hub for young designers and the city’s growing fashion scene.

Lalario knows the power of simply showing up—having a coffee on the community porch and making connections. When Mayor Bruce Harrell started dropping into Darkalino’s for happy hour, Lalario seized the opportunity to pitch his vision for free, citywide concerts to make Seattle a music town again. With the city’s blessing, Hometeam has since produced 20 free shows at Gas Works Park, Westlake Center, and Occidental Park. Lalario continues to work with local leaders—including serving on King County Executive Girmay Zahilay’s transition team—to champion art and music in Pioneer Square and beyond, with even larger events planned around this year’s FIFA World Cup.

“I just try to curate great cultural moments,” Lalario says. “I want to collaborate and create opportunities—give people a space to do their thing.”