A local business owner is bringing Southern cooking to Highline College and the wider community – this coming Monday, Jan. 6, 2025, Youpa Valentine will open eatery Jumpin’ Jambalaya at Highline’s Union Cafe.

As well as serving those on campus, Jumpin’ Jambalaya invites the public to order from its spicy, hearty menu and to have meals delivered using DoorDash or UberEats. 

While Jumpin Jambalaya is new to Highline, it has been in business for four years and was most recently located in Seattle. Its new location at Highline’s Union Cafe creates a welcome re-opening of the college’s main food service facility, which had been vacant since 2020, due to the COVID shutdown. 

Valentine learned of the vacancy through her connection with Phon Sivongxay, Highline’s StartZone Program Manager. 

Sivongxay said, “We were pleased to work with Valentine and her team to expand her business into the Union Cafe at Highline College. This expansion not only creates jobs in our community but also fulfills her passion for creating and presenting delicious foods.”

StartZone, part of Highline College’s Business Development Center, offers support for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners from marginalized communities in South King County.

Drawing upon the program, Valentine received help with business development initiatives including writing a business plan, creating marketing materials, loan application assistance, and community partnership support. 

Valentine said:

“Sivongxay knows exactly what small business owners need and asks all the right questions. Her expertise has been invaluable. StartZone offers a wealth of tools and resources for small businesses, which has been incredibly helpful.”

One of Valentine’s business decisions is to offer a range of catering services, including wedding catering, social event catering, concession catering and corporate catering. 

Moving to the Highline site was another strategic undertaking. As Valentine described it, “Highline offers a great location that helps us better serve the diverse needs of the surrounding community while still being accessible to people from Seattle and beyond.”

About Highline College

Founded in 1961 as the first community college in King County, Highline College annually serves 14,100 students. With more than 75 percent students of color, Highline is the most diverse higher education institution in the state. The college offers a wide range of academic transfer, professional-technical education, basic skills and applied bachelor’s degree programs. Alumni include South King Media Founder/Publisher Scott Schaefer, former Seattle Mayor Norm Rice, internationally acclaimed author Ann Rule, entrepreneur Junki Yoshida, Dr. Tom Jackson, former president of Cal-Poly Humboldt and retired Army Lieutenant Colonel and nurse Sandra Cravens Robinson.