Photo: Kingmon Creative
Karuna Long, owner of longtime neighborhood fixture and community-driven craft cocktail bar Oliver’s Twist, is continuing to work to bring a PhinneyWood Cambodian restaurant to reality. Now targeting the vacant space at 7314 Greenwood Ave N – once home to Martino’s, Hecho, and the legendary Carmelita Restaurant – Long is putting on a Cambodian BBQ this Sunday (4/30) from 1-6pm to help raise funds and awareness.
Long shared “We’re starting this project from the ground up to bring warmth into a space that tells the story we want heard. Over the next few months, we’ll be pouring our hearts and souls into a space that will become Sophon”.
Stranger reporter Meg Van Huygen opined in her recent piece on this project:
“Seattle needs Sophon. We have, at last count, only two other joints that offer Khmer food… in White Center and Tukwila respectively—and while all are important, they all serve pretty traditional Khmer stuff. What Sophon will be bringing to the table is much broader, not only in the classic-meets-contemporary Khmer menu but also the physical building itself, as a true community space. Seattle doesn’t have ANYTHING like this. It will fill a void for the Khmer community—as well as a void in Seattle’s bellies, both Khmer and non-Khmer.“
The BBQ is open to the public this Sunday, April 30th from 1 – 6pm at Oliver’s Twist (6822 Greenwood Ave N). There will be walk-up bar service, kids and well-behaved dogs are welcome, and donations are highly encouraged.
Can’t make the BBQ but want to help bring Sophon to life? You can donate via PayPal, Venmo, or CC here.
