Hello PhinneyWood! After yours of relative stasis, we have a bunch of things that have happened in our amazing business district to start the year. Here is a quick round-up:
Business Closings and Moves
- In late 2023, we lost two restaurants on Phinney Avenue: Tangerine Thai and Teasome. Tangerine has “We have found a new location in the neighborhood! Please keep an eye out for an official announcement with more details” posted on their website, so fingers crossed that the only restaurant with free neighborhood delivery returns soon. There is a Greek café planned for their old space, while the former Teasome spot has become Arigato Sushi.
- The much-loved G&O Family Cyclery has been forced to close. Writes co-founder Davy Oil: “After over ten wonderful (and challenging) years, G&O Family Cyclery is shutting down. Thank you for a decade of adventure and progress and indeterminacy, Seattle. Keep the rubber side down. Keep the oil in the ground. Keep your loved ones in your heart. Keep the good times in your mind. Keep on cycletruckin’.” You can read the entire post here. Davy had to deal with the 2016 PSE Gas Explosion, a partnership dissolving, and 3 moves during that decade, and we all wish yet another hard-working and passionate small business owner a safe landing at wherever is next.
- Another business still recovering from the Gas Explosion, the snake-bitten Angry Beaver, has closed temporarily because a frozen pipe busting and flooding “every inch” of the beloved hockey bar. Owner Tim Pipes has vowed to rebuild (yet again), and is asking the community for help to pay his employees during the closure.
- Raíz along the 65th St. corridor has closed after just a couple of years. This Mexico City-inspired spot from the team formerly running El Xolo at Capitol Hill bar Nacho Borracho is no longer open, with no further information available. The space is already home to Ginger & Scallion, the “Chicken Rice Specialist”.
- The former Park Pub and Arc Restaurant space has been reborn yet again and is now Kub Kao Kub Kam Thai restaurant & bar.
- Bakker’s Fine Dry Cleaning on Greenwood has suddenly closed, with sign removed and space available for rent.
- The Fiber Gallery, your local knitting resource for wonderful yarns is moving across the street to the former Phinney Ridge Animal Hospital at 8205 Greenwood Ave N.
Business Openings
- Karuna Long’s much-anticipated Sophon is set to open this Friday, February 2nd, with a soft opening on Thursday. This is Long’s (above, in Oliver’s Twist) homage to family and Khmer Cuisine. Located in the former Carmelita (and several subsequent restaurants) spot at 7314 Greenwood Ave N, Sophon is the Covid-influenced Cambodian pop-up coming to life.
- The final facet of the Shared Roof Building is supposed to open today: Renee Erickson’s new restaurant Lioness, an Italian-influenced, wine-focused, tapas-type establishment sure to compliment the rest of the businesses.
- We are still eagerly anticipating the opening of Atulea, a matcha and boba café slated for the new apartment building at 7006 Greenwood Ave N. No word on an exact date at this point.
2024 Restaurant and Chef Awards semifinalists for the James Beard Awards
Right here in PhinneyWood we have 2 nominees for these highly respected national awards:
- 2024 Outstanding Pastry Chef or Baker: our own Ben Campbell of Ben’s Bread Co (above) is one of 10 nominees!
- 2024 Outstanding Restaurant Award Nominee: Renee Erickson’s The Walrus and the Carpenter in Ballard. As mentioned above, Erickson will be opening her latest restaurant Lioness on Greenwood Avenue today.
