Gregg Kennedy has owned the beloved gay piano bistro, Martin’s off Madison for the last year and a half. After 2010 Pride Weekend, expect to see some major changes to the eatery at 1413 14th Avenue. One of the biggest changes confirmed Wayne Gage, an agent of Kennedy, will be a change in name:
After five years as Martin’s Off Madison, a Piano Bistro, Gregg’s Profanity Hill Grill is changing with the times. With thanks to our loyal staff and valued customers,Greg is keeping a lot of the old and adding a lot more of the new to better serve you! Like all good things, the changes come gradually. When complete,Gregg’s Profanity Hill Grill will be the place to play, eat, drink and be Mary!
“Profanity Hill” alludes to a former name for Seattle’s First Hill neighborhood and perhaps to future shenanigans. As the change in name signals, Gregg’s will offer more casual, inexpensive fare than Martin’s. In addition, there are longer term plans (late 2010) to bring back the pool tables and enlarge the bar area.
that place would be all the better for stepping it down a notch and being more of a hang-out than a weird piano bar…
I like the piano bar angle, but there’s too much daylight between the price and quality of the food to make it a viable eating option. I hope the new ownership considers ways to make the most of their kitchen by serving both good bar food and dishes locals might want to purchase on a take-out basis as well.
I hate the new name, and hope it doesn’t reflect a change in attitude. Martin’s has always been friendly to gay and straight patrons as reflected in the composition of the neighborhood, and the “weird” piano bar was a great deal of fun. Just don’t lose Jose, the best waiter on the hill!
Poof, they close tonight.
Once again, the location is going ‘Full Circle’ again. Went from a Cheers friendly type of bar/piano bistro on Capitol Hill with an exquisite menu, now back to a piss smelling s#it hole with a pool table, ‘fried munchies from the kitchen, ATM machine, and likely video games going in where the grand piano used to be placed.
Walked past “Martin’s” yesterday, and all the booze on the shelves were gone/drank with the recycle container tipped over on the sidewalk with broken booze bottles, and the “OPEN” sign hasn’t been lit for several days.
Martin’s Off Madison was our favorite place to get away and enjoy good food and great service. Now, it’s been reduced to beyond closed and probably eating and taking your chances off a ‘roach coach’ jobsite food wagon.
Winter 2008 the food was wonderful – I believe there was a female chef there…Also awesome server/bartender/piano Chase who was great with all the customers. After that particular chef left the meals never kept up and when Chase wasn’t there same…As for ‘Marty’ he seemed to have a pick and choose attitude for who to make feel welcome. – When I first went the piano bar was great – last couple of times (very infrequent by that time) – should have know something was up (as in closing). Those who say stuffy piano bar – don’t get what that was about –