posted 08/01/10 03:38 PM | updated 08/01/10 09:39 PM
Views: 2238 | Comments : 15 | News, etc.

Two more Broadway closures but I Love Wasabi's sushi already has a Thai replacement

By jseattle
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Add two more to the great Capitol Hill end-of-July going-out-of-business wave of 2010. In addition to Saturday's final day of business for The Anne Bonny, Tiempo and Broadway News , CHS has learned of two more Hill shops closing their doors for good this weekend.

The Loveless Building's peculiar little corner of Capitol Hill commerce was not immune to the July die-off, it turns out. A phone tipster alerts us to the closure of The Adventure Travel Company shop that has been part of the Loveless complex. The San Francisco-based company continues to operate its Web site and its other outlets in California and Canada. We'll try to check in with them to see what else we can find out about the closure and also check in about how long they've been operating on the Hill.

Meanwhile, a little more than a year after they opened in spring 2009 under a sign that famously proclaimed, "I Love Washabi," sushi joint I Love Wasabi has served its last roll on Broadway. Thanks to James Knapp for the tip. The restaurant, owned by Mai Nguyen of Renton, never really seemed to gain a following and doubtless didn't find conditions much improved as new sushi options including a very popular, very affordable chain have moved onto the Hill.

Broadway News says goodbye (Photo: Matthew)

But not all is death and destruction. Neighbor James also alerts us to a 'coming soon' sign now hung inside the former I Love Wasabi. Cynics, at this point in the article, will ask, "Thai, pho or sushi?" According to the phone pic James passed along, new joint is called Wedgwood II. Wait for it. Vegetarian Thai.

Also coming soon to Broadway up the street from Wedgwood, Thai+sushi fusion project  Pinto Thai is planning an August opening in the old Ali Baba location.

To round things out and makes sure we hit all of Broadway's three basic food groups, Pho 900's last day of business, you might recall, is August 9th. We'll know soon whether it will be part of an August wave of business turnover on the Hill.

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Let's start a pool
I suggest we start a "How Long Until They Close?" pool for the two new Broadway Thai places.

Any takers?
Comment by etaoin shrdlu
August 01, 2010
A Plea
Is it too much to ask for a great Chinese restaurant on Boroadway? Great Dim Sum, shaved noodles, congee even?
Comment by Kma
August 01, 2010
no subject
I am so glad this place is going. It was sushi sacrilege, seriously, and I've never gotten food poisoning from any other restaurant in Seattle.
Comment by lilyson
August 01, 2010
Another Plea
Some GOOD Chinese food on Broadway would be nice.
Comment by smoothjade
August 02, 2010
AWESOME
we totally need new thai sushi restaurants on broadway
Comment by maus
August 01, 2010
RE: AWESOME
I like Thai and sushi restaurants, but still.
Comment by maus
August 01, 2010
Sad about I Love Wasabi
I gave Genki Sushi a try this weekend. Bluntly, you can get significantly better sushi at QFC. I am sad that ILW is closing. Good food, good service. They had really good stuff for my vegetarian friends as well.
Comment by Mark Atwood
August 02, 2010
Ali Baba too?
Ali Baba is closing? That's a shame - I liked them.
Comment by SS
August 02, 2010
Tiempo gone?
I had no idea Tiempo had closed its doors. Very sad indeed.
Comment by Roy
August 02, 2010
It's really no wonder
It's really no wonder that businesses can't make a go on Broadway. Landlords make cost to do business on Broadway pretty much prohibitive. All it will end up doing is force more businesses to go out of business because of greed.
Comment by weekilter
August 02, 2010
RE: It's really no wonder
Yeah I really don't think that's the case. Panevino serves decent, not-so-expensive Italian food and it seems to be bustling with people on nights and weekends. I just think Broadway isn't that hospitable to copycats that only discern themselves by providing an inferior product.
Comment by Alex & Will
August 02, 2010
Enough already...
...with the Thai & Sushi places, we have enough!
Can't we get a decent (southern style) bbq place?

BTW Panevino is great, I highly recommend it!
Comment by M
August 03, 2010
Like we don't have enough Thai on Broadway.
Ya know, I am not sure what the rage is, cheap rent, or what but we have enough, no wonder they can't stay in business. Look at your demographics people....
Comment by Bookworm2004
August 03, 2010
But I <3 I <3 Wasabi!
Dammit, shut down yet another sushi restaurant to make way for yet another Thai restaurant? Makes sense, you just can't have enough of the same damn thing on that depleting stretch of road. Here's a unique idea for a shop that is sure to thrive: a tumbleweed store.

I know things change, and I remember fondly the days when I sat and ogled hotties over lattes at what is now a UPS shipping store; but I <3 I <3 Wassbi, dammit!
Comment by Kenn Johnson
August 03, 2010
Ugh...
More Thai. Really? Not that the sushi was very good, but at least it was...slightly different. OK, not really. Come on! Do something new! In the Bowl is already established a few blocks away and its going to be VERY hard to top them for vegetarian Thai.
Comment by Kane
August 05, 2010