Spaces for Ballet, The Square Room listed for rent -- UPDATE

A familiar stretch of Pike/Pine has been listed for rent -- but at least one existing tenant has no plans to leave. Listings for the retail and restaurant spaces at 910 and 914 E Pike were posted to Craigslist and commercial leasing databases this week. You know them better as art space The Square Room and longtime Pike/Pine restaurant survivor Ballet:

Rare retail or restaurant availability in the heart of the Pike/Pine corridor! Seattle's most vibrant neighborhood, Capitol Hill, is comprised of dense residential and thriving commercial filled with exciting restaurants, specialty boutiques and convenience services. Close proximity to Seattle University, SCCC and the hospital district. Neighboring businesses include Via Tribunali, Poquito's, Elliott Bay Books, Quinn's and many more. Heavy pedestrian traffic both day and night. Excellent public transportation with easy access to downtown and the Seattle Business District. 

910-914 E. Pike Street

* Character-filled brick building features wood floors and high ceilings

* Suite 910 is 2,279 RSF ($6,647/mo + NNN)

* Suite 914 is 2,589 RSF ($7,551/mo + NNN)

* Suites can be combined for 4,868 RSF

* Ideal for retail or restaurant use

* No bar or night club use allowed

* Available with 30 days notice

* Rental Rate $35/SF/YR/NNN

At this point, it's not clear what's next for the existing tenants. Our attempts to contact Ballet's management have been, so far, unsuccessful. We had better luck with the Square Room's Brian McGuffey who told us he has no plans to leave the space. "I have five more years here," McGuffey said. McGuffey declined further comment.

The property is owned by Ron and Edel Amundson who bought the 1908 3-story masonry building in spring of 2007 for $2.4 million according to King County records. The Amundsons have been involved with properties around Pike/Pine and Broadway including the former fast food receptacle restaurant that is now Rancho Bravo.

Tenants getting the boot in Pike/Pine is nothing new but with the downturned economy, it's been a relatively rare occurrence. Grey Gallery settled a lawsuit with its landlord over a dispute that followed the lounge's loss of its 11th Ave lease in 2010. More recently, CHS has reported on issues that have arisen on Pike below Broadway where Rosebud is in a dispute with its landlord over unpaid rent and noise complaints.

As a more affordable restaurant option, the loss of Ballet from E Pike would surely cause some gnashing of teeth and a swell in the frequency and amplitude of calls that Capitol Hill -- and especially Pike/Pine -- has become a soulless, barren wasteland of gentrified yuppie blah.

The Square Room's absence might be slightly less painful -- it has transitioned to a by-appointment only arts gallery with eclectic but rarely updated window displays.

We'll update when we know more about what comes next.