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Finding no good fortune on 14th, Lucky 8s China House to close

(Image: Lucky 8s)

(Image: Lucky 8s)

One of the smaller entities in the transformation of 14th and Union into an island of food and drink activity is closing its doors after one last night of service — and delivery.

Lucky 8s China House will shut down tonight after just under a year and a half of operation on 14th Ave.

Owner Bracey Rogers confirmed the closure with CHS.

29351_301722226604741_960727091_n“Unfortunately, we just were not getting enough business to support all the overhead,” Rogers said. “We definitely had [our] diehard fans, but just not enough.”

The restaurant opened in time for New Year’s Day 2012.

“We’ll have a lot of dishes that people will be familiar with,” the project’s chef Justin Strnad said at the time. “We’re not fusion or anything. It’s our version of Chinese/American food. Housemade everything.”

Lucky 8s was built out of the space created by the overhaul of the old La Panzanella bakery for Oola. Belltown transplant Zoe filled its neighboring space while bear bar Diesel snuggled it to the north. The venture worked hard for notoriety amidst a wave of new food+drink players on the Hill. A mini-wave of Chinese-themed eateries also opened up around the same time including Chungee’s, Regent Bakery and the ill-fated Bako where Bait Shop floats today.

After closing down Friday night, Rogers says there will be a party for staff and regulars on Saturday. The restauranteur says Lucky 8s has been an education.

“The whole process has been a great learning experience for me,” he writes. “Hopefully I will be carrying this knowledge on to a potential new project.”

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nh
nh
10 years ago

I am surprised it didn’t close sooner. It’s sad to see a business go but I can’t say I didn’t see it coming.

COMTE
COMTE
10 years ago

It was okay Americanized Chinese food, but the prices were simply too high, unless you were going in for 4+ doing “family style”. Otherwise, just a couple of entree items would knock you back $25 or $30, which is a lot for one person. So much easier (and cheaper) to hit the ID for something similar.

genevieve
genevieve
10 years ago

aw, I’m sorry about this. I’ve only eaten there a few times, and gotten takeout once. The food was always good, the staff incredibly friendly, and I love, love, love the space. Wish they’d gotten even a quarter of the love of Skillet or Zoe. Good luck to Rogers and the rest of the staff.

spiffy d
spiffy d
10 years ago

I never got around to trying Lucky 8, but I’ve tried both Chungee’s and Regent Bakery’s food and it was absolutely terrible. Really awful.

And Lucky 8 couldn’t compete with them?

Tom
Tom
10 years ago
Reply to  spiffy d

I’d think if you stick with pastries at Regent, you should be ok. Chinatown is still cheaper though.

evon
evon
10 years ago

I could never get my partner to go there with me. He always said it didn’t seem cozy enough for his tastes. So at least in his case it was an ambiance issue. We passed it on the street many times and glanced in and I didn’t feel the ambiance was bad.

James
James
10 years ago

Great concept and layout, nice bar, good service, and really poor food. I really like Americanized Chinese Food but the food here was bland and flavorless – the exact opposite of what Americanized Chinese food should be.

Manny
Manny
10 years ago

Sad that with all the new restaurants popping up weekly here we still don’t have a single legit decent Chinese restaurant within miles of here.

DDK
DDK
10 years ago

I miss Little Shanghai. Chungee’s was just too bland and similar tasting – and expensive vs. the ID.

p-patch
p-patch
10 years ago

As far as Asian food goes, Chinese isn’t on my top three list. That said, I think the concept of an American-Chinese joint could do great, if well executed. Once the streetcar starts running between the Hill and the ID, it’s simply going to be too easy to grab dinner down there and drinks up here. Nobody likes to spend more money on inferior food, regardless of whether it’s Chinese, Mexican or anything else. I’m sorry Lucky 8 couldn’t rise to the challenge, but there are a lot of places in the ID that would love to see more business and I’m just as happy to give it to them if the food is that much better.

JimS
JimS
10 years ago
Reply to  p-patch

I agree. Until then, 7 Stars Pepper straight down 12th @ Jackson isn’t all that far away, and its very good. And unlike most of the other places in the ID, they have free garage parking.

Mike Judge
Mike Judge
10 years ago

I’m going to miss Lucky 8’s.

Tom
Tom
10 years ago

it’s sad when a restaurant goes under, but with the number of places opening up these days, it’s no surprised they can’t all survive.

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[…] the “American” Chinese food concept shuttering in May, founder Bracey Rogers is gearing up with a new group of partners to open a new venture in the […]

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[…] the new bar from Rogers and partners in the former home of his Lucky 8s China House project which shuttered this spring after just more than one year in business as part of the Oola Distillery complex at 14th Ave and […]