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Pike/Pine nightlife takes a hit with Comet’s indefinite closure, Electric Tea Garden shutdown — UPDATE

The Comet - Mural

The Comet building (Image: King County Records)

The Comet building (Image: King County Records)

There’s a nightlife shutdown underway on Capitol Hill. First, the last unintentional dive in Pike/Pine(tm) is closed indefinitely due to financial issues, according to the Stranger:

Michelle Smith, talent booker for the Comet Tavern, one of the last dive bars left on Capitol Hill and home to loads of great underground-rock, jazz, and electronic events, explains why the Comet has gone dark. “Right now we are closed this week due to a water bill/lease issue. The owner is hoping to save it via a partnership.”

UPDATE: I’ve added “indefinite” above just to make sure people see the details about the hopes for the Comet to find a solution to stay open. More details of the troubled financial situation behind the Comet’s ownership, below.

CHS is trying to reach owner Brian Balodis to learn more about the situation but we have not yet heard back on plans to reopen. Balodis acquired the bar six years ago and has continued to manage it as it was born. CHS has cheekily noted the probability of an eventual redevelopment or outright razing of the 1910 building celebrated — and studied — as a true community melting pot. The longtime owners of the building acquired it in 1992 for $650,000. It is also home to intentional Pike/Pine dive(tm) Lost Lake.

During the Comet’s hiatus, some shows appear to be moving to Broadway’s Highline which recently shifted its focus to live music and events and cut its vegan kitchen.


Comet, originally uploaded by Black Rock City.

UPDATE 7:40 PM: A check of court records reveals that the Comet’s current owner is facing financial issues beyond the tavern. According to court records for a case filed in July, the homeowners association for the Belltown condo Balodis paid $409,000 for in 2006 is suing the Comet owner and his wife for more than $10,000 in a foreclosure case:

Screen Shot 2013-10-02 at 7.47.09 PM

According to another document, Balodis was served the lawsuit last month while he was at the Comet. Additional documents show warrants from the Washington State Department of Revenue for Balodis and the Comet for unpaid taxes.

UPDATE 9:45 PM: The Comet’s Facebook page featured a message about the situation Wednesday night:

The comet is NOT officially closed we are shut down for at least 2 weeks (through Oct 19) while the lease/water bill issues are resolved ….we may end up closing but for now, the owner is working on a plan. He has a potential partner lined up but is still trying to negotiate with the property owner/landlord. So, we aren’t done yet.

There are currently no records on file indicating any changes with the Comet building or planned developments — the first thing that comes to mind with recent changes in the area. Earlier this week, CHS reported that the building home to the Stranger’s offices at Pine and 11th is being lined up for a mixed-use development.

Meanwhile, a plan for development is reportedly underway behind the scenes of another Capitol Hill night spot’s pending closure. The Electric Tea Garden will be shutting down in its home above the American Artificial Limb Company at E Pike and 14th later this month. People familiar with the situation said lease issues as the property — surrounded by the giant lot of parcels owned by the First A.M.E. Church — moves toward a planned redevelopment lead to the decision. We do know yet know a last date for the club. A representative for American Artificial Limb tells CHS they are currently making plans to move when their lease is up near the end of the year.

UPDATE Thursday 10/3/13 10:45 AM: ETG’s Bruce Mason tells CHS the Tea Garden’s time had come. “[It’s] just a classic gentrification of the neighborhood. The only reason we survived this long has been the wonderful sisters who, I think, liked that we were artists and kept the rent low,” he writes. Mason says the shift toward planning for redevelopment has meant a more business-like approach to the property and that he expected a significant raise in rent with any new lease.

“Even with all of our social success and mad patron love our profits have never been that good. Its always been a labor of love,” he writes. “Every month of the last 18 years. We can’t look for needed investment when we don’t have a lease in the future. And the apartments across the way? They will never be accepting of what we have been. The owner of that complex has ‘warned’ me before about our ‘raves’ in the past. Lol. Classic gentrification . It is sad. But it was time.”

Finally, we’re sad to report the planned closure of the last of Capitol Hill’s internet cafes. Uncle Elizabeth’s Cafe will be logging off this Sunday, according to customers of the lower Pike hangout. Customers were allowed to surf for 20 minutes free with purchase or buy access for $0.10 a minute. We’re checking into why the cafe is shutting down and what’s next for the space at 1123 Pike.

UPDATE: Elizabeth’s owner Danny Beutler tells CHS his cafe had been struggling financially for some time. “With the rise in smart phones, people just don’t need an Internet cafe to check email. Some people do, but not enough,” he said. Beutler, who took over Elizabeth’s in 2008, said he had no plans to open another cafe and was unsure what would become of the cafe space at Pike and Minor.

The possible shuttering of the Comet and the planned closures for the other one-of-a-kind businesses come on a rapidly shifting Capitol Hill busy with construction and sometimes heavy business investment in the changing retail and food and drink economies. This weekend, another of these stories reaches a point of inflection as Bauhaus will shutter its original Melrose at Pine location on its 20th anniversary in the space. Like many of the changes, Saturday’s Bauhaus party will be bittersweet — the Capitol Hill cafe will reopen in the former Capitol Club space only two blocks away later this month.

If you can tell us more about any of these changes — or, sigh, have another to report — give jseattle a call at (206) 399-5959 or email [email protected].

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Eric Butler
Eric Butler
10 years ago

Any word on the status of the upper floors of this building? Sees like a great opportunity for much-needed office space.

RB
RB
10 years ago
Reply to  Eric Butler

95% sure the upper floors were deemed unusable/uninhabitable/condemned by the city

Dan
Dan
10 years ago
Reply to  RB

I’m 100% sure..

pikeurchin
pikeurchin
10 years ago
Reply to  Eric Butler

What about office space upstairs? Are you shitting me? Nobody (but you) is really giving a shit about the upstairs right now with the sad news that’s going on downstairs. Stfu dork!

Sad boy RheRhe
Sad boy RheRhe
10 years ago
Reply to  Eric Butler

It is techy ass people like you that is making Capital hill into a boring “quite after 10 pm ” place. Go buy another starfucks latte fool….
#Gross

wimax
wimax
10 years ago

Restaurants closing are one thing; but venues are hard to replace. I hope they get the partnership they need.

Bellevue Bellevue and Bellevue
Bellevue Bellevue and Bellevue
10 years ago

Yeah dude, now that I’ve permanently crossed the bridge to Capitol Hill because I liked it so much to visit I can’t WAIT until they make it just like Bellevue so me and all my bros and tube top in december hoes feel more comfortable going out and broing down. Obviously what we REALLY need instead of music venues and places to dance are MORE PLACES TO WORK!!! I suggest they just open all that space up for more cubicles and offices with some cookie cutter bars on their ground floors, but not too loud because people need to work late and sleep and I don’t want any of those weird people that have lived here for over 20 years to bother me and my bros and hoes.

Boris
Boris
10 years ago

You should open a venue on the hill. (I am serious.)

olive st not way
olive st not way
10 years ago

This guy’s got the right idea. What about another cider bar in one of those redevelopments or maybe like some speak-easy themed place. I want the thrill of going to capitol hill, but not any of the “character”.

Joseph Singer
Joseph Singer
10 years ago

The reason these venues/buildings are going has nothing to do with appealing to the Bellevue crowd and has everything to do with the landowner wanting to make more money out of their property. They’re going to make lots more money putting up another cookie- cutter building with ground floor retail and six floors of condos/apartments. That’s why every other “institution” on the hill has succumbed to development. It’s unfortunate, but any bit of character that the hill had is doomed to “modern” cookie-cutter development.

CDResident
CDResident
10 years ago
Reply to  Joseph Singer

Seattle has to density somehow.. with density comes opportunity and consequence .. higher density, more amenities and entertainment but also given the times we live in, it will probably come in the form of commercialized bullshit.. if the landowners will sell up for more money then maybe as a community we can demand that local, non chain businesses get either a subsidy on rent or a leg up in getting into those retail spaces first… id hate for Cap Hill to turn into a strip mall of chain store signs :/

O
O
10 years ago
Reply to  Joseph Singer

Really? The reason these venues are going has EVERYTHING to do with the ownership of the business and little to do with the building owner. When you can’t properly pay your rent, utilities, or keep the surrounding area of your business remotely trash free, this is bound to happen, and unfortunately for the comet this has been a long time coming.

Dan
Dan
10 years ago
Reply to  O

Actually, it has everything to do with the building owner..

I work in another establishment in the same building and our landlord is a complete fuck. He prays off local businesses failing – business owners can’t pay the rent, he comes up with a proposal to break the lease that includes forking over the rights/license to said business (Comet), he then sells/leases the space to new business hopefuls, pockets the cash and then waits to push them out again with ballooning rent.

Now, with that in mind – Brian is not at all innocent. The guys’ an alcoholic, trust fund prick whose father bails him out on the regular. Dudes got a boot on his truck every time it’s parked outside the bar, has outstanding debt with every vendor in the city, and fires staff without warning..

You’d have to be a fucking idiot to partner with this asshole, unless you’re all the while planning on pushing is fat ass out.

It’s too bad someone’s gonna come clean up the Comet, is that last worthwhile hole in Sellevue (that’s a combination of Seattle and Bellevue), IDIOT.

FUN FACT: I always assumed he was a 50 year old man, truth lent that he’s actually in his early thirties.

RJS
RJS
10 years ago
Reply to  O

Last I heard the owner of the building for the Comet wouldn’t pay to have basic plumbing issues addressed. Pretty sure that’s there responsibility. And ETG has nothing to do with the people that rent the space, so… misplaced comments much?

I
I
10 years ago

I’m really hoping for a nice redevelopment like the Lyric or The Vox, and maybe on the ground floor they can open a great dive bar concept bar with Euros artfully hodge podged on the ceiling, and maybe $12 PBR cocktails with infused liqeuers and mangosteen juice. I hope they have one of those sidewalk bars so I can sip my aperitif and eat jamon slices while safely taking part in the thrilling and hilarious people watching in the Pike/Pine Commercial District. They should call it Le Comette as a homage to the food bank or whatever used to be there.

Max
Max
10 years ago
Reply to  I

Le Comette wins the internet. But since the comment, the PBRs are now $14 but 14 actually because they taste and look better without the dollar sign.

ugh
ugh
10 years ago
Reply to  I

GO BACK TO BELLEVUE…capital hill sucks on the weekends because of all you fucked up dorks

Big Al
Big Al
10 years ago

Funny!

Phoebe
10 years ago

Nooooo…say it ain’t so! 40ish years ago my parents met @ The Comet! She: a beer slinging barmaid with a beautiful smile. He: a handsome, fun-loving patron w/ his worldly possessions in a Navy duffel bag. Me: a mddle-aged Seattle native mourning the loss of Seattle’s soul. Booooo.

Evan
Evan
10 years ago

Would have to assume that Uncle Elizabeth’s closure has something to do with a decreasing number of people willing to pay $0.10/minute for an amenity available free at most cafés.

Max
Max
10 years ago
Reply to  Evan

Uncle Elizabeth’s has computers, not just internet. So for people who don’t have portable devices, it’s handy. I guess with Victrola across the street, it’s hard to compete on a purely coffeehouse level. Still, I think they should have seen this coming and tried to refocus or diversify.

Pike/Pine neighbor and long-time show-going patron
Pike/Pine neighbor and long-time show-going patron
10 years ago

I seriously fear that Neumos is next. I believe they recently signed a 5-6 year lease, but with all these changes underway, it seems they’re increasingly swimming against the tide.

.
.
10 years ago

Not gonna happen.

Mr. Ed
Mr. Ed
10 years ago

calm down people, this is just part of the government shutdown, it’s been an NSA listening post for years!

Alex
Alex
10 years ago

Why do I have a feeling that Linda’s is up next to close for good? Think about all that unused vertical space!

jerome
jerome
10 years ago

Come on, everyone.

Don’t compare the Comet to all of the other venues out there – we knew the Comet’s days were numbered the first time we walked in and went “what the fuck is this shit”

Neumo’s will not be next. It is now TWO different venues that actually big acts frequent. The big acts that frequented the Comet haven’t been bands for almost 20 years. It is a place for shitty local bands to try to get a footing, and while that is definitely a necessary thing to have in a city, the idea that it is competitive with what’s popped up on Pike/Pine is insane.

Let’s not get hyperbolic about this crap by inflating its importance with nostalgia; like grunge, the importance of the Comet is in the past.

r
r
10 years ago
Reply to  jerome

Well, most of the people commenting here seem to disagree with you.

but...
but...
10 years ago
Reply to  r

Who has the power to decide? If the owners of a venue don’t own the land they’re not in control of their future.

dc
dc
10 years ago
Reply to  r

I’m with jerome, actually. The Comet hasn’t been The Comet for a good long time now. We’ll see how it turns out, but if it goes, I’d rather see it dead than living half a life.

hit and run pariah
hit and run pariah
10 years ago

jerome , nice comment troll. Did some hipster girl shut you down at a show there? If you think the history of the Comet started in the 90’s you are as naive as you are mean. the people who work at the Comet have contributed more to our community than you ever have. stfu.

pikeurchin
pikeurchin
10 years ago

Thank you hit and run. yeah Jerome, stfu

Craig Kovatch
Craig Kovatch
10 years ago

Seattle, I beseech you. I have been to many places in the world. Enough countries that I had to have my passport amended. I have done scorpion pose on the Great Wall of China, dined in secret during Ramadan in Dubai, gotten drunk with American rock bands in Japan, and watched World Cup games in Brazil.

ETG is the best place I know. I love it more than any other.

Can we save it? And if not, is there any other place in Seattle remotely similar in vibe, in size, in non-self obvious, non-judging atmosphere, and/or in deep delicious house music? I need space to shuffle y’all.

Mike
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Kovatch

I could not agree more. I learned about the ETG closing, ran online to find out if it’s true, and now… a crushing blow. Hey how about a kickstarter project to resurrect it??

Craig Kovatch
Craig Kovatch
10 years ago
Reply to  Mike

It would need to raise the millions necessary to buy the property…

Max
Max
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Kovatch

Hey Craig, you’re super cute. Oh wait, this isn’t OK Cupid? Whoops. Still cute. P.S. Nobody erase this cuz that would be totally homophobic. Ha.

Peter
Peter
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Kovatch

Re-bar has some damn good nights of house music. Flammable on Sunday nights is the longest going house music party on the West Coast. Owner signed a new long term lease!

Stan Hain
Stan Hain
10 years ago

Though I haven’t been to the Comet in years it once was my living room; I lived around the corner at Broadway and Pike. Within crawling distance. Carol Gouthro, my wife, and I met there in about 1984. I have many fond memories of the Comet and many memories I should have but can’t remember.

Jeff
10 years ago

There are fewer and fewer reasons to remain on the Hill every day. I’ve been here 20 years, have a high-paying job, and can’t imagine sticking around for much longer. If I’d wanted Bellevue, I would have moved there.

Evan
Evan
10 years ago
Reply to  Jeff

It’s impossible to turn Cap Hill into Bellevue, you realize that right? No amount of redevelopment will move Cap Hill further from downtown, for instance. There’s more things to like about a neighborhood than places to get drunk or go to shows.

Jeff
10 years ago
Reply to  Evan

I was thinking more along the lines of restaurants, bars, and storefronts with some local history behind them. Places that you could take the family or friends and have a good time without dropping a hundred or two on craft cocktails and pork-belly nachos. I enjoy those types of places on occasion, but increasingly it seems that is the only choice we have left on the Hill.

what about ethel?
what about ethel?
10 years ago

what’s going to happen to ethel’s ashes?

watsovision
watsovision
10 years ago

haha… Fletch will git ‘m

RainWorshipper
RainWorshipper
10 years ago

Increasingly Capitol Hill and indeed all of Seattle is becoming a place for just rich people. I’m trying to raise enough money to move away before I am evicted like everyone else who isn’t a rich computer programmer.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  RainWorshipper

Isn’t it interesting…every time people start to grousing about how expensive Capitol Hill has gotten, and toss around disdainful (and jealous) comments about highly-paid tech workers, the thing you almost never see is “so I’m getting some new training/skills so I can pull down a better paying job”. Certainly this makes little sense for people in, say, their late 40s/50s. But I see a hell of a lot of 20-somethings with little in the way of marketable skills, resentfully complaining about the influx of new tech workers on CapHill. The last thing you ever see is anyone with a plan to actually DO anything for themselves about it. Do you guys actually think the world economy is going to “change back”, and people with technical skills won’t make all the money again some day? Does the handwriting on the wall have to be any bigger?

RainWorshipper
RainWorshipper
10 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

Dear Jim98122x,

Jealous is not necessarily the word. I would go with resentful. Some of us are, as you say, too old to benefit from retraining as I know a computer wiz who is 38 who is trying to find work and they mainly want to hire younger or imported workers. At 48, it makes no sense for me to retrain. I have a Master’s and years of experience but society is rewarding tech workers crazy high pay just because of their field–why? I see no reason those fields should earn more compared to lots of others that need just as much intelligence and education (sometimes more). My brother was making more out of high school than I have ever made in my life just because he’s good at computers.

Additionally, we all have our own things we’re good at. It makes no sense to force yourself into a tech field if you don’t love it and have the aptitude. You won’t do well. Women also are discriminated against more in tech than other places, so good luck to even the best-trained female workers. Before you dismiss those of us who are upset about this as just lazy whiners who can’t see the writing on the wall, realize that the situation is more complicated than that.

Finally, many of us are resentful of the attitudes of many of the tech workers who seem to feel that they deserve to make massively more than everyone else and who act superior to the rest of the planet (thanks to those of you who don’t). It gets old. I do think that eventually your day will come and you will get paid poorly. Everyone will go into tech now and supply and demand will lower wages, so you better be saving some of that money you’re flashing around everywhere.

Ivan Mrsic
Ivan Mrsic
10 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

Speaking as a 20-something with “little in the way of marketable skills”, sometimes what you’re suggesting just isn’t a realistic option. I graduated last year with almost $20,000 in student loan debt, and so far I’ve only managed to pay back about 25% of it. Finding a job in my field has been damn near impossible, so I took whatever minimum wage jobs I could to scrape by. I finally found something that pays slightly more than $9.19 an hour, and even that’s barely enough to keep up with the skyrocketing rents in Seattle. For me, the choice comes down to either a) going back to school for some more “marketable skills” (because fuck doing what you enjoy, right?) and spending another 2-3 years in my parents’ basement, or b) staying at my slightly-above-minimum-wage job and finding a modest living space under $800, which is becoming harder and harder now thanks to all the tech workers and yuppies moving into Seattle, driving up rents and what not. What would you do in my shoes? I’m not about to live at home until I’m 30, and I’d very much like to live in a cool place like Capitol Hill. Oh, and please don’t lecture me about how I should have picked a better major, either. Me and about 53% of recent college graduates have heard the same story over and over again from condescending “successful” people like you.

We resent the changes because they’re destroying what made Seattle so interesting to us in the first place. All the cool little shops, music venues, art spaces, restaurants, and cultural landmarks are being bulldozed to make way for chain stores and overpriced apartment buildings. Places like the Comet Tavern have a lot of history and are dear to people’s hearts, so for newcomers like you to come in with your snobbery and condescension and tell us to quit complaining is only adding insult to injury. This city has nurtured a lot of talented people who went on to become legends: Ray Charles, Jimi Hendrix, Bruce Lee, and Kurt Cobain, just to name a few. Could any of those people have afforded to live in Seattle back then if the cost of living was as expensive as it is now?

Like RainWorshipper said, your day will eventually come. Nothing lasts forever, and with the economy as weak as it is these days, you’ll be feeling the pinch too one day. Maybe not now, but eventually.

Marla
Marla
10 years ago
Reply to  Ivan Mrsic

What will all this resentment towards techies accomplish? The mentality is same as blaming illegal immigrants, gays, blacks, red heads, and anyone different than you. It begets more hatred in this world. You’re smarter than most people why not redirect the energy to more intelligent solutions.

Jesse
Jesse
10 years ago
Reply to  Marla

Hold up there, Marla…

Are you really suggesting that tech workers are anything like a historically marginalized social group like gay people or black people or illegal immigrants? Can you see how such a comparison would be weird and unfair to actual political and social struggles?

Let’s not pretend that the tech boom is natural, permanent, or somehow beyond criticism because its supposedly good for the economy. This influx will pass in several years and many of these people will move on, but for now it is reshaping the population and the cultural life of Seattle and SF and many other cities and its ok to question if that’s a good thing. Its not “hatred” to demand that city government do better by its low-income population to regulate rent increases, new constructions, and food prices, for example.

Ivan Mrsic
Ivan Mrsic
10 years ago
Reply to  Marla

Yeah, I’m pretty sure if you have a lot of power, money or influence in society, you don’t get to compare yourself to the groups you’ve just mentioned.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  Marla

Nice distraction there, Jesse and Ivan, but that’s clearly not what she said. She didn’t suggest tech workers are historically marginalized. She said that demonizing them will be no more effective in solving issues such as high housing costs than demonizing those groups to solve other social problems has ever been.

Thank you Rain Worshipper and Ivan, for perfectly underscoring again my points again, I couldn’t have done it better myself. I beg to differ, looks a lot like resentment AND jealousy to me. Let me first disabuse you of a couple of your majorly wrong assumptions:

“I do think that eventually your day will come and you will get paid poorly.”

See, now here you’ve jumped to the colossally wrong conclusion that *I* must be a highly-paid tech worker. Which is wrong. In fact, I’m not a high-tech worker, and am an only moderately-paid 55 year old. Yes, RainWorshipper, I’m 7 years *older* than you. It’s even more pointless for ME to try to re-train now at my age than for you. However, what I’m NOT doing is making excuses for myself, or complaining the economy doesn’t value me as highly as I might myself. Nor do I begrudge young techie workers the high salaries they earn and have worked very hard for. If I’m not satisfied with the money I make, I know it’s my OWN FAULT for not keeping better abreast of the job market and keeping myself up on marketable skills. This is nothing new. Scarce resources are always expensive.

“Everyone will go into tech now and supply and demand will lower wages….”

Really? When do you think that will happen? Because it sure ain’t happening now. This focus on new technologies isn’t a new trend–it’s been going on since well before I graduated high school and entered college, and it’s only accelerated. We STILL have too few young people entering technology and science fields, and it’s getting worse. Why do you suppose tech companies are so dependent on foreign workers? Because we have so many techie graduates here in the States? (hint- NO). Every year it’s the same– software, science, and technology jobs go begging because young people aren’t entering those fields. Meanwhile, colleges crank out a bumper crop of useless degrees to people who are totally mismatched for what the world’s economy is begging for. Then they moan when they can’t find jobs, while they “follow their passion”.

“… so you better be saving some of that money you’re flashing around everywhere.”

Wrong again. I’m not particularly highly paid and don’t have money to flash around.

“Oh, and please don’t lecture me about how I should have picked a better major, either. Me and about 53% of recent college graduates have heard the same story over and over again from condescending “successful” people like you.”

You’ve done a fine job of it yourself, so I won’t bother lecturing. Other than to say those 53% are probably toting equally unmarketable degrees, which explains why they can’t find good-paying jobs either. Meanwhile, for graduates with degrees in accounting, engineering, computer science, economics and business administration, more than 50% had job offers BEFORE they even graduated.

RainWorshipper, you said “society is rewarding tech workers crazy high pay just because of their field–why? I see no reason those fields should earn more compared to lots of others that need just as much intelligence and education (sometimes more).”
You don’t think this is whining? Here’s why: simple supply and demand. Because not enough people are entering those fields. And because there are more than enough people competing for those other jobs.

It’s all well and good to “follow your passion” and all that. Why do a job you hate? But those choices have natural consequences. It’s ridiculous to complain later society doesn’t value you enough.

And if you seriously believe the pendulum will swing back and non-technical jobs will ever command higher pay than tech jobs, you’re really fooling yourself.

calhoun
10 years ago
Reply to  Ivan Mrsic

I’m not “lecturing” you, but the fact is that the decisions you make while in school have a direct effect on whether you get a decent job later on. So many young people are majoring in vague subjects (such as “environmental studies”) which have little potential for a career, and then they wonder why they can’t get a job in their field after they are done with school. It is entirely possible to get a degree in a field which you love and which also is more likely to get you a good job, but this takes some careful thought and research while you are getting your post-high school education. Yes, an education should be to provide great general knowledge about the world, but it should also include some commitment to a degree which will allow you to get a great, reasonable-paying job after you graduate. If you choose instead to not go through this process, then the “chickens will come home to roost.”

Fn
Fn
10 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

Wait, Autism-spectrum disorders can be taught?

james in the CD
james in the CD
10 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

I hope you are not referring to Amazon employees as tech workers – working for an on-line retailer hardly qualifies you to be called a tech-worker.

Ivan Mrsic
Ivan Mrsic
10 years ago

This discussion has veered somewhat off topic. Let’s return to the main issue: regardless of whether or not some of us picked the right major(s) at college, why can’t rents be affordable to everyone in Seattle? It’s not unreasonable. Rents are going up faster in this city than anywhere else in the country. Moreover, isn’t there a way to accommodate the newcomers without destroying local culture (i.e. venues like the Comet Tavern and Electric Tea Garden)? Places like these give a city way more character than the generic chain stores we see popping up all over the place. What would you rather have in your neighborhood, an Easy Street Records or a CHASE Bank (in a city with literally dozens of CHASE locations already in existence)? If you honestly prefer more banks and corporate structures than local shops, then you’re the most boring and heartless person in the world.

You might come up with some clever argument against this, but I guarantee you if things continue down this route, Seattle won’t be as attractive or interesting as it was 10-20 years ago. All the creative people are moving out, and what you’ll be left with is something more like Bellevue; generic, bland, heartless, and corporate.

It's still me
It's still me
10 years ago

Touche Mike! Get it [kick] STARTED. -“I got five on it.”

Craig…I love knowing I enjoy a world class venue right here in my home town! While not well traveled, I’ve been a few places and I DO KNOW a good-time & ETG provides a GOOD-TIME again & again.

trackback
10 years ago

[…] 【シアトル】キャピトルヒルのCometが閉店(Capitol Hill Seattle Blog) キャピトルヒルの老舗ダイブ・バー兼ライブスペースのCometが経営難で閉店するようです。すでに予定されていたライブの一部はブロードウェイにある「ハイライン」で開催されるそうです。 […]

Fritz
Fritz
10 years ago

People, people, take a breath. May I, as an elder (probably) compared to most readers here (as to most on the Hill) whose career happened to encounter from time to time people in a situation like the property owners here: don’t know their situation, but these were mostly just trying to meet a life/age challenge — figure out how to take care of aunt Nadine, or what to do about ol’ Poppa and his house, etc., it is not personal! The economic forces that makes up the sea in which we all swim are what causes these kinds of seismic changes in neighborhoods – – – economics at the local level (supply/demand/desirability) inexorably leads to increases over time in the value of the property such that, ultimately, it is not supported by the kind of returns that the current use (socially desirable as it may be) can provide. Don’t blame them.

If folks want these kinds of venues, it is up to owners and entrepreneurial promoters to make it happen. Problem? The costs will be high, maybe more than people will pay. That is a risk an entrepreneurial promoter might take a swing at. But not a “prudent” property owner, who’s probably much more enticed by the money from hiking the use . . . i.e., letting the property be “developed” whatever form that may take.

I am not condoning, just suggesting that there are plain realities that underlie these kinds of trends, so moralizing about it seems “unhelpful.” Instead, it is the kind of issue that reasonable people can find a solution to.

Residual
Residual
10 years ago

Loved to death.
Capitol Hill is dead.
Long live Capitol Hill.

Jimmy Joe
10 years ago

Maybe the Hate City guys will raise the money to save their clubhouse! Hell, they don’t have motorcycles or cars to fix!!!

Vermillion
10 years ago

Still here… https://www.facebook.com/pages/Vermillion-Art-Gallery-and-Bar/109877532369482

Deep house last night and this weekend, modern dance performance Sunday, art opening Thursday, 80’s hip hop Friday, lesbian dance party Saturday… All free.

Yes, I keep a low profile but we’re right under your nose.

Long live the Comet and ETG.

Craig Kovatch
Craig Kovatch
10 years ago
Reply to  Vermillion

THANK YOU. How often does house night happen?

jsteez
jsteez
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Kovatch

please tell me you’ve discovered Flammable on Sunday @ ReBar. Longest running house music night on the west coast. A true classic…

Craig Kovatch
Craig Kovatch
10 years ago
Reply to  jsteez

Nope. I love house but only in the past year or two broke out of my shell enough to go out and dance regularly. If you have any more to share, please please do :)

Andrew
Andrew
10 years ago
Reply to  Craig Kovatch

Hi Craig, there’s this thing called Google check it out

RJS
RJS
10 years ago
Reply to  Vermillion

I was at the house night last night and AMAZING. Enormous thanks to the bartender for keeping us going until 2AM rather than the original midnight.

Vermillion
10 years ago

This month we have The Deep End (https://www.facebook.com/events/424765344311268/) 10/16, 10/30. This Friday is Tremel (tentatively), Saturday is Steady Groove (https://www.facebook.com/events/582574035097801/) suggested donation, Flux is 10/12 (dance/pop) and then Hiphop the other weekends. Keep checking the Facebook page.

Working on getting a real calendar up for Vermillion but don’t want to spoil the “secret” spot.

davmar
davmar
10 years ago

the building the comet is in is in very bad condition. upper floors condemned and brick literally falling off the sides of the building (I can take a pic if ppl want).

that building and the one attached…both days are numbered.

unfortunately lobby bar is there and that may be the biggest loss, but i do expect that we’ll see that building torn down. for the better, in my opinion. that building is ugly and in disrepair.

pikeurchin
pikeurchin
10 years ago
Reply to  davmar

davmar, you’re ugly and in disrepair. Perhaps the buildings around the Safeway on 22nd and Madison suit your taste better. Some of us think the building adds ambiance to what the Comet means to some of us who spent many fun times there. That “us” obviously doesn’t include you. Shove off dork!

davmar
davmar
10 years ago
Reply to  pikeurchin

my previous comment was either removed by the mods or i didn’t click submit. mods: if you did remove it, i’m surprised you didn’t remove the comment by pikeurchin. i made no personal insults like that person did, and my post was not inflammatory at all.

anyway, it’s an issue of taste. look at what hunters capital does around the hill restoring old building and making them look great. (http://hunterscapital.com)

i really dislike most new construction on the hill, but i’d love to see that building replaced by something classy that fits the neighborhood. that corner can be even more vibrant than it is now, attracting more great small businesses and increasing density.

veep23
veep23
10 years ago

Think the Comet is/was a run of the mill, shitty dive-bar? Think again. Whether you have been, haven’t been or never will go there, the place has some real history. For a primer check out this Art Zone. Plus, The Piniellas perform live.
http://www.seattlechannel.org/videos/video.asp?ID=3351223&file=1

awb
awb
10 years ago

So many good memories at the Comet. We have to save it, Seattle would not be remotely close without it. I’d gladly pay 50 bucks for a “Save the Comet” t-shirt.

argh!!
argh!!
10 years ago

what about the odd rumor I heard circulating that Mars Hill Church is going to occupy the Comet location? Truth or smoke up my butt?

Craig Kovatch
Craig Kovatch
10 years ago
Reply to  argh!!

Ah, so there is a fate worse than another yuppie “ultra lounge”. Sigh.

pikeurchin
pikeurchin
10 years ago

This is really really sad re:the Comet. I’m sick and tired of the news regarding the Hill seemingly always being something that really sucks. This really sucks., The Comet still has (had) soul and the further updates make any hope for any quick reopening grim. I hope someone with the cash who appreciates the Comet for what it is steps in and saves it.

M
M
10 years ago

There’s was always this weird spot on 10th and pike where you would hear the loud music from the comet and the loud music from Havana and it caused such a headache with the messiness of sound but at least now we will only hear the music from Havana.

33456
33456
10 years ago

If anything one thing that sucks is that I worked there and we did not get a bit of notice. The employees had to use their own money to make a bank, buy liquor and hope to make the money back. No not everyone is hate city who worked there and who cares if they were….we tryed so hard to make it work but everything was against us. So for all you people who have judgements about the place, you should think that you arent being the ones that are screwed we were. AND, PS…ummm Seattle Changed after 1994…..I would know.
PS ….Stop talking like you guys know what the fuck went on because most of ya dont know, do ya??

mp
mp
10 years ago

Christ I hope the Comet doesn’t close for good. We have a show there in November!

As someone who plays in a local band, the venues that afford young bands to perform are shrinking away. The Comet needs to remain alive if only to be one of the few remaining places for energetic, innovative music to be performed.

I’d hate the very alive and unique music scene that resides in Seattle to disband. I don’t want the Seattle music scene to be closed, sold and forgotten – hell, might as just as well be Spokane for that matter..

Kid pretty
Kid pretty
10 years ago
Reply to  mp

Spokane?! How dare you?!!!

trackback

[…] we fret about about what the indefinite closure of the Comet Tavern means for Capitol Hill, the Pike/Pine watering hole’s employees are […]

trackback

[…] looking more and more like the closure of the Comet Tavern will be more than indefinite. The bar and music venue’s Facebook page […]

Chris
Chris
10 years ago

Perhaps one of the “good” local club owners will rescue the Comet. Someone like Linda Derschang, Dave Meinert, or the people who re-opened the Crocodile.

Brenan
Brenan
10 years ago

Maaaaaan fuck this neighborhood. Lets just all move to Georgetown and repopulate.

trackback

[…] ended the reign of owner Brian Balodis over the legendary bar. Following the expected bout of hand-wringing over the further death of Capitol Hill, Meinert and Lajeunesse emerged victorious in bidding to take over the space as the […]