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Praying for a new restaurant to occupy vacant The Grill on Broadway space

Last Wednesday, a hand scrawled sign appeared taped outside the window of the former The Grill on Broadway building “announcing” a new soul food restaurant was moving in. Despite the inclusion of a lengthy “sample menu” that looked quite good, it turns out God’s Place on Broadway was just a prayer.

The self-proclaimed ex-homeless chef asked supporters to “sign this sign” to see the restaurant open. Mobilizing neighborhood support is great, but he’ll also need to scrape together $15,700 a month — the current going rent according to the property’s real estate listing.

As of Friday afternoon the banner was down. The real estate broker for the 314 Broadway E building confirmed God’s Place was just pie-in-the-sky antics. Nevertheless, we have an email out to the hopeful restauranteur.DSCN1030

God’s Place may have been fake news, but it’s been the only news to surface on the future of the prime restaurant space since The Grill shuttered in April. The building’s broker wouldn’t comment on why it was taking so long to get a new bar/restaurant to sign a lease.

CHS has tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with the building owners.

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Alex
Alex
10 years ago

“The building’s broker wouldn’t comment on why it was taking so long to get a new bar/restaurant to sign a lease.”

Yeah I’m sure they wouldn’t comment, the rent price that they’re asking for is probably crazy expensive.

etaoin shrdlu
etaoin shrdlu
10 years ago

What kind of Creator of the Universe can’t scrape together a mere $15,700 each month for His Place on Broadway? God better hurry before the space becomes Bait Shop South.

Adam
Adam
10 years ago

Is it big enough for an Applebee’s? Might as well drive the last nail into Cap Hill’s coffin.

jonathan
jonathan
10 years ago
Reply to  Adam

You’re on crack, Applebee’s would never work without a big parking lot.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  jonathan

Let’s be real…for most of its many incarnations, the food at Broadway Grill wasn’t even as “good” as an Applebee’s. And let’s not even go there about how crappy the food is at that place on the other corner….

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[…] Praying for a new restaurant to occupy vacant The Grill on Broadway spaceCHS Capitol Hill SeattleLast Wednesday, a hand scrawled sign appeared taped outside the window of the former The Grill on Broadway building “announcing” a new soul food restaurant was moving in. Despite the inclusion of a lengthy “sample menu” that looked quite good, it turns … […]

kimpunkrock
kimpunkrock
10 years ago

15,000 a month is outrageous! No wonder its empty. I cant imagine what it is like to have to make that much a month just for rent! High rents EVERYWHERE hurt the economy in so many ways. LOW rent for EVERYONE would increase spending by the public. I have always thought that landlording for profit should be ILLEGAL! Some of the biggest scammers in this country are the landlords who price gouge everyone! High rents effect everyone and make prices increase everywhere! Low rents would save this economy and give people the opportunity to open a business who otherwise couldnt afford too.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  kimpunkrock

” I have always thought that landlording for profit should be ILLEGAL! ”

OK, I’ll probably regret asking, but this comment sounds so stupid I just can’t resist, I’ll bite.

If “landlording for profit should be illegal”, then which do you suggest?

1. Landlords should invest 100’s of thousands (or millions) of $$ to just break even? Why would they bother?
OR
2. The city/state/whatever government should own all property and rent out at break-even rates? Seriously?

One more question– do you actually own ANYTHING of your own?

Randy
Randy
10 years ago
Reply to  kimpunkrock

That sounds average. The comet just rented for about that and other business owners I know pay about the same for a space of similar size.

Joseph Singer
Joseph Singer
10 years ago

Perhaps it’s remained shuttered for so long is because the rents on Broadway are “too damned high.” There are practically no places on Broadway except for the post office that were even here 20 years ago. Landlords evidently think it’s better to have empty storefronts than have reasonable rental properties. The periodic (not sure why) African arts shops open and then promptly close a few months later. Not sure why African arts are supposed to be a big draw on Broadway, but evidently it’s a thing.

ILuvCapHill
ILuvCapHill
10 years ago
Reply to  Joseph Singer

The Post Office, Deluxe, Panache, Metro, Paggliaci, Rom Mai, The sushi place in the Alley, Starbucks, Cucina Cantina, Byzantion, Urban Outfitters, QFC, etc. etc. I’m sure there are more. The fact is that there were a ton more national chains on Broadway 20 years ago than there are now. 2 Burger Kings, Gap, Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, Panda Express, Payless Shoe Source and Safeway have all come and gone. Much fewer national chains now than ever. Get some perspective and reality before you start ranting about how terrible all the changes on Broadway are.

Prost Seattle
Prost Seattle
10 years ago
Reply to  ILuvCapHill

This comment will quickly be ignored by many.

Jane
Jane
10 years ago
Reply to  Prost Seattle

I don’t even care that much if it’s chain stores that open up (though I’d prefer boutiques), I just want SOME new retail options to replace these empty storefronts. The shopping options on Broadway are pretty lame if you aren’t a teen girl or hoochie (sorry, Metro/Panache/Trendy Wendy, but your clothes are so tacky). Red Light has pretty much become a year-round costume shop and Crossroads doesn’t bother to organize their clothing by size which makes shopping there a pain. Aprie & Urban are also geared toward young people. Betty Page seems to have opened up 15 years too late – are people still doing the burlesque thing? The clothes seem so dated and not in a vintage way.

As someone in my early 30’s, there’s really nowhere on Broadway I’d want to shop. I’d love to see Zara or Top Shop or some boutiques like you have in Ballard, or Vintage Angel Clothing Company, or antique stores like Deluxe Junk, and maybe a new bookstore. It’s not growth I’m opposed to on the Hill, it’s the way it’s growing that just seems so random and unappealing.

Jane
Jane
10 years ago
Reply to  Jane

Basically, what I’m saying is that it would be great to see Broadway become a mini-Robson street (the great shopping street in Vancouver), with a mix of vintage and new shops, stuff for young people and older people, and both fancy, and cheap options for places to eat. I think that would reflect the mix of people who now live in the neighborhood.

We do well with the restaurants and bars, but suck when it comes to retail.

ILuvCapHill
ILuvCapHill
10 years ago
Reply to  Jane

Zara will be downtown soon. I’ve never really thought of Capitol Hill as a place to go shopping for clothing. Ever. Not even in the 90’s when there was a Gap on Broadway. Obviously enough people like those places you mentioned because they are paying the rent. I’m in my 40’s and male, so maybe I can’t relate, but is it really that hard to go Downtown for clothes? (I also work downtown, so there’s that)

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  Jane

Yeah, it kind of IS a pain in the butt to go downtown if you’re not working there or already going. A lot of us are on Broadway several times a week for things like going to Gold’s Gym or QFC or the BECU teller or grabbing a quick bite. If there were more retail for a demographic other than hipster 20-something girls, I’d definitely shop for clothing there more often. I’d even shop Crossroads more often too, but as Jane says it’s such a pain sorting through their stuff since they can’t be bothered to organize their sizes. But anyway, I do think more retail selection for all demographics could bring more shoppers to Broadway. It would for me, anyway.

Jane
Jane
10 years ago
Reply to  Jane

In most cities, downtown is where all the retail giants are, and the surrounding neighborhoods are where the good boutique shopping is, like Portland’s Pearl District or Hawthorne St., etc…, Boston’s Cambridge, Vancouver’s Robson St, LA’s West Hollywood and Melrose Ave, San Francisco’s Haight St, etc…

So when you have the most desirable neighborhood in Seattle that is so centrally located with such crappy shopping options, it doesn’t make sense. Why should I have to go all the way out to Fremont or Ballard to shop?

christopher575
christopher575
10 years ago

I wish Noc Noc would open again in that spot.

Alex
Alex
10 years ago
Reply to  christopher575

That would actually be really awesome.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  Alex

I’ve been here 17 years, and I vaguely remember Noc Noc, but refresh my memory please– what was it?

ManWithAPlan
ManWithAPlan
10 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

Noc Noc was until recently a club located downtown on 2nd between Pike and Pine, known mostly for goth/industrial nights and some wicked weekend late night/early-morning afterhours. Was there for the past 12 years or so and got booted this past summer when a developer bought the building. :(

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  ManWithAPlan

I take it back. I obviously had no recollection of Noc Noc, other than remembering the name. Thanks for the reminder.

It does seem weird there aren’t any clubs along broadway until you get way down to Pike.

umvue.blue
umvue.blue
10 years ago

If any Broadway frontage could stand for some redevelopment this is one: vacant nondescript one-story building adjacent to parking lot fronting one-story nondescript teriyaki joint…

CapHillGal
CapHillGal
10 years ago

If you want to do some investigating, here’s the story I got.

The same owner owns all the retail property from Julia’s down to teriyaki place.

Check out when Julia’s lease expires next.

A group of friends have a business plan for the Grille’s space, but owner isn’t willing to offer a longterm lease so they pulled out. The plan is to hang in there until Julia’s lease expires, at which time it won’t be renewed and that entire section of Broadway from Julia’s down to the teriyaki joint is going to be redeveloped.

Prost Seattle
Prost Seattle
10 years ago
Reply to  CapHillGal

Which will most likely provide a lot of housing within two blocks of the Link station. Density in an urban neighborhood piggybacking on mass transit infrastructure. That should be something our neighborhood can get behind, but sadly, we all know how those comments will end up.

ILuvCapHill
ILuvCapHill
10 years ago
Reply to  Prost Seattle

I’m totally behind that block being redeveloped. It would be insane not to. Density is inevitable and welcome.

Jim98122x
Jim98122x
10 years ago
Reply to  ILuvCapHill

I”m not against redevelopment. I just wish it didn’t result in all the ground-floor retail looking like aquariums.

wayoutwest
wayoutwest
10 years ago
Reply to  Jim98122x

Dear Jim – that is the best description of new Broadway retail I’ve seen. Dank, featureless, concrete.

calhoun
10 years ago
Reply to  CapHillGal

I really hope this happens. The teriyaki place has really marginal food. Coffee kiosks are a dime-a-dozen. The Broadway Grill space is probably un-rentable at that price. Julia’s, while a nice old building, has awful food and service. If this block is redeveloped, not much will be lost, and much to be gained, such as more density in housing near the light rail station.

skavon
skavon
10 years ago

maybe not a big loss for some, but if redeveloped I would hate to see Red Light go

Andrew Gilbert
Andrew Gilbert
10 years ago

God, there really is nothing cool and edgy about Capitol Hill anymore is there? The Hill really has become nothing but Bellevue-West.

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[…] Capitol Hill has a big hole in its Halloween costume contest circuit with the old Broadway Grill empty and looking for a tenant. We’ve included details of three alternative contests to consider — including the 30th […]

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[…] $15,700 a month for the old Broadway Grill space. […]

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[…] The Grill on Broadway ended a 22-year run. Now, nobody can afford the lease. […]