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Displaced by development on Capitol Hill, B&O closes its doors in Ballard

8446811588_2bf5483d46_oJust a little under one year after the couple announced they would not be reopening on Capitol Hill, Jane and Majed Lukatah have shuttered the Ballard-transplanted B&O Espresso for good.

MyBallard reports the Lukatahs are retiring after 38 years of running the business:

B&O Espresso moved to Ballard in January 2013 after their Capitol Hill location was set to be knocked down for a new development. It quickly became a neighborhood favorite here in Ballard and surely will be sadly missed.

8445778417_333161bfcc_oLast March, CHS closed the doors on hopes B&O would return to the Hill after completion of the six-story apartment building replacing its longtime E Olive Way home. “We’re doing great in Ballard and parking is not a problem,” Jane told CHS last spring. She said the couple was working on purchasing the commercial unit that B&O Ballard called home.

At one point, the coffee shop and cafe were planned for a return to Capitol Hill when the new construction was completed. Architects went so far as to include the cafe’s iconic train logo in renderings of the six-story building’s design used in public meetings.

IMAG1864-1CHS documented the 36-year history of B&O — short for Belmont and Olive as well as a play on the famous Monopoly game’s railroad — in 2012 as the Lukatahs planned to serve their final customers in the old cafe. The 1924-built building was demolished a few months later. As the demolition began, fans remained hopeful that B&O would join Bauhaus in a Ballard sabbatical followed by triumphant returns to Capitol Hill.

Bauhaus opened its Ballard location in October and an interim Capitol Hill home up E Pine from its old location earlier this year. It is slated to return to the corner of Melrose and Pine inside the about-to-start-construction, eight-story development in coming years.

Now, two years after pulling up stakes and moving to Ballard, B&O is shuttered.

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J Mal
J Mal
10 years ago

If the B&O returns to cap hill, which would be great please ask that they hire a new cook and revamp the menu cuz their food sucked when they were here besides their hot chocolate… Just sayin..

Scott Adams
Scott Adams
10 years ago

I loved the B&O when it was located on Summit, a block from where I lived at the time. Their coffee and decour was great and of course their desserts were exquisite! Was only able to visit them once in Ballard. Wishing them the best in their retirement!

timmy73
timmy73
10 years ago

I’m surprised to see them retire so soon after the hassle of relocating. Seems pretty sudden given their overall plans. Hope things are okay in their family.

Any reason to close rather than sell their business? They have a pretty strong brand. You would think someone would be happy to carry the efforts and name forward.

Noccie
10 years ago

I loved B&O. When they moved I was so bummed I couldn’t get the Benny Thai any more. That was eggs benedict over a crab cake and rice. The staff was always cheerful and the owner super friendly. I also miss the Milky Way shake. It was the first place my band met and the graffiti on the bathroom wall inspired one of our songs. Seattle is not the same. Whenever Glo’s was over full to could go to B&O and even if there was a wait, it wasn’t near the wait across the street. It was a home for me and friends and my parents to get brunch without loud music and talk. My favorite photo if myself was taken is thw sunlight at one of their tables. I wish them the best. Thank you for all the years.

emC
emC
10 years ago

I recently visited the B&O in Ballard. Beautiful space, awesome staff [as usual], and coffee late into the evening which is hard to find in Ballard. Such a shame to see them go, but I hope the owners have a happy retirement. Thanks for a wonderful 30+ years. B&O.

Yobie
Yobie
10 years ago

And another little piece of me dies.

JTContinental
JTContinental
10 years ago

Have not been for many years because I moved to the other side of the Hill, but I had my first cup of Seattle coffee at B&O.

BB
BB
10 years ago

Sorry to see them go but they chose a bad location in Ballard. One more little piece of the soul of Seattle bites the dust.

Andy Khoo
Andy Khoo
9 years ago

In the late 1990s to early 2000s, when we lived in Bellevue, my wife & I used to make late night visits to B&O. Even on our return from our international travels, we immediately dropped our bags to rush over for a slice of the Lukatah’s lemon meringue pie & a latte. These moments were among our fondest of the years we lived in Washington state. We wish Jane & Majed all the best for a much deserved retirement and thank them for these beautiful memories. Love from Andy & Adeline Khoo

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[…] B&O Espresso had called the corner home from 1976 to 2012 before being displaced by the planned six-story development. Jane and Majed Lukatah opened a Ballard location but it, too, shuttered earlier this year. […]

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[…] now part of the partnership working to create the new venture. The Lukatahs — downshifting after their decision to shutter a transplanted B&O in Ballard last year — will be part of the day to day at the new Belltown B&O. Jane will take on a […]