These REO Flats “luxury” apartment dwellers will live above a great ouzeri (Image: REO Flats)

Soukakos (Image: Vios)

One of our favorite stories in Capitol Hill food and drink is starting a new odyssey closer to the heart of the action in the bustling bar and restaurant core.

The opening of the new REO Flats preservation-minded mixed-use building on 14th Ave will include a project from Thomas Soukakos, owner of the original Vios on 19th Ave E and Vios at Third Place in Ravenna.

Omega Ouzeri “will redefine traditional Greek recipes around the long-standing tradition of ‘meze,’ small plates, of exceptional food, to be shared around the table with Greek beverages such as ouzo, tsipouro, and wine,” an announcement on the new project reads.

Known for his kid-friendly establishments — CHS once called 19th Ave’s Vios the “Chuck E. Cheese” of Capitol Hill — this will be the first venture into Pike/Pine for Soukakos, who said the nightlife-centered location will be reflected in the new restaurant.

“I wanted to do the grown-up version of Vios,” said Soukakos, who opened Vios on 19th Ave E in 2004 after losing his wife and El Greco partner Carol to postpartum depression.

According to Soukakos, Omega will be the first traditional Greek ouzeri in Seattle.

“We’re very excited to continue sharing the Greek way of life by opening our newest Seattle restaurant at REO Flats,” Soukakos says in a statement provided by the developer of the project.  “This building and location is the perfect place to showcase our passion for redefining traditional Greek recipes and our love of gathering around the table with family— and new friends.”

REO Flats is a seven-story, 68,000 square-foot mixed-use development that utilized the neighborhood’s preservation incentives in keeping the old storefronts along 14th Ave. Omega will join returning retailers Porchlight Coffee & Records — which experienced the friendliest displacement by development of any cafe in Capitol Hill history — and Blue Sky Cleaners.

REO Flats is a CHS advertiser, by the way.

The building includes “108 luxury apartment units, 30 percent of which are pre-leased,” according to the developer and “7,200 square feet of street level retail; a 57-space subterranean parking garage; and 25 street-level commercial parking stalls including an electric charging station.” It also features a giant mural that recognizes the address’s place in Pike/Pine’s auto row history. Prices we found listed range from $1,690 per month for a one-bedroom to a two-bedroom, 920 square-foot space for $3,290. Parking will cost you an extra $2,100 a year.

Soukakos says he plans to have an “ouzo-giving” just after Thanksgiving weekend with a plan to open at 1529 14th Ave just before the holidays There’s nothing on the page yet but you can follow progress soon at facebook.com/omegaouzeri.