After some probable bad news for Broadway’s commercial activity, how about some great news? The Yeti Bar is set to get even bigger and get its own space. Broadway favorite Annapurna has confirmed it will be expanding upstairs to the sidewalk level with a new bar and waiting space for the popular, family-run Nepali, Indian, and Tibetan restaurant.
The new Annapurna expansion will take over the space left empty by the exit of King’s Teriyaki in summer of 2013. We don’t know a target date for opening the new space but the $50,000-base construction permit has been approved and the work is moving forward.
The investment is good news for Annapurna as the restaurant moves into its teens after a few years struggling with the challenges of neighboring the Capitol Hill Station construction zone. The challenges came to a head earlier this year as work began to dig a pedestrian tunnel beneath Broadway — work that all but hid Annapurna behind a plywood construction wall.
Sound Transit eventually responded with marketing assistance that helped Annapurna make it over the hump. The transit agency also found itself in the interesting position of trying to help market the empty teriyaki shop to a new tenant as part of an agreement forged with the building’s owner. Earlier, Peet’s Coffee also exited the building.
(Image: Annapurna Cafe)
The new Annapurna space will help the veteran restaurant better keep up with the growing flock of venues in the area offering craft cocktails and high-margin booze. It’s a move we’ve seen with most businesses who stick around with Ayutthaya’s bar upgrade one relatively recent example. You’ll also get enjoy expanded Yeti Bar offerings including safron-infused vodka cocktails like the “Everest Base Camp” and “Hot Night in Kathmandu.”
Like most things involving warm, comfortable favorites on Capitol Hill, there’s a shadow of the future looming over this particular pocket of Broadway happiness. Developers have been preparing plans for a relatively small, 50-unit apartment building on the land for a few years now. At this point — unlike a project across the street that we’ll tell you more about soon — there is no sign the project is going forward anytime soon. But you’ll want to make sure to enjoy plenty of Hot Nights in Kathmandu (Hot Night in Kathmandus?) while you can.
Annapurna is located at 1833 Broadway. You can learn more at annapurnacafe.com.
Happy they’re still making a go of it in spite of the chaos around them. I love the idea of climbing up the subterranean mountain of the Light Rail station to emerge on that side of Broadway, greeted by a Hot Night in Katmandu
this is great news! but those damn developers! there’s so many other more suitable redevelopment properties in the area instead of replacing a perfectly fine historic building. i know it boils down to who owns it and who’s selling, but damn, you think they could target some of the ugly 70s motel apartment buildings in the area or that dumpy post office across the street.
Those “ugly 1970s motel apartment buildings” typically offer lower rents. I really hope developers do not prey on them and replace them with new, high priced units. We need those affordable homes to remain on the hill.
The post office IS being replaced with a multi-use apartment and retail complex. More big developers taking pieces of our historic neighborhoods to build $1500 a month aPodments! Because who doesn’t want to pay through the nose to live in 95 sq ft and share a bathroom!
those “motel” apartment buildings you knock provide MANY affordable units for people who work on or very near the hill. Without them, you’ve just screwed over a lot of people, andy.
By the way. Do a little research. The vast majority of them were built in the late 1950s to early 1960s.
social factors aside, they’re still ugly. i’m not an advocate of new construction either, and i know all about how we need affordable housing in every neighborhood. caphilltom, thanks for the attitude.
you’re knocking ME for attitude? Why, because I want to support people who don’t have the means for a flashy apartment built post 2000? The “motel” style apartments are a very appealing style of apartments designed to be affordable, efficient and to foster a sense of community for the residents. They are hardly ugly.
The only attitude is what you’ve been spewing here.
You’ve got issues, andy…
i said i don’t like new construction or flashy things. i live in a building built in 1929 and before that it 1901. you are making incorrect assumptions about my design preferences. saying something is ugly is an opinion, one i have every right to make. . you could have said nicely “those apartments are actually from the 50s” rather than the snotty “do a little research”.
Yes, the fugly Post Office building just has to go!
Wasn’t it announced earlier this year that the current Post Office is indeed going to be demolished soon-ish?
Ever since King’s Teriyaki (r.i.p.) closed, I’ve wondered why Annapurna didn’t take over the space. Glad to see it’s happening, as I like their food but am too claustrophobic to go down into that cave very often. BTW, I seem to recall Peet’s said it would reopen when the light rail construction is finished, but lately there has been a “for lease” sign on their former space.
My criteria for leaving Seattle is “when Annapurna shuts down.” This is great news! (Plus, a new venue to consume too many of their mango martinis)
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