Capitol Hill-focused developer Liz Dunn was all smiles Thursday night as her years-in-the-making Chophouse Row development celebrated its grand opening with music, previews of coming-soon food and drink offerings, and wandering crowds exploring the mix of modern construction and auto row-era preservation.

CHS wrote about the Chophouse roster of food, drink, and retail tenants here including farm-to-ice cream cone champion Kurt Timmermeister who has taken a 300-square-foot patch of space for his dairy-powered cream and cheese venture, Kurt Farm Shop. The centerpiece Chop Shop Cafe is still a few weeks out from opening after last-minute permit delays. Meanwhile, the new project built out of — and above — the shell of the old building that used to be home to Chophouse Studios also brings together Dunn’s 12th Ave Piston Ring building, the Thomas Kundig-designed 1111 E Pike building home to Cupcake Royale, and her E Pike Baker Linen building home to offices and Retrofit Home.

The Chophouse Row is Dunn’s second “open marketplace” development on the Hill joining the critically-acclaimed Melrose Market. The project was designed by Sundberg, Kennedy and Ly-Au Young, and Graham Baba.

Dunn told CHS she originally envisioned the project to include housing but that changing times and a need for more daytime activity in the neighborhood convinced her to switch gears and build office space above the ground-floor commercial spaces. You can check out details here on the trio of tech companies lucky enough to work above all that goodness below. The project did, however, include three penthouses. Unfortunately for the rest of us, Dunn says the exclusive spaces are already filled.

Lots more pictures, below.

John Kennedy of SKLArchitects, left, boogies with Jim Graham of Graham Baba, Right. Kennedy said crews were surprised to find the foundation of an old house below the building that was part of the preservation component of the project. (Images: Alex Garland for CHS)

Timmermeister