While 15th Ave E celebrates the return of one longtime business and the debut of a significant new one, a restaurant that struggled to catch on in the commercial village has closed its doors.
The windows at Sur 16 have been papered over and a sign went up this week thanking patrons and telling them to watch for “possible new openings or locations” for the restaurant its rookie owners hoped would celebrate the harmonies between flavors of the Old World and the New World.
UPDATE 10/31/2016: We haven’t heard from Sur 16’s owners directly but a comment posted over the weekend said the restaurants is going to “remodel” and “be back soon.”
UPDATE x2: We heard from owners Dalzell and Martos about the situation and we have good news to report for fans of the restaurant. Things have been worked out for an overhaul of the restaurant space and the couple is working on a revamp of the business and a menu. There is not yet a timeline for reopening but the restaurant is, indeed, ready to rise from the dead. Happy Halloween. In the meantime, the kitchen remains open if you’d like to order catering via sur16.com.
The “Latin American street food” focused project from first time restaurant owners Javier Dalzell and Mariana Martos debuted in winter of 2015 inside the overhauled giant space where the Bagel Deli closed after serving the neighborhood for more than three decades.
We’ve asked Dalzell and Martos for more information on the Sur 16 closure and if the restaurant business is up for sale. As is typical, a search of Craigslist for Capitol Hill businesses on the market yields a handful of turnkey restaurant opportunities including $230,000 for “a hidden gem in the heart of the ever vibrant neighborhood of Capitol Hill,” or $30,000 for this modestly described venue:
Restaurant – $30000
20 seat dinner spot.
Capitol Hill.
Good lease.
Nice neighborhood.
The couple’s struggles to open Sur 16 were illustrative of the challenges many first time restaurateurs face navigating the city and county’s complicated permit and review process even as larger entities like Ethan Stowell Restaurants pump out a new opening per year. We talked to the couple about the challenges in late 2014 as they found costs and the planned opening schedule spiraling out of control in the process to rebuild the gutted insides of the old bagel business. “Now we’re here morning and night,” Dalzell told us back then. “It took weeks just to get permits. Contractors are the next challenge. I told my kid to become a plumber or electrician.”
With Einstein Bros going away, I’m crossing my fingers that another beagle place will move in.
mmmmm, beagles. best toasted.
Well I thought I was over losing Bagel Deli. I guess not. Now I’m even sadder.
Screw it I’ll do it myself – who wants to front me – a stranger on the internet – with hundreds of thousands of dollars to open a true New York-style bagel shop in Seattle?
You could probably spin up a go-fund-me campaign and way exceed your target if you promised that your NY-style bagel shop would employ local 15th Ave homeless people and give sweet discounts to Angel’s shoe repair customers.
I would like to mention the *business the article is actually about* and say that I appreciated their menu & concept I wish them well in future endeavors.
I liked Sur 16 and visited fairly frequently. It was a great spot to go when you didn’t feel like fighting the hills to 19th or Broadway. Unfortunately, my last experience there was less than satisfying and they never seemed to get the crowds they needed to make a go of it. I hope they find success in another location!
I loved Sur 16 and I appreciated their authenticity. Most underrated place on the hill. Sad to see them go– best of luck.
I ate there several times and they were never busy. The food was good. Bummed it didn’t work out.
Such a shame. The food was good, they made a great Paloma, and the staff was really nice. But it was always empty even while Smith, two doors down, would be packed. Tricky location.
Actually we are going to remodel the place we will be back soon.
Sur 16
I think Smith’s next door always looked a little warmer and more inviting, you can also see inside from the street to see what the atmosphere is like… I always got the impression that Sur 16 was going to be expensive and not a cozy place inside, so never went in.