Joe Bar
Originally uploaded by Kamala Dolphin-Kingsley

CHS broke the news a few weeks back that Starbucks was set to open yet another 'neighborhood coffee house' in the 700 Broadway building.

Now we know what they plan to call the joint. Starbucks passed along this internal memo detailing some of the strategy around the next of their concept shops to hit Capitol Hill. 

Hey Joe Bar, meet your new neighbor Roy Street Coffee & Tea.

Here's some explanation of the strategy behind the name and more from the Starbucks memo:

We shared details of the e-mail with the owner of the independent coffee house that also makes its home on Roy Street. Joe Bar's Wylie Bush said the details only make him sad to see what Starbucks has become. "I have to give Starbucks some credit," Bush said. "They spurred coffee in Seattle to begin with. Now it's sad. It's so depressing."

So far, Bush says, there have been no signs of the infamous note-taking Starbucks employees casing Joe Bar for inspiration for the new shop's design. "As soon as I start seeing green walls I might get a little more bummed out," Bush said.

Bush said he hasn't talked to anybody from Starbucks about the new shop yet and he doesn't yet have any plans for changing his business. He's also torn by the situation -- it's bad for his business but good for that area of Broadway not to have an empty retail space. "The last thing I want to see is another coffee shop on Broadway," Bush said. "At the same time just having that space filled is better."

Bush said he also worries about his younger clientele having to make decisions based on price and being lured away if Starbucks is able to undercut Joe Bar on the price of a cup of coffee. "People make their choices," Bush said. "Hopefully the small indies can survive when the big corporations are mimicking us to the point that you can't tell the difference."

Soon, the world will see more Starbucks-es in indie clothing. In fact, it seems that, soon, the world will see two right here on Capitol Hill.

File this one in the rumor mill but CHS has found a rather interesting liquor application for a business listed at 700 Broadway East.

Coffee House Holdings Inc. is at it again:

Liquor license action details
Location     700 Broadway Ave. E.
Application date     August 4, 2009
Applicant     COFFEE HOUSE HOLDINGS, INC.; RUBINFELD, ARTHUR; MALANGA, MICHAEL; FINK, MICHAEL P; LAUTCH, RICHARD H
License number     405270
Event type     New application
License types     Restaurant — beer and wine
Action type     New liquor license application

CHH is the same entity Starbucks used to apply for the licenses and permits for 15th Ave Coffee and Tea before it opened to curiosity and animosity.

Also, while investigating this story about a possible move for the Broadway post office, CHS was told that the developer of the 700 Broadway Apartments had been negotiating with Starbucks to rent the large retail space next to Kinko's. As one might say, ah hah! Caught you!

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It's late and that's all we got but the gets are pretty good. One obvious question is which local businesses the Broadway Coffee and Tea (ok, we made that name up!) will draw its inspiration from. We're pulling for the nearby Museum of Mysteries. You?

UPDATE: Our calls to Starbucks media relations seeking to confirm the new shop were not returned.

Who has the better 13-buck burger? In one corner: Quinn's on Capitol Hill, @ 11th and Pike.  In the opposite corner: Lunchbox Laboratory, in Ballard on 15th Ave NW. Both get raves.  I haven't tried either one and I'm open to influence.

Quinn's vs. Lunchbox Laboratory.  Discuss.

photo of Quinn's burger and fries by Erik98122 from the CHS Flickr Pool.

Update by jseattle
We need an in-depth report on this. We fund Jeanine's burgers. She reports back. Deal?

I only know of two bars on the hill with air conditioning. There must be more, yes? We can't all fit into these twothree as the temp flirts with 100 degrees this week.

• Sun Liquor at 607 Summit Ave E
• The Satellite at 1118 E Pike St
• Central Cinema at 1411 21st Avenue (editor's note! and CHS sponsor! and counts as a bar, I say! but also may open the comment gates to restaurants! not as interesting as bars!)

Where do you go to cool off and have a cold one?

More from the editor per this old thread:

• The Chapel
• Bill's off Broadway
• Six Arms
• Charlie's on Broadway

We reported over the weekend about the preparations to open the second 'secret' Starbucks on Capitol Hill taking an odd step backward -- a worker painted over a recently completed Roy Street Coffee sign above the new shop. No matter. Starbucks says it's a go for a Wednesday opening. Here's our favorite line from the media announcement, below:

Like other new stores we’ve opened recently – 1st and Pike and University Village in Seattle, Paris Disney and Conduit Street in London, this coffeehouse is a celebration of the community’s personality and values.

Capitol Hill is just like Paris Disney. Here's the announcement:

On Wednesday, Starbucks will open our new Roy Street Coffee & Tea, inspired by Starbucks, in Seattle, WA.  In the same spirit as 15th Ave. Coffee & Tea, Roy Street Coffee & Tea is a new concept coffeehouse that reflects the local neighborhood’s values and personality and celebrates the Pacific Northwest’s coffee heritage, materials and artists.

Like other new stores we’ve opened recently – 1st and Pike and University Village in Seattle, Paris Disney and Conduit Street in London, this coffeehouse is a celebration of the community’s personality and values. Like all new Starbucks stores, whether they are Starbucks branded or the new concept stores, Roy Street Coffee & Tea uses regional materials, features the work of local artists and is designed for sustainability. We look forward to being a part of the vibrant and resurgent Broadway neighborhood when Roy Street Coffee & Tea opens on Wednesday.

We invite you to a media preview event tomorrow with Major Cohen and Liz Muller from Starbucks Global Development team as they discuss the design and construction strategies behind the new concept. As the second store in Starbucks LEED® Volume Certification pilot program (announced just last week), Tony Gail with Starbucks Environmental Impact team, will also be onsite to discuss Starbucks goal is to significantly reduce its environmental footprint through green construction, energy and water conservation, and recycling. Additionally, store manager, Jacob Webber, will be available to discuss the Roy Street Coffee & Tea’s connection to the surrounding neighborhood.

You might recall that the opening of the company's first stealth 'indie'-styled cafe on 15th Ave inspired a few shenanigans. We'll see what happens at Roy and Broadway on Wednesday morning.

Justin Brotman

Last Friday Healeo Nutrition Bar opened its doors at 15th and Madison. CHS called owner Justin Brotman the 'Costco hippie of Capitol Hill' because of his father's ties to the retailing giant. To see what the buzz was about, I stopped in to check it out. I talked with Brotman about his new business, what makes Healeo unique and the challenge of finding organic coconuts. Have you been to Healeo yet? Add your thoughts to the CHS Reviews Healeo page.

Q: What is Healeo all about?

A: We serve food that's good for you. Organic drinks, organic teas, organic coffees, organic juices, and most importantly, superfoods.

Q: What are superfoods?

A: Foods which are extremely nutritious for you. Such as; hemp milk, coconut milk, almond milk (all of which we make fresh daily), bee pollen, kahle, flax, goji berries, acai - basically anything that is high in antioxidants. It's all about the ingredients. We want to make healthy eating easy for you to get and afford. Organic foods need to be in more demand; therefore it will be easier for you to access and live a healthier lifestyle.

Q: Is there anything different Healeo has to offer than other organic food stores or supplement stores?

A: We sell certified organic products made only for Healeo. Having our own supplemental section in our store providing you with all the nutrients you need in pill form. Lots of people question supplements, but the truth is, they are just as healthy for you as any organic food - it is just easier to put into your system. Our supplements are all organic. Also, we have a display of all of our teas so you can interact, smell and see exactly the tea you may want to drink. No other tea stores have this, which makes Healeo different. CHS note: After this interview was posted, Justin Brotman left a comment clarifying his statement about supplements: "What I said was that NOTHING can replace whole foods but it is not practical to eat 10 heads of Kale everyday so you should take supplements."

Q: What do i need to know about Healeo before I come in?

A: Healeo is all about the organics, plain and simple. We sell raw and vegan food as well, but that's not our focus. Not all people eat vegan, so we sell non-vegan items as well. Basically, we want to spread the essentials. Our #1 priority is to keep everything at Healeo organic. The only things in our store that aren't organic are bee-pollen and coconuts - they are just too hard to find completely organic. By keeping our store almost fully organic, we are providing you with food which helps your body absorb nutrients and become healthier.

Metblogs Seattle goes to Zaw, mostly likes it:

So would I try it again? Yes, I think I would - but next time I would order in advance and try to get in and out as quickly as possible, because staring at their big ‘zaw this and ‘zaw that menu board will kind of ruin your appetite.

Not sure the writer goes far enough. Our Zaw experience was flawed (fl-Zaw-ed?) enough that we fear for the Seattle start-up's existence. It's not really about Zaw -- it's the concept. Still, we think the problems can be fixed:

1. Spread the word that customers shouldn't order in person. Call in your order or make it on the Web. Make it part of the marketing. Standing at 15th and Pine waiting 10 to 15 minutes for somebody to put together a pizza that you will still need to cook is silly. It's obvious in retrospect but how many chances does a new biz get?
2. Make a bigger deal about delivery. Because of the time factor above, doing anything beyond waiting for a Zaw to come to you really reduces the value prop of their offering. This also leverages...

Update 3:33 PM After reviewing the complaint, I note the following: 1) Chow Foods only recently sought registrations of "Chow" and "Chow Foods" - having done so on 8/21/09 and 2) Chao may have been able to avoid this suit - had they been more responsive to Chow Foods and forthcoming about their opening date. 

A major followup this afternoon to our Chow Foods responds to Chao story : CHS has learned that a lawsuit was filed just yesterday. An operator of neighborhood restaurants all across Seattle, Chow Food Management Services LLC , is suing  Yamashiro's LLC dba Chao Bistro-Bar  (the new restaurant that opened at 12th & Pike today).  We are working right now to get a copy of the full complaint, but a watchlist of newly filed lawsuits summarizes this one as alleging trademark infringement.

Just got word from owner Kevin York -- Pizza Fusion is no more. Never said goodbye to a CHS sponsor in this way so forgive any awkwardness.

PF was born back in November and positioned itself as a purveyor of pie with organic ingredients, and, importantly for many, gluten-free options. Much of their interior was made up of recycled or reclaimed material (including bar stools from the Sunset Bowl and hardwood flooring from Garfield).

York was the first to admit he couldn't have had worse timing in trying to open the franchise as the economy tanked and purse-strings tightened. Even a steady stream of daily specials advertised on this very neighborhood blog couldn't save the restaurant.

July 22, 2009: They're here.
Cupcakes for breakfast? (And lunch, and dinner...) Cupcake Royale opens with free cakes

Original post:

Barbie Cake
Originally uploaded by JTContinental

Via Pike/Pine arts and culture insider Joey Veltkamp's blog, Capitol Hill is finally getting its cupcakes:

Folks, it's official! Cupcake Royale will be opening up their 4th location this June!

*

Look for it at 1111 Pike Street, between 11th and 12th. It will be on the ground floor of the new Tom Kundig building. It's going to be amazing folks!

CORRECTION: Oops. Not in Oddfellows. Around the corner like the bit from Joey's blog says!

In addition the Linda Derschang-driven Oddfellows Cafe, the building will also soon be home to Molly Moons Ice cream, and a restaurant called the Tin Table.

Of course, there are already a lot of cupcake options on the hill. Personally, I never got on the bandwagon. Was all for the short-lived waffle movement. Also, toast is good. (Molly Moons, on other hand, I'm kinda too excited...

Fast Food Lloyd Wright, originally uploaded by rutlo.

It is our sad duty to inform you that the Madison branch of the Taco Time fast food restaurant chain is about to serve its last batch of Mexi-Fries. CHS received the following tip from neighbor Westley:

I saw a sign on Taco Time. I don't remember exactly what it said, but I think it either said they are closing or moving. Not quite sure.

Note the panic -- Westley was so distraught he was unable to recount even what he had read on the heartbreaking sign.

A quick phone chat with manager Rodney Keith confirmed the worst.

The Madison Taco Time will close its doors on Sunday. Keith says he's moving on to a new gig. All other questions were referred to company HQ so no word on whether this was a surgical closure or part of a widespread downsizing for the chain.

According to the Taco Time Web Northwest site, the Madison location is one of 75 in the state. Wikipedia says the chain has more than 200 franchises in the US and another 75 in Canada and Japan.

The departure is also the latest in a long, slow exodus from the Hill for national fast food chains. Hill outlets of Taco Bell, Jack in the Box, and Kentucky Fried Chicken have all closed within the past three years.

We got a tip tonight on the stealthiest restaurant opening on Capitol Hill ever. The premise of the tip was so audacious that we couldn't print it until verifying with our own eyes and camera lens. The setting: an abandoned fast food restaurant, Pike/Pine. Take it away neighbor Pete:

Today I was walking up pine to value village and I saw the old kfc had a neon "open" sign in their window. The sign on the door said rancho bravo tacos. After leaving vv, I went back and had lunch there. The menu reminded me of a taco truck's, and that's because ranco bravo also operates the taco truck next to the dick's in the u-district. I had 4 tacos (2 beef, 2 taco) and a jarritos for $9.25; it was good (especially the chicken), but not as good as tacos gringos'. Apparently they had just opened last night and haven't really put the word out.

Unbelievable until I stopped by for the pics and saw for myself. Outside, the sign is a taco bus style vinyl banner. Inside, they've ripped out most of the Tricon Global industrial...

Cakes, etc. are in place tonight for some kind of private event. Sign says opens for business on Wednesday.

Also, btw and related only by location, El Tajin is out of business. Adios.

Sent from my iPhone

When CHS first walked into Roy Street Coffee and Tea this morning shortly before 7 am, the place was bustling.

See pictures of the opening here.

According to Major Cohen, Senior Project Manager and a key proponent of these "inspired by Starbucks" cafes,  the first group to arrive were the coffee nerds (our characterization - not his).  Many in the group were excited to try the Panama La Esmeralda (CHS sampled this brew and it was one of the best cups of coffee we've had in a while) and other Clover beans.  As we searched for a table, a bunch of them were excitedly discussing coffee, machinery and methods at a communal table.  The morning crowd was composed of Starbucks corporate family members (those visiting from corporate included CEO Howard Schultz ), well-to-do older couples from North Capitol Hill, curiosity seekers, I-5 shores residents and those of us in search of good coffee and free wi-fi.

Starbucks PR agency Edelman emphasized to us that this is the second LEED certified<...

As promised, we asked Peter Levy of Chow Foods (owner of Endolyne Joe's, The Hi-Life, 5 Spot and Atlas Foods - and former co-owner of Coastal Kitchen), for comment on Chao (the new restaurant opening tomorrow at 12th & Pike) and possible confusion regarding whether Chao was a Chow Foods eatery.  Here is Peter's response in full:

Chow Foods is disappointed that Yamashiro’s LLC would elect to open a restaurant with the name CHOW Bistro.  When this came to our attention in mid‐August we contacted Yamashiro’s directly and indicated that the choice of this name would confuse customers, vendors, the media and real estate community and requested that they change the name of their soon to open restaurant.  

Yamishiro elected to dis‐regard our inquiries about this matter on two separate occasions and we were required to indicate  a possible legal action to finally receive a response from their legal representative.  

Yamishiro attempted to placate us by simply changing the spelling...

I had a morning dentist appointment last Friday and was searching for a place to have breakfast on my way downtown.  Having read that Cafe Stellina had started offering weekday breakfast, I looked forward to trying out the menu.  Although Stellina had announced in their CHS-ad that they would be offering breakfast beginning at 8 am (and their answering machine confirmed this as the opening time), they were still closed at 8:30 a.m. last Friday.  I then moved onto Oddfellows - who informed me at 8:45 that their kitchen now did not open till 9 (and food would probably be not ready till 9:15).  This is a retreat from Oddfellow's initial concept as an "all day, all night neighborhood meeting place" that would begin serving at 7 am.  At this point, I no longer had time for breakfast - so I just walked to my appointment.  But I started thinking about sitdown weekday breakfast possibilities - here is what I can think of (please suggest additional venues in the comments):

• Glo's (opens at...

For our Mother's Day brunch (without our mothers), my companion and I decided to visit Smith.  To our vegetarian surprise, the delicious veggie omelette was no longer on the menu!  Craving eggs and hashbrowns, we quickly paid for our coffees and left.  Coincidentally, this was the second Capitol Hill restaurant I abandoned this week.  On Thursday, I left Than Brothers on Thursday after waiting 25 minutes for veggie pho.  After being told "it was on its way!" at least 3 times, I finally gave up when I heard a server admit to another table that they were out of veggie broth.

I certainly don't think that I have a constitutional right to a decent vegetarian dish at every restaurant, but I admit that I'm surprised by the neo-Capitol Hill trend of meat-centric menus.  Doesn't it make business sense to offer at least one or two veggie entrees that are comparable in size and flavor to the meaty choices (e.g., Honey Hole, Annapurna, Bimbo's)?

Anybody know what happened to Siam on Broadway? Or of plans for that block now that Siam, El Tajin and the Jade Pagoda are empty?

(update by jseattle -- Looks like I have some reporting to do on what's next for the building.)

Hello Seattle has this picture of the goodbye note:

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Broadway Grill T-giving menu

Are you going to be a Turkey Day orphan this year? Not interested in wasting your day in the kitchen? Like turkey tikka masala? I'm starting this thread to keep track of which restaurants are open for your Thanksgiving feasting pleasure. Add anything you find out about or can recommend from past experience in the comments. We'll worry about which coffee shops are open on Turkey Day closer to next Thursday.

Here's the two we've been able to track down:

• Broadway Grill: They've been advertising their Thanksgiving buffet for a few weeks now.
• Chutney's, 15th Ave: They were open last year and I assume they'll be open again this year.

Also, if you know run into anybody who needs a good meal, Mount Zion Baptist Church is hosting a free Thanksgiving feast from 11:45a-1:45p.

Dirty Originally uploaded by beatnikside

Hey, did you hear about the new neighborhood coffeeshop opening Friday?

Say what you will about Starbucks' spawn 15th Ave Coffee and Tea, they'll have at least one feature that most will agree is a good opportunity: a community bulletin board. Another place to hang your dog walking offers, housesitting in France ads, and multi-level marketing deals. I've even stuck a few CHS biz cards on a neighborhood corkboard or two, driving, I'm sure, 10s to the site over the years.

This morning, I got a phone call from Michelle, who is helping to design the location for Starbucks. I didn't ask her about this or this. Because she called me and needed help.

The Starbucks 15th Ave Coffee and Tea community bulletin board is empty and they would like it filled. Please stop by 328 15th Ave E today with your flyers, posters, postcards, business cards and papers of various forms. Ask for Michelle.

Get your gluttony on!  As promised, Cupcake Royale is opening its store at 11th & Pike near Boom Noodle (1111 East Pike) in time for the Capitol Hill Block Party.  Opening date will be 7/22.

Lucky timing and hot weather provided an opportunity for a quick look inside The Lookout, a new neighborhood bar/pub opening later this month in the the remodeled Artemis space on Bellevue Ave E. Scheduled to open June 19th, The Lookout is looking good: warm wood floors, seating, and wainscoting, and lovely, bright mural paintings from artists NKO and NTG.

The windows of the space have been papered over for months, keeping the interior remodel and in-progress wall murals very hush hush. Today,  the front door was open and the architect/designer (Bryce?) was happy to chat for a minute about the opening schedule.

Happily, The Lookout plans to start using the building's back patio for outdoor seating; it is partially shaded and has a terrific  westerly view with all the usual suspects you would expect to see when perched over I-5. ( Lake Union, Queen Anne, the Needle, the Sound, and beyond.)

The Lookout is a new place with new concept,...

Even with its 4-star CHS review average, Rancho Bravo is so last week. Here's the new hot (dog) kid on the block, Wandering Wieners.

Photo: Matthew Parker

Haven't seen it with my own eyes so this might just be an excellent Photoshop job but tipster Matthew reports that owner Andrea will be operating the cart every day of the week in Cal Anderson. Had a Wandering Wiener? Add your CHS Review.

I had a chance to stop by Oddfellows this morning and I liked the look of the place (a cross between a French bistro and a schoolhouse) and the food & coffee as well.

I had the breakfast panini (sans bacon) and was happy with my choice.  They have a few magazines at the cafe, and I browsed through the Seattle Magazine (January 08 issue) looking for their recommendations for Cheap Eats in Capitol Hill.  Below is their carnivore-centric list:

• Jamon Serrano Egg Gruyere Crepe at Joe Bar ($7.50)
• Stewed Chicken Tacos at Taco Gringos ($2 each)
• Deep Fried Smelt at Pike Street Fish Fry ($6)
• Poutine at Skillet ($5)
• Braised Wild Boar Sloppy Joe at Quinn's ($10)
• Crispy Drunken Chicken Sandwich at Baguette Box ($6.50)
• Salty Linguini Puttanesca ($9.75) or Linguini al Vongole ($9.75) at Machiavelli

The Oddfellows Cafe + Bar feels like something special from the moment you arrive. The exterior has a cozy European vibe, and the spacious interior makes you feel like you’ve arrived at your favorite cafe, with old brick, exposed beams, and rustic hardwood floors. The menu is printed on a large sign on the wall (and I hope this doesn’t make them reluctant to change it). The large windows are good for reading and people watching. The unusual tables in the center looked like little plastic picnic tables at first, but I’m pretty sure they were painted wood. They weren’t very popular while I was there for lunch, but I suspect they will be more popular for late night drinks. Old-timey details, like an antique typewriter, old black and white photos, Mary Jane candy, and a rustic flag, make it look like it’s been around forever. The antique  Oddfellows sign shows that someone really cares about this place.

My hot tea arrived in a quaint press pot with a pre-warmed cup and saucer. Big points for the pre-warming. My...