UPDATE: CHS stopped by for the May Day opening
Chophouse Row will be Capitol Hill’s most ambitious development to open in 2015, tying together a slate of likeminded, independent shop owners and offices in a now proven formula from developer Liz Dunn.
To celebrate the five year anniversary of Dunn’s original “Capitol Hill complex“, the tenants at Melrose Market are hosting a party on Saturday starting at 11 AM that will be open to the public and include, among other provisions, Raclette cheese nachos.
As the trio of office tenants settle in upstairs inside the Chophouse building on 11th Ave between Pike and Union, the customer facing elements of Dunn’s project are now lining up to open. First up: Kurt Farm Shop and Niche Outside, two businesses with Capitol Hill roots opening their doors May 1st inside the nearly finished marketplace.
As the only non-food and drink tenant, Niche Outside’s nature inspired shop will feature the finely-tuned tastes of Nisha Kelen, backed by her 30 years in the flower and garden business. Handmade watering cans, wax canvas aprons, and custom blended candles are all items Kelen says you’ll be able to find in her urban-focused shop.
“I’ve always wanted to have a place to go to get a really great gift for somebody that’s linked to the garden,” said Kelen, who just celebrated the 18th anniversary of Fleurish floral shop at 19th and Madison.
Just next door to Niche, farm-to-table pioneer Kurt Timmermeister has taken over a 300-square-foot patch of space for his newest venture. Kurt Farm Shop will feature a selection of dairy products from the farms of Timmermeister and friends, including the best cheeses of Puget Sound, yogurt and ice creams flavored by the bounty of the Pacific Northwest. Timmermeister closed his last Capitol Hill venture, Septieme, in 2004 and rolling his investment into his legendary Kurtwood Farm.
The May 1st opening will be a soft opening of sorts for Chophouse, Kelen said, as buildouts continue thoughout the building. Continue reading