Walking by the old Dilettante Chocolate storefront today that was going to be the new home of the B&O, I noticed that the windows were uncovered, and a ‘for lease’ sign was back up in the window. So it looks like the B&O is no longer moving in to that space. As we all know design review has been plowing ahead for the building that will replace the B&Os current location, so this doesn’t look good for B&O remaining on the hill. I know J Slog mentioned in a post that the B&Os owners were having trouble getting a loan to finance remodeling the Broadway location for move in. It’s too bad, I was looking forward to the B&O moving in there.
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Rumor has it their contractor recently sold his Georgetown property, packed up and moved to Mexico along with the money B&O had paid him to build out the space. Leaving them stuck with a 10 year lease on a space they now had no money to build out.
Dominic Holden reported the B&O loan info here:
http://slog.thestranger.com/slog/archives/2009/01/21/saving_
We’re often confused for each other ;-)
Regardless of the possible reasons, interesting to see the Broadway location change. I wouldn’t worry too much about B&O leaving the hill anytime soon — as I reported here, the development process of the Olive location has already stretched out over years and still there isn’t a project schedule:
http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2009/01/21/dont-mess-with-
I just spoke with the owner of B&O.
The property owner at the old location just gave him 2 to 3 more years on his lease. He’s staying in the old location.
It’s true he had to bail out of his new space on Broadway.
He’s worried because business is down 35%, and with all the rumors of B&O’s demise, things are getting worse.