For $1.7 million, you could own the Volunteer Park Cafe. We don’t know what it cost, but you could have bought the Madison Valley Essential Bakery Cafe.
And, yes, you can buy Tallulah’s.
The financially troubled and shuttered 19th Ave and Mercer restaurant is on the market as a “lease asset” for $400,000.
For that, you get the “trendy brunch café & bar,” its “$8,108 + $2,555 NNN” lease through May 2022, and two five-year options that could put you in business at the corner through 2032 which we are sure will be a very, very fine year. The “formerly Tallulah’s” business also comes with a sizable roster of “assets” including “modern decor,” a Hatco Model No. GRAH-48 PGlo-Ray Infrared Foodwarmer, a La Marzocco Linea 2ee Semi-Auto Espresso Machine, and 12 Folding patio Chairs.
Sorry, restaurant founder Linda Derschang’s painting of Cashmere the cat has disappeared and we’re told many of the lovely but suffering plants have been rescued from the locked up and darkened restaurant.
If you’re wondering what that “NNN” in the lease is all about, here’s chef Matt Dillon explaining “triple net” in the context of his decision to close Sitka and Spruce.
CHS reported on the financial implosion and sputtering closure of Tallulah’s in mid-December as new owner Brad Haggen’s payroll and cash flow problems led to staff walk outs and community fundraising for the unpaid workers. Haggen has not responded to CHS since closing the restaurant the grocery family scion purchased from Derschang in 2018.
It’s not clear what state the financial status of the company Haggen registered to operate Tallulah’s is in. There are no records of any bankruptcy proceedings around the restaurant and the broker on the sale has not responded to CHS’s requests for more information. We also have found no record in King County of any legal proceedings related to the payroll issues employees reported at the restaurant. We are also checking with the state’s department of labor.
In a sly nod to the ugly ending at Tallulah’s when employees told us a skeleton crew was convinced to try to open, resorting to a “taco night” menu to try to make a go of it, a sign advertising a coming Taco Bell Cantina appeared inside the restaurant in recent weeks. We’re not sure who was behind the prank but maybe they also know what happened to the painting of Linda’s cat.
In the meantime, Tallulah’s has hit the market and is sitting there waiting for a happier, $400,000 next chapter.
UPDATE: Linda’s kitty is in good hands — “We went to Tallulah’s to take a few of the plants that were dying. AND OUR CAT!!! I really hope someone creates something wonderful in this beautiful space.” A fan of Cashmere? Of course, you could always buy your own.
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