“Eat Like You’re on Capitol Hill,” goes the Port of Seattle’s introduction for one of its newest food and drink destinations.
CHS reported on the plans for the Capitol Hill Food Hall in late 2018. After some delays, the new venue has debuted in Concourse A, “a gourmet market powered by local purveyors of exceptional food and drinks, serving up a taste of place with every bite.”
As you would probably expect, the results of such an enterprise are both completely bizarre and apropos. We can’t explain the large circular void at the core of the facade but the faux masonry certainly invokes the charm of many of the preservation incentive-boosted mixed-use projects along Pike and Pine.
Inside, the vendor list has shifted a bit. Caffe Ladro, The Bakery with sandwiches from Grand Central and baked goods from Schwartz Brothers, Chowder Shack from Pike Place Chowder, True Burger, Pizza Vino, and a General Store round out the options. Portland’s Salt and Straw — which, yes, has an outlet on E Pike — is also in the mix. Macrina Bakery, Jujubeet, and Slate Coffee were in the original plans but apparently stepped aside.
The “7,077 square-foot dining experience” is located between Gates A5 and A6 and includes “a dedicated performance space for live music.”
Meanwhile, another important component of Capitol Hill culture is also now part of the port’s booming airport food, drink, and retail business. Elliott Bay Book Co.’s Sea-Tac shop has opened in the C Gates central terminal area.
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All they need to do is change the wording on that facade signage to “Capital Hill Food Hall,” and they will be golden!
I’m not sure, but the Hill has always been spelled like the building-capitol. Not capital like a upper case letter or seat of government. Is that wrong?
I think he was trying to make a joke but failed miserably.
Historically, Seattle was supposed to be the Capitol, and Olympia the port city. Capitol Hill is Capitol, because that’s where they anticipated the building of the states Capitol
Capitol Hill was named in 1901, well after Olympia was already named the capitol of the state.
Alexandra’s comment is one of those weird stories that is probably a holdover from the pre-internet days. I remember hearing that version well into the 2000s, when the internet allowed for easy disproving of it.
While there’s no definitive origin of the name, it’s likely named after the Capitol Hill neighborhood in Denver. The wife of James Moore, who platted much of “Broadway Hill” came from Denver.
Olympia had been the capitol of Washington since it became a territory in 1853 and there is no evidence that the government ever intended to move the location of the capitol and it in fact goes against common practice for most states created post 1800 to NOT locate their capitol in or near their most populous city.
Now that’s not to say that Moore didn’t claim the former story as a selling point for his newly platted neighborhood, but the Denver origin has much more merit to it.
Voters were asked in 1889 where they would like the Capitol. See Article:
https://www.sos.wa.gov/archives/timeline/detail.aspx?id=235
For the true Cap Hill experience they’ll need panhandlers out the front and people shooting up in the restrooms.
lol u mad
Don’t forget groups of pigeons pecking out piles of vomit from the night before.
@theyseemetrollin /thread
And where is Dicks here?
That Wallingford chain?
Yeah, remember “Posse on N 45th”? That was such a great song!
Down the street by Lowe’s
I’ve never seen a F&B strategy so bewildering than that of Sea-Tac’s recent adventures. I don’t even intend that in a mean way – it just makes zero sense and leaves me scratching my head.
An ersatz “Capitol Hill” themed eatery space with no actual – except one – Capitol Hill-based establishments. That is sooo Sea-Tac.
what a goofy idea. derrp.
A Pike Place hall with the guys throwing fish would be funnier at the air port.
This is probably hands down the dumbest concept I’ve ever seen. And what’s up with the vendors?
Never heard of them and I have lived in Seattle 25 years.
The eatery concept and implementation seems very odd. However, imitation is the sincerest form of flattery. At least someone involved in SeaTac thinks Capitol Hill is cool. Hopefully it will bring more visitors to Capitol Hill businesses… or maybe visitors will skip the hill since they experienced it at the airport. ;-)
Any junkies harassing you for money on your way in and out?
Or camped ot in a line right in front of the broadway market QFC?!?!
Needs an IHOP.
THIS!
In a few years it will probably be transformed into a bank and an urgent care.
LOL! Nailed it!!
Catching a flight later this evening and look forward to checking out the new food court – with more vendors and a live music venue, it certainly appears to be an improved experience over what was there before.
Ew, David!!!
This food hall was created to control the narrative the moment tourists arrive at SeaTac that Capitol Hill is something else besides a soulless void for newly minted tech bros.
lol, oh the pain.
https://imgur.com/COVnEIs
Sure thing sugartits. Now make my double espresso will ya.
Almost as authentic as the Ballard Brew Hall, featuring such Ballard favorites as “Freemont” Sky Kraken and Stella Artois.
Knowing about the SeaTac situation whereby a few local, small businesses partner with the big, national corporate airport concessionaires to bring you these new, glorified Seattle options, it’s really just faux, “local” flavor that feels forced and not so authentic. The idea was to feature more small business entrepreneurs (women/minority owned big plus) to give them opportunities but its been a disingenuous attempt to also kick out longstanding businesses that make money, serve the public what they want (that’s truly local) and return $$ so this whole endeavor is self sustaining and not continuously utilizing your tax dollars. Let’s just say, the big players that have managed airport concessions for eons, know how to play the game to still control a lot of that “local” flava. The same game is played in the stadiums too.
If it turns out its any good, they should put a Notice of Proposed Land Use on it for its teardown and replacement with 150 luxury apartments and parking for three cars.