19th Ave E is losing one healthful business to the COVID-19 crisis but is set to welcome another to this quiet side of Capitol Hill.

Bounty Kitchen is making plans to take over the space left empty by the ugly exit of Tallulah’s late last year in a cloud of financial problems new owner Brad Haggen took over the Linda Derschang creation only a year earlier.

The restaurant has applied for a liquor license for a full bar at the 19th and Mercer location.

UPDATE: Bounty Kitchen’s start on Capitol HIll is being geared to the realities of the ongoing restrictions. Owner Meg Trainer tells CHS that will mean a beginning focused solely on takeout and delivery as the restaurant’s interior is overhauled and prepared for the future return of sit-down dining.

.”We’re humbled by the opportunity to expand at this time,” Trainer said.

The restaurant has been able to grow in a challenging time for the industry thanks to its core concepts of flexibility, efficiency, and healthy eating, Trainer says.

“There is a much larger conversation about what will happen with the restaurant industry but I think everyone has now learned a couple of things we’ve learned for a while.”

Trainer said over the next few weeks, the restaurant space at 19th and Mercer will be readied with a front section dedicated to takeout and delivery as work begins to overhaul the interior with a new look and feel. Bounty Kitchen is also planning to introduce a new entrance directly to the restaurant’s large patio with hopes of introducing sit-down dining there later this summer.

Trainer said it’s unclear what the “new normal” will be but she is planning the overhauled restaurant around about 50% of its previous capacity — a seating arrangement she expects could just become the way things are done.

With the other Bounty Kitchens are also in takeout and delivery only mode, Trainer says she has seen a mix with staff at one location opting to work in the new environment and guidelines while most of those at the other existing location opted for unemployment benefits.

“Capitol Hill will begin with a much more limited and efficient staffing,” Trainer said.

Bounty Kitchen’s success in trying times and its creation of “third place,” comfortable neighborhood hangouts is what brought the business to its new location on Capitol Hill, Trainer said.

“The landlord was really looking for something that would be active on that corner all day every day,” she said. “It’s risky but we also feel that ’this too shall pass’ and in the future this will be a great location for us.”

In the meantime, Bounty Kitchen is staying flexible and looking forward to meeting the residents around 19th Ave E.

“We think we can be a good neighbor for a long time,” Trainer said.

Original report: The “lease asset” for the space hit the market to start 2020 including the “trendy brunch café & bar,” its “$8,108 + $2,555 NNN” lease through May 2022, and two five-year options. The “formerly Tallulah’s” business also came 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.

The five-year-old Bounty Kitchen is known for its healthful approach to comfort food and currently boasts two Seattle locations — one in the midst of Amazon’s urban campus on Lenora and the Queen Anne original. “Bounty Kitchen is a modern neighborhood café dedicated to quality food in flavor and harvest,” husband and wife team Trainer and Russ Raade say about their restaurant. “We are committed to improving the way that people eat with a chef driven menu and a focus on healthy eating.”

The restaurant has not yet announced an opening date for Bounty Kitchen Capitol Hill. You can learn more at bountykitchenseattle.com.

As one vacancy is filled, other commercial space on 19th Ave E will be empty. You can blame COVID-19 and its impact on workout and health facilities like gyms and yoga studios.

Ritual House, which transformed a former theater space in 2015 and expanded next door in 2017, announced it will not reopen.

“We have exhausted every option to stay open through the last four months of global and economic disrupt. This is painfully the only course we have at this time,” owners Sarah and Stuart Pohl write about the decision to close.

The studio has been shuttered for weeks under COVID-19 restrictions that have also forced the closure of gyms and training facilities around Capitol Hill.

Ritual House is planning opportunities for its community to say goodbye and says it is making arrangements with those who bought memberships. You can visit ritualhouseseattle.com for more information.

“The most difficult part about having to be the ones making this decision is knowing how many people it will affect,” the owners write. “We knew the story of Ritual House would come to an end at some point in time. Never, ever, did we think this would be its path.”

Capitol Hill and Central District COVID-19 Crisis Closures: CHS has tried to confirm all reported statuses. Please let us know if any information needs to be updated [email protected] -- LAST UPDATED: 3/23/21

Food and drink

• Little Neon Taco, reported 3/1/2021
• By Tae, reported 3/1/2021
• R Place, reported 2/2/2021
• The Wandering Goose, reported 12/29/2020
• Barca, announced 11/11/2020
• Suika, lease issues, announced 9/27/2020
• Juicebox Cafe, announced 9/28/20
• Heritage Distilling Capitol Hill, announced 9/25/20
• Amandine, closing 9/30/20 announced 9/25/20
• Bar Sue, announced 9/25/20
• Marination Station, announced 9/14/20
• Ha Na, announced 8/27/20
• Intrigue Coffeehouse, announced 8/21/20
• Nates Wings & Waffles, Happy Grillmore and the Central District Ice Cream Company, announced 8/6/20
• Americana, Broadway, announced 7/23/20
• The Lounge by AT&T and Ada’s Discovery Cafe, E Thomas, announced 7/7/20
• Bill's Off Broadway, E Pine, announced 6/24/20
• Stumptown, 12th Ave, announced 5/26/20
• Adana, 15th and Pine, announced 5/21/20
• Tougo, 18th and Union, announced early April, Yesler location remains open
• My Thai, 10th Ave E, closed but we're not sure when it shuttered

Retail and more

• Rocket Fizz, reported 3/23/2021
• Drizzle and Shine, BurnCycle, and Blue Sky Cleaners, reported 3/1/2021
• Everyday Music, 10th Ave, June 2021
• QFC, 15th Ave E, 4/24/21
• Sameday Testing, 15th Ave E, February
• GameStop, Broadway, 2020
• Velocity Dance Center, 12th Ave, will continue as organization but leaving Capitol Hill space, announced 12/4/20.
• Stock and Pantry, E Pine, announced 10/14/20
• Take 2, 15th Ave E, announced 9/30/20
• No Parking, E Pike, announced 9/5/20
• Ritual House, 19th Ave E, reported 7/15/20
• Totokaelo, 10th Ave, reported 7/13/20
• Mode of Fitness, E Pine
• Urban Outfitters, Broadway, youth fashion chain's exit began last summer as Broadway Market began search for new tenant
• Le Frock, E Pike, consignment shop announced permanent closure in April

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