The roots of a new project are forming on Capitol Hill (Image: Tamarind Tree)
We now know more about the office plus restaurant future of the onetime Ford Model T showroom that was the home of Capitol Hill gay bar and dance club R Place.
The family behind Little Saigon’s popular Tamarind Tree says it is preparing plans — just a short First Hill Streetcar ride away — for an exciting new project in the E Pine building.
Owner Tam Nguyen has confirmed the effort with CHS. There is much work to be done.
CHS reported nearly a year ago that R Place had lost its lease and would not reopen in the multi-story space it had called home as it held its own for 37 years of queer partying on Capitol Hill. The Comeback, a project from manager Floyd Lovelady, now carries on the R Place heart and soul in SoDo.
In July 2021, CHS reported that Capitol Hill-based tech firm Add3 was eyeing a deal for a new headquarters, and space for a new venue in the former R Place building. The effort would include “core and shell renovation” of the three-story, unreinforced masonry building, maintaining nightlife use on the ground floors and creating new office space above. The $1.1 million construction project with Mallet Construction would overhaul the first two floors formerly home to the longtime Capitol Hill gay bar in preparation for a new tenant.
(Image: NWMLS)
Now it appears that Add3 and Tamarind Tree are ready to be new neighbors on Capitol Hill.
Add3 has not responded to past CHS inquiries about the project and any purchase agreement under contract on the property.
Tamarind Tree debuted off S Jackson in 2004 and built a reputation for elevated Vietnamese Cuisine in the heart of Little Saigon and has so far weathered the pandemic. Its Belltown sibling Long Provincial lasted 12 years before succumbing in 2020 to the challenges of COVID’s impact on the city’s dining scene.
Tamarind Tree’s new plans on Capitol Hill will be interesting to watch play out. Nguyen said the family is planning a new restaurant venture that will stretch beyond food and drink.
“We would like to empower small business owners, embrace the community that we serve, and create one of the kind experiences that the neighborhood is lacking,” Nguyen said.
For now, it might be too early to add the new project to our list of food and drink projects to look forward to in 2022. But, now, when you walk by Pine and Boylston and think wistfully of R Place, you’ll know something is being planned to return heart and soul to the corner.
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Not surprised they are looking to expand out of Little Saigon. Doesn’t appear there is much of a future there for businesses.
That is horrible. I hope 12th & Jackson was not totally bought up by out of state developers.
Now THIS is some good news for the neighborhood. Looking forward to having those delicious Tamarind Tree rolls on the regular!
That’s nice. If we can’t have R Place, a longtime local restaurant is a good alternative. Having one in walking distance would be excellent!
12th & Jackson is rough. Terrible for all the restaurants.
Problem with moving to Capitol Hill is no parking. Current Tamarind Tree location has huge parking lot.
The whole appeal of capitol hill is you don’t have to drive to get places. There’s plentiful light rail and bus options to get here. Wasting land and money building parking lots should never be expected or required here.
I like getting off the Hill for a short drive to dinner.
Tamarind Tree has a cool weirdness to it now and that will be lost as just another Capitol Hill “Box” for food.
That’s funny; my least favorite thing about Tamarind Tree is having to walk through that giant parking lot to get to the restaurant.
Also Tamarind Tree was a wonderful place to eat during Covid with their big outdoor tent setup with waterfall and heaters. Really was a great go-to when everything else was closed.