29th and Jackson, where Frink Park meets the Central District, isn’t the first place you think of in Seattle’s food and drink scene but Ellie Rose says the neighborhood’s regulars made it the best even as the challenges of running a Seattle restaurant have added up:
I will miss everyone so much and have been so grateful to meet so many amazing people and be apart of your lives. Watching children grow up, seeing people get married, divorced, remarried. Witnessing young couples starting families. Being there for people who lost loved ones. Surviving a pandemic together. My heart is heavy and I feel so lucky to be apart of everyone’s life and a part of this community. I wish I could do it forever but it’s taking a toll on me and I need to start a new chapter.
Rose is ready to move on and Central Pizza is changing hands. After a decade of Central District and Leschi pizza business, new owners are taking over. Pizza will possibly stay on the menu. But the rest is up in the air.
When she says the last three years were a drag, Rose isn’t complaining about the attention from her spin on the reality show 90 Day Fiancé — that was just good fun. Instead, the real drama of the pandemic and costs of doing business in Seattle are what added up to a decision to cash out and take a break.
“I’ll never be in the restaurant business in Seattle again,” Rose tells CHS. We believe her.
In the meantime, Central Pizza will remain open though next Friday, January 27th before an undetermined closure to give the new owners time to sort out a plan for what comes next and overhaul the space.
For more on the Central Pizza story, see this Vanishing Seattle obituary for the much-loved neighborhood business.
Central Pizza is located at 2901 S Jackson. Learn more at centralpizzaseattle.com.
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Place was fun, but you had to be prepared to make it a very long meal. About the slowest service I had in Seattle (which is fine, not everything needs to be super quick)
Then why comment? I see this said a lot about CD places and it’s feeling more dogwhistle-y by the day.
Because it’s an open forum and it’s my lived experience.
Tacky, LSRes. Not the time to go lobbing criticism.
It’s such a great low-key neighborhood spot for food and good vibes. I hope the new owners keep the pricing and atmosphere welcoming to families and people just looking to grab a bite, and not go out to fancy dinner (Mt Baker Ridge and Madrona already have that covered).
I lived down at the end of the block Central Pizza was on until 2018, and I always loved having such a great place in walking distance. It’s a real loss to have Ellie close up the shop.
Thanks for all the good times!