Capitol Hill nightspot Rose Temple will soon give way to new bar The Wash after one last month of business on E Olive Way.

In the end, the June 2019-born Rose Temple has been a pretty good investment.

Owners Austin Polley and Benjamin Smith were able to build the E Olive Way watering hole with a shoestring budget after the previous tenant sunk a fortune into a failed speakeasy venture. Polley tells CHS they’ll exit with a payout for helping The Wash get started after January.

The new ownership includes some faces familiar to Rose Temple patrons including Emilio Esparza. CHS hopes to have more from them about the plans for The Wash soon.

The bar will be part of a ripple of new food and drink activity to start the year on E Olive Way including Latinx street food at Bad Chancla from chef José Garzón and a teensy tiny cocktail bar project from Kate Opatz.

Donna’s isn’t going anywhere

As for the Rose Temple guys, Polley said they weren’t looking to sell but the opportunity was well-timed for the duo who first started working together at Westward under Renee Erickson’s restaurant group. Polley is a new father and preparing to go back to school to be a history teacher while Smith will continue to work in the industry.

They both also have another mouth to feed. Donna’s will continue lower on E Olive Way where Polley and Smith opened the new lounge with bar pasta, cocktails, and the spirit of Vito’s last fall.

In the meantime, there are a few goodbye events to plan and plenty of Rose Temple merch to move.

Rose Temple will remain open Tuesday through Saturday only through January at 1801 E Olive Way. You can learn more at rosetemplebar.com.

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