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It’s been nearly a decade wait for a business to fully put this space to use
(Image: CHS)
When they designed the Cue Apartments mixed-use building at the corner of Pine and Harvard to echo the block’s street-level auto row-era structures to take advantage of the neighborhood’s generous preservation incentives, architects added a unique commercial space along E Pine that recreated the old auto garage the development would replace.
The 15th Ave Garage — yes, on E Pine — is long gone but the unique space has now gone nine years since the redevelopment’s completion without a business worthy of the design.
While the original auto row showroom and garage dimensions of its most loved buildings are often cited in the growth of Capitol Hill’s bar and nightlife scene, the imitation on E Pine just hadn’t found a way to fit in.
A new project is looking to change that. Work is underway to complete a new food and drink project behind the E Pine roll-up garage door.
Phe will be a Vietnamese cafe and bar from Kim Thy Hang and Phuong Le set to neighbor the corner’s Pelicana Chicken which opened in the former Bill’s off Broadway space three years ago. We’re already looking forward to the Cà Phê Sữa Đá.
An ambitious change of use buildout is underway in the space that has been mostly empty over the years after coffee bean delivery service Bean Box made the berth its startup home for a time.
In addition to Pelicana, Phe will join nearby food and drink neighbors including the equally ambitious Pinoyshki Bakery and Cafe which opened to start 2024 and has brought new life to the E Pine side of the massive Pike Motorworks mixed-use development.
A little farther down the Hill, new dance club Massive’s nightlife ambitions include daytime plans for a new banh mi sandwich shop that would connect to the food and drink roots of co-owner Tam Nguyen of the Tamarind Tree Restaurant Group.
Meanwhile, work continues at Phe with permitting lining up for an opening in coming weeks.
Phe will open soon at 721 E Pine. Watch CHS for details.
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Soooo basically another bubble tea shop?
The racism in this comments on the board when it comes to Asians is crazy.
People are just poking fun at the trend of restaurants constantly opening. If there was a glutton of pasta shops, tacos or yoga studios I’m sure people would use those as a “oh it’s probably gonna be another one of those”
Then poke fun at non-Asian places? Why not a burger place that comes and goes?
You must have missed the comments towards Local Bigger Burger from a week or so ago. Plenty of poking of fun directed towards that failed and soon to be reopened establishment.
Yeah saying a Vietnamese restaurant is the same as a boba shop, is just saying “all asians are the same”
The obvious subtext of “Soooo basically another bubble tea shop?” in reaction to a place that clearly isn’t one, is “All Vietnamese places are basically bubble tea shops.” Which is, yeah, kinda racist. CD Resident is correct to call it out.
Eye roll to you. A lot of the same restaurants moving in when we have some great places already. I love Crane’s Landings’ banh mis and Chap and his family are wonderful people. Put your money where your mouth is. Would love to see a BBQ joint move into the neighborhood.
Reminds me of the great Capitol Hill Tanning Salon Era ca. 2005-2010.
Oh yeah racism. That’s the ticket. Nothing to do with the million bobas already here. Sheesh.
Vietnamese coffee is not boba-related, and nobody here is complaining about how Realfine and Ghost Note are nearby (which would be the comparisons people would make if they were actually worried about the density of similar businesses). So yes: it’s racist.
not “worrying about the density of smaller businesses” is NOT racist.
Calling out “racism” where none exists dilutes out those examples where racism truly is a factor. Kind of like “the sky is falling!”
How is saying that a Vietnamese restaurant is “just another bubble tea shop” _not_ racist?
Equating all Asians as the same is by definition racist.
I’m not made about this. About 10 years ago it seemed there were a bunch of Pho places in the area but not as many now.
Well, I’m delighted to have a place doing ca phe sua da here for days when I’m too lazy to head to Hello Em.
Looking forward to a proper Vietnamese cafe on the hill! Between Phe and Bonito, it’s exciting to seeing more culture-specific coffee shops opening up in the neighborhood.
And as other commenters have mentioned, Viet coffee isn’t the same as boba. Boba is bubble tea (not coffee), and from Taiwan (not Vietnam).
One way or another. I know nothing about Boba except lots and lots of them or Viet coffee but am always eager to explore. Taurus Ox is on my list. So CD Resident thinks we just don’t want Asian businesses? Because just don’t like those doggone Asians? If so, dumb. And disgusting. One of the reasons I moved to Seattle from the Midwest many years ago was that I loved the Asian elements woven through the city. College kid enamored with Buddhism and Alexandra David Neel and all things Asian. Raku pottery. Floating World Japanese prints. Mokume jewelry metal work. Now I’m a racist I guess. Go figure.
Unfortunately, I don’t think the 15th Ave Garage owner ever moved back into the space when it was redone. They basically had to walk away because, from what I’ve heard, the redesigned space was somehow built incorrectly, and could support the Garage business (something about how the space was reconfigured….i don’t recall the specific issue). Kind of sad