(Images: La Marzocco)
The tile of a Bellevue Ave cafe space is shining again. Offline Coffee is ready to roll out spring and summer flavors after a winter opening on the northwest edge of the Hill. Its flavors add to an increasingly international mix of espresso and cafe love on Capitol Hill.
CHS reported in September on plans for the “Chinese-inspired coffee + matcha cafe and light eatery” from first time food and drink entrepreneurs Krystal Graylin and Lucy Kong. Continue reading
(Image: Haley Blavka Photography/Save the Royvue)
A Capitol Hill apartment building once at the center of a community effort to save the 1924-era structure from being converted to microhousing has been sold.
The Bellevue Ave Roy Vue Apartments building was acquired by Seattle-based real estate investment firm Kite Partners earlier this month for $11.5 million, according to county records.
Nearly a decade ago, the previous owners of the 34-unit building, Alliance Multifamily Investments, and developers Anew Apartments had an agreement and plan in place to build over the Roy Vue’s garden and overhaul the three-story building to create 147 small efficiency dwelling units in the structure.
The Save the Roy Vue effort was formed to stop the project. Historic Seattle and neighborhood group the Capitol Hill Historical Society joined forces to nominate the property for landmarks protections.
The landmarks board granted the Roy Vue protection status late in 2018.
The designation cited the Roy Vue’s embodiment of “the distinctive visible characteristics of an architectural style, or period, or a method of construction, its presence as “an outstanding work of a designer or builder” and because “of its prominence of spatial location, contrasts” of siting, age, and scale as “an easily identifiable visual feature of its neighborhood or the city.”
But the designation did not protect the building’s interior — only its exterior and garden. Continue reading
(Image: Finch & Pine)
Pacific Northwest cafe Finch and Pine has permanently closed leaving a Capitol Hill food and drink space that has hosted a steady rotation of interesting food and drink projects ready for its next.
The cafe space built with the redevelopment of the Belroy Apartments more than a dozen years ago on Bellevue Ave has hosted projects over the years from an intriguing list of Capitol Hill-related owners including Fuel Coffee founder Dani Cone, Team Maranation’s Kamala Saxton and Roz Edison, and Joe Bar’s Wylie Bush.
Finch and Pine debuted in the space with the circular tiled bar in 2021 as Sitka and Spruce alum Sara Moran became a first-time owner. Continue reading
The folks at Aamrai (Image: Aamrai)
A Capitol Hill food and drink venue where a December 2024 closure marked what many feared would be the start of a wave of Capitol Hill shutdowns is back in motion this summer.
Aamrai Indian Kitchen & Bar is now open on Bellevue Ave.
“Aamrai offers a warm and inviting ambiance, with soft lighting, cozy seating, and gentle background music, making it the perfect place to celebrate those special moments with your loved ones,” the opening announcement reads. “Take your guests on a decadent culinary journey as you feast on our authentic menu, thoughtfully created by our team.”
CHS reported here on the late 2024 closure of The Jilted Siren as the barely one-year-old lounge’s ownership blamed “short sighted, negligent decisions” at Seattle City Hall for contributing to its closure. Small business advocates feared The Jilted Siren’s end might be the start of shutdowns of Seattle’s restaurants, bars, and small businesses most impacted by the 2025 expiration of the city’s tip credit. Six months later, the closure wave never really materialized — but there are signs of change in the neighborhood’s food and drink economy. Continue reading
(Image: Harry’s Guest House)
The growing business family around Bellevue Ave’s Harry’s Fine Foods is facing a potentially serious financial setback over its use of a neighboring duplex it purchased from a beloved neighbor to serve as a bed and breakfast guest house.
The City of Seattle revoked the Short-term Rental Operator License for Harry’s Guest House in a February decision after it was determined the property was making more than one unit available for rent, a violation, the city inspector who found the listings on Airbnb said, of the license requirements in the program developed to ease and regulate the use of private Seattle homes on rental services.
An appeal for Harry’s owners Jake Santelli and Julian Hagood has been filed with the Hearing Examiner.
“Revoking our license would force us out of business, causing significant financial hardship,” Santelli writes in the appeal (PDF). “Without the ability to operate, we would lose our primary source of income, making it impossible to meet our financial obligations, including our mortgage payments.”
In the February 28th appeal, Harry’s asks the city to allow the Guest House to continue operating “while we work toward compliance.”
A spokesperson for the city’s Department of Finance and Administrative Services said they could not comment specifically on the licensing decision for Harry’s “as it is an active case under appeal with the Hearing Examiner” but said that city inspectors “conduct regular compliance checks on properties that advertise short-term rental opportunities to ensure compliance with the City’s short-term rental ordinance.” Continue reading
(Image: The Jilted Siren)
A Capitol Hill lounge is closing in what small business advocates say could be the start of a year of shutdowns for Seattle’s restaurants, bars, and small businesses most impacted by the 2025 expiration of the city’s tip credit.
The Jilted Siren announced headed into the holidays they were shutting down the Bellevue Ave location and considering a possible reopening in a more affordable location.
Their last night of business came over the weekend. How the city’s food and drink industry is faring, The Jilted Siren’s ownership says, will be part of the decision on whether — and where — to reopen.
“We will see what shakes out w all the changes coming in January. Seattle City council made some pretty short sighted, negligent decisions and there are going to be quite a few casualties from it,” the lounge posted on social media. Continue reading
(Image: J’s Quick Stop)
A man has been charged in the brutal shoplifting assault at Capitol Hill’s J’s Quick Stop that put the neighborhood market’s owner in the hospital. Meanwhile, the owner is apparently ready to move on from the Bellevue Ave store.
Marquez Echols, 40, has been charged with first-degree robbery in the September attack on owner Charlie Kim that police say stemmed from a dispute over the store’s 50 cent fee on a debit card charge for a 6-pack of beer. Police say Echols pummeled Kim with a can of beer before fleeing the store and leaving the shop owner bleeding on the sidewalk. Continue reading
Customers and nearby businesses are rallying to support the owner of J’s Quick Stop after a brutal beating during a shoplifting incident this week at the Bellevue Ave neighborhood market.
Local gym Cap Hill Fitness has launched a fundraiser to help support the recovery of Charlie Kim:
Hello everyone, my name is Clinton Davis and I started this fundraiser for a dear friend of mine, Charlie Kim. Charlie owns J’s Quick Stop, which happens to be next door to my gym. Charlie was viciously assaulted on September 12th by a shoplifter. Charlie will need time to recuperate and will unlikely be able to run his store. Anything you can give to help for his medical expenses would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.
Seattle Fire was called to the store to treat Kim for injuries in a nighttime assault and called for help from Seattle Police to investigate the assault. SPD has launched a robbery investigation in connection with the case.
J’s Quick Stop is located on the street level of the 2001-built Hawthorne Apartments. City business records indicate the market has operated as J’s since 2009.
CHS will check for more information about the incident from SPD and will update as we learn more.
More info from Harry’s Fine Foods
Harry’s Fine Foods is hosting a “Burgers and Beer” BBQ Sunday to benefit the family of sous chef Corey Bellett.
The Bellevue Ave restaurant is breaking out the grill for the community event with proceeds from the June 9th 5 to 8 PM gathering going to support Bellett’s wife. “Come together with us as we honor Corey’s memory with an evening of good food, drinks, and the warmth of community,” the restaurant invites.
Bellett was stabbed to death in an altercation on the platform inside Capitol Hill Station last month as the restaurant worker was on his way home after a Saturday brunch shift.
Shawn Moore has pleaded not guilty to charges of second degree murder and intimidating a witness in the case.
An online fundraiser has also been set up to help Bellett’s family through the tragedy.
Bellett was 37 years old.
A memorial has grown outside Harry’s Fine Foods (Image: CHS)
(Image: CHS)
The Capitol Hill chef stabbed and killed in an altercation on the Capitol Hill Station light rail platform Saturday has been identified as Corey Bellett.
The 37-year-old died of injuries suffered in the stabbing on the subway platform 200 feet below Broadway.
Seattle Fire responded to provide emergency aid to the victim and transport him to Harborview but Bellett succumbed to his injuries at the hospital.
Seattle Police were unable to immediately locate the suspect seen on Sound Transit security video fleeing with knife still in hand following the just before 6 PM assault. The department announced an arrest in the case Monday night after a U.S. Marshals task force tracked down the suspect and took him into custody in Eatonville earlier in the day. A hearing to determine probable cause and to continue to hold the 26-year-old in jail was scheduled for a Tuesday hearing.
Bellett — A fundraiser has been set up to help the victim’s family
Prosecutors say Shawn Patrick Moore will remain jailed on $3 million bail and a charging decision in the case is expected Thursday. The county prosecutor says Moore has not been charged by its office previously.
In the documents filed for the bail hearing, police say video evidence shows the victim brush by the suspect and another man as he moved down the station escalator Saturday evening. Police say the suspect and the man accompanying him then confronted Bellett on the platform and a fight ensued in which it appeared that Moore pulled a knife from his pocket and began stabbing Bellett. Police say Bellett fell onto the northbound track where Moore allegedly continued the assault before fleeing the station.
Police say the second man later contacted police to provide information about the suspect. Continue reading
