There is a Five Guys coming to First Hill

(Image: Five Guys)

There is a Five Guys coming to First Hill, the fourth location for the popular hamburger franchise in Seattle. The new Five Guys will bring up two or three memories of the area’s fast food past.

Construction is close to starting to create the burger joint at the corner of Minor and Madison on the ground floor of the Sentral First Hill apartment building next to the neighborhood’s Amazon Go convenience shop.

Eight years ago, the corner was home to McDonald’s before the restaurant’s demolition to make way for the planned 17-story “luxury apartment” project. Continue reading

Nightlife notes: Unicorn expansion, Vito’s RIP, and Julia’s still in the drag business on Broadway

Vito Santoro (right) created a neighborhood meeting place where lawyers, off-duty cops, and a high-profile politician or two could mingle, and who-knows-what would happen in the back room. (Image: Vito’s)

Heimstadt inside the coming soon new West Seattle Unicorn (Image: Unicorn)

 

  • UNICORN EXPANSION: It has been nearly four years since CHS reported on the 10-year anniversary of one-of-a-kind Pike/Pine circus bar the Unicorn. Included in that February, 2020 story were details of Adam Heimstadt and Kaileigh Wilson’s big top plans for a massive Unicorn expansion near West Seattle and White Center. And then COVID blew everything away. But Pike/Pine nightlife is back, baby, and word comes now that the Unicorn expansion is back in motion with hopes for a 2024 debut. Heimstadt and Wilson bought the 25,000 square foot property on 17 Ave SW in 2017 that is also home to a collection of local businesses that will remain in place. The new Unicorn sibling will be huge with a 64-foot long bar and plans for a teacup ride relocated from San Luis Obispo. Continue reading

Happy viral video New Year: 2024 begins with First Hill BASE jumpers, E Madison TJ’s gouda roll

There are lots of ways to enter the New Year. Some, like these illegal base jumpers spotted leaping from the 30-story 800 Columbia tower on First Hill Monday will float before an ungraceful plummet as reality sets in.

Too bad there are no skyscrapers on Capitol Hill.

Around here, others, like TikTok user @boeinghobo, will roll in with all the grace of a wheel of gouda from the Capitol Hill TJ’s.

@boeinghoboGouda Get’r♬ Piece of Me – Skid Row

We know the cheesy video is a few weeks old but it is only getting better with age. Happy New Year!

 

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First Hill building that became squat after 2022 fire burns again in massive 3-alarm blaze

The 9th and Madison building burned — again — Monday monring (Image: Seattle Fire)

A First Hill building emptied of residents and popular lounge Vito’s and troubled by squatters and trespassers since a major fire two years ago, burned again New Year’s Day, nearly completely charring the abandoned structure and forcing the displacement of residents in a neighboring apartment building.

Seattle Fire says the overnight January 1st Madison Apartments building fire at 9th and Madison required a three-alarm response and left the structure too unstable to complete a search for any possible victims.

According to city records, the building owned by developer Southport Financial Services had been in violation of the city’s Vacant Building Monitoring program and subject to an emergency order to correct safety issues in October. Continue reading

With First Hill’s Museum of Museums shuttered, new owner sought for its signature neon light sculpture

(Image: Museum of Museums)

A sad Seattle arts loss this year could be brightened with a new home for a creation that has lit up First Hill nights outside the Museum of Museums.

Artist Dylan Neuwirth’s ALL MY FRIENDS neon sculpture that has stood in front of the now-shuttered arts venue is currently up for auction on eBay. Starting bid? $30,000.

CHS reported here this summer as founder Greg Lundgren said heavy infrastructure costs to maintain and improve the former mid-century styled medical building were too much to continue the 2021-opened museum.

As part of the shutdown, Lundgren is now trying to find a new home for Neuwirth’s creation. Continue reading

Man reportedly shoots self while cleaning gun on First Hill

A man was shot in the head while reportedly cleaning his gun inside a First Hill apartment Tuesday night.

Seattle Police and Seattle Fire were called to the building in the 1000 block of Minor Ave just after 10:30 PM to the reported self-inflicted shooting. According to emergency radio updates, the man suffered a gunshot wound to the eye but was reported as conscious and speaking as police arrived.

Seattle Fire transported the victim to Harborview. We do not have an update on his condition.

 

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Seattle’s outdoor movie season isn’t over thanks to Autumn Movie Nights in Freeway Park

Seattle’s outdoor movie scene is becoming a year-round thing. Friday night will bring the latest screening in the Autumn Movie Nights series in Freeway Park. Bundle up.

This week’s free classic movie is The Goonies. One benefit to a Seattle November outdoor movie is you don’t have to wait as long for the sun to go down. The screenings begin at 7 PM.

The series isn’t over, either. December 8th will bring a showing of Elf as long as it isn’t raining. Snow? We’ll let the organizers from the Freeway Park Association decide on that.

 

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‘Stop the Skip’ — Seattle Subway calls for support for Midtown Station in light rail expansion plans

Sound Transit’s current vision for the future of key expansions like light rail to Ballard is muddier than Golden Gardens at low tide but one group continues to try to fight for clarity and access for Central Seattle transit riders.

The Seattle Subway group is calling for supporters to join an organizing meeting Wednesday night as Sound Transit is considering plans that would “skip” creation of a Midtown Station near 5th or 6th Ave as it tunnels through the area to create the new expanded lines.

“Sound Transit pledged a station for First Hill, the densest neighborhood in Washington, but they skipped it in Sound Move and are threatening to do it again in Sound Transit 3,” the Seattle Subway call reads. “Join Seattle Subway in saying NO to skipping Midtown Station! Let’s prevent Backroom Bruce from making transit worse for everyone in Puget Sound.”

CHS reported here earlier this year as rumblings grew around Sound Transit’s possible pullback on Midtown plans. The shifting plans could mean Sound Transit will once again be on the hook for offering an alternative after falling short on promised service to First Hill. Continue reading

Owner of Taurus Ox opening Ananas Pizzeria bringing Lao pizza and dive bar classics to First Hill

(Image: Ananas Pizzeria)

The flavors of a classic pizzeria and Lao cuisine are set to marry in Ananas Pizzeria, a pizza dive bar reintroducing classics while putting a spin on the classic pie from Seattle restaurateur Khampaeng Panyathong.

The pizza joint on 8th Ave is a new name returning to an old spot. The location was once filled by Primo Pizza Parlor, a favorite in the neighborhood. Taurus Ox and Ananas Pizzeria chef/owner Panyathong champions staying true to the roots of the local culture. The building has over 100 years of history within its walls and a new business is incoming.

“As soon as I walked in I was able to feel this energy and see beyond the rundown nature of the building,”  Panyathong said. “I was just envisioning the possibilities of what this space could become.”

Panyathong plans to open the new pizza joint this month.

Despite the Lao influence, Panyathong sees Ananas Pizzeria as a separate entity from Taurus Ox and its sibling Ox Burger. CHS reported here on the reshuffling of Taurus Ox and Ox Burger. Taurus Ox on 19th Ave E hosts a menu of traditional Lao cuisine, a mile southwest of the original Taurus Ox location, now Ox Burger. Panyathong says there are a few connections between his projects.

“I couldn’t miss this opportunity to do a Lao pizza,” Panyathong said. “We’re really close to figuring it out.” Continue reading

Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen bringing Liberian and Ghanaian flavors and West African favorites to First Hill

Fahnbulleh’s food is ready for more glamour shots (Image: Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen)

Tina Fahnbulleh celebrating in August as she got the keys to her first brick and mortar restaurant (Image: Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen)

 

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The West African flavors of Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen are set to join First Hill in a space filled with memories of home for owner Tina Fahnbulleh.

Gold Coast Ghal Kitchen was started in 2017 with a six-year journey of pop-ups and events by Fahnbulleh toward opening her own restaurant.

“My menu is based on the foods I grew up with,” Fahnbulleh said. “I’ve had to go without them in each place I’ve lived in Seattle and I just wanted a little bit of home with me.” Continue reading