Followup: Zippy’s Giant Burgers close to a new home?

(Video from inside Zippy’s kitchen last month, by Deanie Schwarz for WSB)
Some new information tonight, more than a month after our first report about the unsettled situation at the Highland Park corner that is home to Zippy’s Giant Burgers. You may recall that, after the 16th/Holden building was foreclosed on, forcing its owner to close his store SeaMart last month, followed by the shutdown of neighboring JoJo’s Fine Espresso, leaving Zippy’s as the last business open at the site.

After hinting today in the WSB Forums that a breakthrough may be near, Zippy’s owner Blaine Cook confirmed to WSB contributor Deanie Schwarz that they’re working on a deal for a new “turnkey” location. They should know by the end of the week if it’ll work out. Otherwise, he explained, negotiations for a potential new lease at the current location are not yielding a “reasonable” solution, and talks about a possible purchase aren’t advancing at all. So where’s the potential new spot? Somewhere in the general West Seattle area – that’s as specific as he’ll get right now. One important note for customers in the meantime: Zippy’s will be CLOSED ON MONDAYS starting tomorrow and continuing through February (they’ll also be closed next Sunday, 2/6).

54 Replies to "Followup: Zippy's Giant Burgers close to a new home?"

  • coffee January 30, 2011 (7:36 pm)

    I was so hoping it would be 35 and Roxbury….. I wish Zippys the best of luck anywhere!

  • Joe January 30, 2011 (7:39 pm)

    My god, if Zippy’s took that corner, I would die of a heart attack at least 15 years before my current pace would dictate.

  • Rhonda Porter January 30, 2011 (7:55 pm)

    very exciting news!!! :) I can’t wait to find out where they land.

  • 35this35mph January 30, 2011 (7:55 pm)

    Would that spot qualify as “turnkey?”

  • Jo January 30, 2011 (8:18 pm)

    Oh, Oh, Oh (hand waving in the air).
    The empty Alki Bakery space.
    Yeah!
    Am I right?

    • WSB January 30, 2011 (8:39 pm)

      Jo, the folks who run Alki Café across the street have told us they are taking that over (we’ve been waiting to do our next followup till they let us know they’ve actually signed the lease, which they said they hadn’t the last two times we checked in). I don’t think that rent would be any more affordable than the rent they’re concerned about in HP – but who knows.
      .
      They did give one hint in a similar post to the Zippy’s Facebook group – something about enjoying the parking (right now as you probably know, they have the whole lot, since the other businesses are gone) while it lasts, which would suggest the possible turnkey location is low on parking. That rules out a couple of spots that I can think of … But who knows, perhaps it’ll turn out to be someplace nobody knew was available except for its owner…

  • Steph January 30, 2011 (8:23 pm)

    I keep thinking about the 35th/Roxbury location everytime I drive past-about 2-5 times a day. Wherever it is, parking please!

  • Been There January 30, 2011 (8:27 pm)

    There is that building being renovated at 5214 Delridge Way that is purported to have restaurant space…..?

  • neighbor January 30, 2011 (8:28 pm)

    Chuck and Sallys?????????????
    I hope so.

  • A January 30, 2011 (8:38 pm)

    I don’t think Chuck and Sally’s is turnkey but I did hear that people were looking at it recently. (Oh the weight I’ll gain if they move there…)

  • maggie January 30, 2011 (8:40 pm)

    I hope it’s in the westwood village area. Maybe the old hollywood video building.

  • coffee January 30, 2011 (8:45 pm)

    Oh there is the tiny spot on delridge that was a terryaki place across from uptown espresso. There is no parking there…..and then the place on california I can’t recall the name but it started with a B. Can’t think of any other “turnkey” spots…….

  • SpeakLoud January 30, 2011 (9:12 pm)

    PLEASE HAVE PARKING…..

  • 35this35mph January 30, 2011 (10:48 pm)

    @Coffee, yeah Yoshio’s closed up shop a little while ago. Geeze. If there was one place in West Seattle with worse parking that’s it!

  • CMC January 30, 2011 (10:53 pm)

    Fingers crossed and hoping for Chuck and Sally’s too!

  • OP January 30, 2011 (11:39 pm)

    Come on, Zippy’s! You can do it! You could have no parking, be in the worst neighborhood on Mars and I’d still visit as often as my arteries would allow!

  • visitor January 31, 2011 (12:08 am)

    the HOmestead Restaurant! yessss.

  • CB January 31, 2011 (7:01 am)

    How about the old Table 35 location?

  • Restaurant Guy January 31, 2011 (8:35 am)

    Table 35 is in front of many lawyers- that site will be vacant for awhile.

  • TJ January 31, 2011 (8:48 am)

    Why is Table 35 in front of many lawyers? What is it about our legal system that allows people who can’t run a business to create a blight on the neihborhood even after they fail?

    • WSB January 31, 2011 (8:52 am)

      TJ – Before we all go off on a tangent, I haven’t confirmed what RestaurantGuy said. I searched for the business name in the court files and nothing is coming up. Doesn’t mean it’s not happening but I haven’t found it yet (if RG cares to e-mail me offsite – editor@westseattleblog.com – to point me in the appropriate direction). – TR

  • Amanda January 31, 2011 (9:35 am)

    I’d like to keep it closer to the original location, the Junction has enough eateries! How about White Center??

  • TMS January 31, 2011 (9:53 am)

    Please be the old Yoshio’s site on Delridge – parking may be ‘not so great’ but there are many TO GO customers that could keep you busy!!

  • seaviewer January 31, 2011 (10:24 am)

    The West Seattle Motors site in the Triangle please. It’s got lots of parking and the location is on the way from Downtown to nearly everywhere in WS.

  • David V January 31, 2011 (11:38 am)

    5214 Delridge Way SW would be awesome, I could get a burger on my way home.

  • Britta January 31, 2011 (11:39 am)

    I didn’t realize that building was foreclosed, I thought SeaMart was going through renovations. I don’t want Zippy’s to go… or Jo-Jo’s! It’s nice having something so close in the Highland Park area.. no fair!

  • kgdlg January 31, 2011 (12:12 pm)

    This is so sad for Highland Park! If they leave it will be a real loss for that community. That being said, turnkey basically means it is a restaurant space vacant and ready to occupy. There aren’t that many of these spaces out there (sorry, that ain’t Chuck and Sally’s! that place needs a TON of work) so it has got to be either in the Junction or perhaps White Center. I vote for the WC!!!! The Junction has got enough places to get a burger, and this would really help the WC along as a destination commercial biz district.

  • Amber January 31, 2011 (12:28 pm)

    Come to Delridge! Business will be great!

  • sks January 31, 2011 (12:43 pm)

    Delridge! Delridge! Delridge! Just ask the owners of Pho Aroma how busy they are.

  • newnative January 31, 2011 (1:15 pm)

    I don’t care about parking but convenient bus routes!

  • SV January 31, 2011 (2:18 pm)

    Brewsky`s Bar & Grill
    West Seattle
    9635 16th Ave SW
    Seattle WA 98106

    or
    The Bohemian Space?
    3405 California Ave SW
    Seattle, WA 98116

  • Dan January 31, 2011 (2:21 pm)

    No. 11

  • keith January 31, 2011 (3:07 pm)

    new site will be california ave and brandon the old west seattle pharmacy

    • WSB January 31, 2011 (3:20 pm)

      Just for fun, while we are all speculating, our personal favorite crazy guess – mine – has been shot down. Since Ms. Zippy, Rahel Cook, and Bird on a Wire’s Heidi Herr both have Rat City Rollergirls history, and Heidi recently inherited extra space in her new Admiral shop when Heavenly Pastry pulled out entirely, I wondered if possibly burgers and espresso might go well together. But co-publisher Patrick Sand saw Heidi while up in the Admiral District this afternoon and reports that she said nope, it’s not her. Back to other guessing … TR

  • westie January 31, 2011 (3:26 pm)

    Keith, Is that a fact? My friend said someone at Zippy’s told him Chuck & Sally’s. Either would be good, but I hope it’s Chuck & Sally’s so someone fixes that eyesore. Can we all get together and at least paint the outside. It’s looking B-A-D.

  • giantburgers January 31, 2011 (4:25 pm)

    they want a smooth million dollars for the bohemian..

  • chris January 31, 2011 (5:19 pm)

    damn, losing them from HP would suck. I only hope they stay close by. Zippys, Proletariat, Full Tilt, and Company in White Center would be amazing. BTW, has anyone been to Company? I have been anxioulsy awaiting it for months but haven’t made it there yet.

  • sassy January 31, 2011 (5:54 pm)

    SV – I’m with you.
    The Bohemian space would be brilliant! Fingers crossed.

  • Burgermeister January 31, 2011 (6:47 pm)

    Although everybody is dancing around the issue nobody has mentioned the obvious. . . . . a Number 11 with a pint of yummy brew from Prost! would be heaven. . . . just cut a hole in the wall and pass the burgers through. . . . . just drooled on my keyboard.

  • dawsonct January 31, 2011 (7:11 pm)

    A MILLION for the Boho!?! Don’t they understand what the economy has been doing for a few years now?
    Good luck finding a restaurant that can make it in that space (or just about anywhere) and pay THAT kind of lease.

    Seems as though I read, in the WEST SEATTLE BLOG
    I believe, that the W.S. Pharma WAS being turned into a restaurant/bar, but I sure don’t recall any of the Zippy’s names being connected with it.

    • WSB January 31, 2011 (7:53 pm)

      Dawson – yes, there were new tenants for the pharmacy space last time we reported on it. Not much action there yet. Meantime, re: the Bohemian, we have discussed the $1m price here in comments before but one thing that I think *might* be in play … I *believe* (am still looking for the zoning map to crosscheck) that is on the edge of the newly rezoned stretch of California SW, with 40-foot development possible someday. The price may be more a look into the future than a reflection of the present.

  • Hilari January 31, 2011 (7:14 pm)

    We in Highland Park are sad. We need more businesses like Zippy’s.

  • cclarue January 31, 2011 (7:27 pm)

    HP or WC please!!;)16th would round out the choices really well !! Pizza or burgers full tilt and Company ! Oh or Bbq !!

  • sohungrygoingtomorrow January 31, 2011 (10:28 pm)

    I will miss the current locale. I love the neighborhood and it’s close to SSCC and it’s just nice to have something not in the Junction. I love the Junction but it gets old. I think White Center is great but there really is already a lot there: at least 8 pho places, Uncle Mike’s, Proletariat, Company, Full Tilt, and more. HP needs Zippy’s. I like that it’s more of a neighborhood spot and less of a yuppy spot. I hope to God they don’t move to the Junction. Sigh. But a BIGGER eat-in option would be great. Damn I’m hungry.

  • ale February 1, 2011 (8:36 am)

    Would love it if they came to Delridge!!!

  • ad February 1, 2011 (10:25 am)

    I think it’s going to be at the old West Seattle Pharmacy too! I noticed some changes in the windows today, the bars, if that’s what you’d call ’em, are no longer up.

  • coffee February 1, 2011 (10:40 am)

    Ok, you have to admit, that this little “exercise” is fun and it makes you test your business and geographic skills of our fine area!
    Just remember turnkey basically means they can walk in and fire up the grill the same day. So…that being said should remove the West Seattle Pharmacy location.
    And just wondering, is there anyone that wants out of their current space that might be open that they would consider taking over?

  • SV February 1, 2011 (11:08 am)

    I agree its fun to speculate….according to the commercial brokers association listings, the only turn-key restaurant space for lease is 5214 Delridge. Brewsky’s Building on 16th is for sale at $700k. Question is: will they buy or lease?

  • dms February 1, 2011 (11:21 am)

    How about the place on Harbor where the little crepe restaurant used to be ? Only street parking, but on the way to Alki !

  • sc February 1, 2011 (7:28 pm)

    Nowhere near HP, but how about the former catering place next to the laundromat in N. Admiral? That would be turnkey! Only downside is too many restaurants already. But a good burger would be great (Heartland doesn’t count – sorry!).

  • P.M. February 2, 2011 (7:08 am)

    Wow, 16th and Holden is gonna get more depressing.

  • admiralite February 2, 2011 (12:59 pm)

    I used to live one block from Zippy’s. Yeah I’m 20lbs heavier since they opened. No lie!

  • PW February 2, 2011 (2:19 pm)

    Whatever! I hope they can stay right where they are, thats the only food in walking distance from us, and it happens to be amazing! stay right where the f-bomb you are.

  • hopey February 3, 2011 (11:50 am)

    And just wondering, is there anyone that wants out of their current space that might be open that they would consider taking over?

    @coffee — I had the exact same thought, that another business, having heard of their plight, made them an offer to take over their lease.

    As much as I’d LOVE to see them in the Bohemian spot (walking distance for me) I think I’d gain 20 lbs in the following year too! :)

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