West Seattle beach businesses: Bamboo, Alki Beach Dog closing

Two businesses on Alki have announced they’re closing:

BAMBOO BAR AND GRILL: Thanks to Mike for sending that photo of the board posted outside Bamboo (2806 Alki SW), saying the restaurant/bar is closing permanently as of November 22nd. Earlier this year, it was listed for sale; the listing is now inactive, so we don’t know if the business was sold or just taken off the market. We’re trying to reach Bamboo, but it wasn’t open yet for the day when we went by in late morning, and the phone is currently being answered by a fax tone. Though Bamboo was long notorious as a trouble spot, that peaked (more, like bottomed out) in 2012, and changes were made following a shooting. More recently, the owner had merged Amante Pizza into the operation last spring when Amante lost its California SW location because of development. (P.S. We’ll update the story whenever we find out more about the closure and what might follow it.)

(added 2:15 pm) WSB co-publisher Patrick Sand just talked in person with a manager at Bamboo who confirms what has been brought up in comments: It’s closing, but a new sports bar will open in its place, after renovations. They’re not committing to a timeline because they don’t know how long that will take.

(back to original report) ALKI BEACH DOG: This shop’s location at 59th/Alki also is in the path of development, but that’s not why it’s closing.

As announced on that sign outside the shop, its owner, Debra Brown, has died. Groomer Amanda Regan is overseeing the shop during its closeout sale through Friday; people who contacted us about the closure said they appreciate her talents and hope she stays local, but she just told us by phone she doesn’t know yet where she will wind up. She’s going to take the holidays off, for starters.

32 Replies to "West Seattle beach businesses: Bamboo, Alki Beach Dog closing"

  • Jennifer Arlem Molina November 12, 2014 (12:25 pm)

    Sad. Bamboo is one of my favorite places on Alki. Especially during the summer.

  • Mike November 12, 2014 (1:01 pm)

    Amanda is amazing! My wife and I call her the dog whisperer. I really, really hope she stays local. Please keep us updated. Trixie (our dog) adores her. Also, is Debra the woman who usually worked the front of the store? I always really liked her as well. Very sad.

    • WSB November 12, 2014 (1:13 pm)

      Amanda promised to let us know. As for Ms. Brown, we never got the chance to meet her – perhaps someone else will know as this is read in the hours ahead. – TR

  • stephanie November 12, 2014 (1:13 pm)

    Bamboo isn’t going away forever. They’re re-doing/rebranding it into something new. It sounds like they are going to make it awesome and a definite good addition to the Alki community.

    • WSB November 12, 2014 (1:18 pm)

      Thanks, Stephanie, hope they will elaborate whenever we make contact (trying again shortly).

  • Panda November 12, 2014 (1:48 pm)

    I was told last month that Bamboo will be remodeling and relaunching as a new Sports Bar. If that’s true, and with the relaunch of the Terrible Beauty location also as a sports bar, West Seattle will again have some decent game-watching options (besides the Bridge).

  • Ana November 12, 2014 (1:50 pm)

    Why is sealth on lock down ?

    • WSB November 12, 2014 (1:52 pm)

      It’s a drill.

  • loaferpen November 12, 2014 (1:53 pm)

    I’m so sorry to hear about Debra. She was always so friendly to me and my dog. Dexter, my dog will miss Amanda’s hair cuts. I hope you let us know what you’re up to in the future, Amanda.

  • Val crisostomo November 12, 2014 (2:02 pm)

    Amanda is the best dog groomer!!!

  • LS November 12, 2014 (2:07 pm)

    Just heard that A Terrible Beauty has now closed ALL of their locations, even their original, Renton location. Seems that their problems were much greater than just growth…..very sad for employees and owners.

    • WSB November 12, 2014 (2:14 pm)

      We’ve just made contact with a manager at Bamboo who confirms it’s shutting down but will reopen as a sports bar. No timetable because they’re not sure what they’ll find while renovating. Adding to story.

  • Amrakx November 12, 2014 (2:12 pm)

    Wow another sports bar, that’s creative!
    As a neighbor in the immediate area, I look forward to a change in venue, hopefully the new business will tidy up their storefront (by removing buckets of cigarettes out front) and exercise consideration for the neighborhood residents.

  • HelperMonkey November 12, 2014 (2:19 pm)

    LS that’s very interesting! I heard they sunk everything into a new South Lake Union location to the detriment of all their other locations. Would be interesting if that one went that way as well.

  • SM November 12, 2014 (2:34 pm)

    sad

  • Rose November 12, 2014 (2:53 pm)

    REALLY bummed about Alki Beach dog’s owner Debra. She was a really great person. I’m so sad to hear about this. Also really sad to see the grooming go. It was such a help to have so close to home, especially when all the others are always so busy.

  • LS November 12, 2014 (3:36 pm)

    HelperMonkey – Yes, even their new, South Lake Union location is now also closed.

  • ScubaFrog November 12, 2014 (3:46 pm)

    I’m sad to hear that Alki Beach Dog is closing.

    I’m also sad that Bamboo isn’t staying closed. I wonder how many shootings have been attributed to that disgusting place? And now a “sports bar”. We’ll see the same trashy crowd there.

  • Wedtseattlebrnandraised November 12, 2014 (4:15 pm)

    Adios Bamboo. Sorry, but I think anything will be an improvement over the current place. I felt hungover just walking in there and I hadn’t even been drinking – yuck.

  • HelperMonkey November 12, 2014 (4:15 pm)

    LS – thanks for confirming! Yeah that is really odd that the SLU location went under, too! Everyone I know who worked in WS said it was clear they were sinking everything into the SLU location…and now that’s sunk too. I know it’s not in the area, but I hope something cool goes into the Renton location. That is a really cool building.

  • onion November 12, 2014 (4:24 pm)

    Interesting news about Terrible Beauty. We enjoyed them when they first opened in West Seattle. There was little reason for them to not succeed, even with the nearby construction. Slightly better “pub grub” would have helped, but that was not a deal breaker. We enjoyed the place regardless. Poor management at some level, because the location was fine, the facility was nice, the food was OK (some dishes), the spirit was generally lively whenever we were there, and they had plenty of good beers on tap.
    I’d never been to Bamboo, so I can’t say I miss them. Would have been nice if they had reinvented themselves as something more creative than a sports bar.

  • Pibal November 12, 2014 (5:05 pm)

    What will become of Amante? Will they be closing permanently too? Or will they just be on hiatus until the new sports bar opens?

    • WSB November 12, 2014 (5:07 pm)

      Apparently they’ll continue to deliver.

  • cl November 12, 2014 (5:43 pm)

    I can’t say I’ll miss Bamboo, it wasn’t very good. The food was frozen and flash fried and the drinks were mediocre. As for the decor, the tables and chairs were filthy and gross. Hope they do better next time around.

  • West Seattle since 1979 November 12, 2014 (5:55 pm)

    Why would “growth” cause problems for a business? Wouldn’t more people mean more business? Increased density isn’t the cause of everything bad!

    Unless you meant that A Terrible Beauty tried to grow too fast.

  • amn November 12, 2014 (7:02 pm)

    Where are we supposed to get “bamboozled” at now?!
    We need to celebrate this transition… with one last drinkski!

  • buh bye November 12, 2014 (7:31 pm)

    Will certainly not miss the thugs and hooligans that always seemed to flock around Bamboo. Good riddance.

  • Bradley November 12, 2014 (8:43 pm)

    Since that Bamboo trough and magnet for drunken criminals is closing, maybe I’ll spend more time (and money) at Alki businesses now.

  • w.s maverick November 13, 2014 (5:42 am)

    maybe the new place will actually be clean

  • Amanda the Groomer! November 13, 2014 (11:19 am)

    This is Amanda, the groomer here at Alki Beach Dog.

    I’d like to first thank you all for the kind words. I can be reached at Amanda.The.Groomer42@gmail.com if I haven’t contacted you….

    IMPORTANT clarification – The woman who passed away was NOT Sonja, the manager who was in the shop with me daily. Our owner was more behind the scenes and not present often.

    I am very saddened to go… I really do love this community and I appreciate you all for welcoming me with open arms.

    Please email me your name, your dog’s name, and your contact info so that when I move somewhere I’ll be able to find you. I’m very sorry for the short, sudden notice.

    Thank you all!

    -Amanda
    Amanda.The.Groomer42@gmail.com

  • Kim November 13, 2014 (8:51 pm)

    I’ve watched what the new management and ownership has done for Bamboo over the years, all I can say is they have done a fantastic job with moving the establishment forward as a whole. I am so excited and have high hopes for the new place, it sounds perfect for Alki.

  • BeachDriveFan November 14, 2014 (11:33 am)

    I for one will miss the slightly hung-over décor of the Bamboo, it was Seattle’s version of the seedy side of Waikiki, and I am delighted that it will reopen, who doesn’t love a good game on a big screen? As to defining the clientele as thugs, that seems a bit harsh in my view. See you soon as a sports bar!

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