West Seattle restaurants: Slices on Alki closing, WS Brewing moving in

More changes in the Alki Beach food-and-drink world. Just received this morning from the owners of Slices on Alki:

Dear West Seattle Community,

After 7 remarkable years, we have decided to sell Slices and simplify our lives. It has been an honor and pleasure getting to know all of you and your families. We have enjoyed watching your kids grow up and we are now having a blast with our little Eleanor!

Thank you for all of your friendship, support and of course, your business. We wish you all the best and though we will miss seeing you for pizza we will be next door at Ampersand Cafe, so stop by and say hello!

In the meantime, please help us welcoming West Seattle Brewing Co. to the neighborhood! They plan on continuing to serve pizza as well as their beer, brewed right up on Fauntleroy. We know they are excited to be in the neighborhood, so cheers to another great summer and THANK YOU from the bottom of our hearts!

Slices last day open will be Thursday, March 31st.

(all Slices gift certificates will still be honored at West Seattle Brewing Co. or may be redeemed at Ampersand Cafe)

West Seattle Brewing Co.

On behalf of our ever-growing WSBC family; community, supporters &our team alike, we are indeed thrilled to have a presence and to soon be pouring pints on the beach! We’re not only grateful for the opportunity and privilege, but even further, couldn’t be happier to be sharing walls with such excellent West Seattleites in Daryl, Marisa, Eleanor, their crew and especially with such a complimentary business model that Ampersand is to our own. That all being said, 10 taps of West Seattle’s finest craft beer and hand-crafted pies coming mid-April! Looking forward to sharing all that is Summer on Alki with all of you!

From All of Us at WSBC,
Slainte!
“the Beer Must Flow!”

We just followed up by phone with Slices/Ampersand co-proprietor Marisa. We asked what hours Slices will be open for its final days/nights – she says dinner only tonight, 3-7 pm, then 11 am-7 pm Tuesday, Wednesday, and for Thursday’s finale. We’re also checking on the exact name WS Brewing will use for the new location, and will update with that.

humanbeen March 28, 2016 (9:34 am)

I hope they keep the mellow vibe – Slice’s deck is by far the nicest place to relax with a beer on the beach, and their pizza is legit. Welcome West Seattle Brewing.

John M March 28, 2016 (9:54 am)

I am sorry to hear that. The pizza was a the best, and I enjoyed all their food items. A great place to sit on the patio and enjoy lunch. Also, the good. friendly service was a cut above the norm.

John M

jai March 28, 2016 (9:56 am)

Sad news but thanks for being such a great neighbor Darrell and Marissa for the past seven years. (just don’t deprive me of your amazing Ampersand coffee and bacon and a biscuit).

AlienDave March 28, 2016 (12:04 pm)

Definitely a silver lining announcement: glad to see W Seattle Brewing will be in such a prime location.

John March 28, 2016 (12:54 pm)

Will West Seattle Brewing be keeping their presence and taproom open in their current location once the new location opens?

NW March 28, 2016 (1:02 pm)

West Seattle is becoming a brand a label

Westside March 28, 2016 (1:27 pm)

That means WS Brewing will HAVE to brew the mango chili pale year round for beach-view consumption.

Manuel March 28, 2016 (2:33 pm)

Second John’s question above…

Drew March 28, 2016 (4:59 pm)

Hi all. My name is Drew & I founded WSBC and still work for it every single day after over 5 years. Just thought I might be as good a resource to answer some of these questions/comment as anybody… @ HUMANBEEN, thank you for the welcoming. If you haven’t checked out the vibe at our founding location at 4415 Fauntleroy, please do. Though environment certainly plays a big role in the vibe of any establishment, I think the people who are behind it, who work for it, who love it, play as much or more of a role in that final vibe; and we are pretty chill! @ JOHN, we are most definitely not giving up our home! Thats where the BEER comes from!! =0 @ WESTSIDE, the 15BBLs of IPA we transferred today was split between 2 brite tanks; 1 for House IPA, and 1 to make the Habanero-Mango!! @NW, we agree. Which is why we hope more West Seattleites will open businesses as we have, and employ and serve exclusively West Seattle as we do. I personally felt that would make more of an impact on slowing “the gentri-f***ing-cation of WS” (as they call it) than whining about Starbucks on Alaska & Cali like I wanted to! ;)

LisaAlkiMed March 28, 2016 (6:59 pm)

Drew I was excited to try your brewery until you had to slam another local business. Not sure want the purpose of the rant was other than to alienate a potential customer in your new WS location. One that typically supports all local joints.

Compadre March 28, 2016 (8:22 pm)

LisaAlkiMed, slamming the local business of… Starbucks?

WTF March 28, 2016 (8:22 pm)

Sorry to hear about Slices…but we completely understand. All the best!

I sincerely hope that Drew will keep it real. Not sure Alki patrons will put up with bad service and bad mouthing other businesses, as my buddies and I have experienced more than once at WSBC. No, we have not returned. We want entrepreneurs to shine in WS; it takes guts to run a business. There’s a lot to be said for remaining thankful, grateful and humble.

Good luck on the beach…great timing.

wsres March 28, 2016 (8:28 pm)

Drew:

I liked your response and will gladly support the local and the small businesses in west seattle, as I know that was your point! :)

NW March 28, 2016 (8:32 pm)

Serving exclusively West Seattle? Rainer Valley and Beacon Hill area has a great diverse population aswell as Burien and White Center Drew, far more so than the population that is in walking distance of WSBC. I know I grew up in Genesee and still live here. Starbucks welcomes all from my understanding and they took hold in Pike Place Market ,where my very own great grandfather sold produce in early 1900’s, some 30 years back or more and now are international. The local only thing it’s almost a turn off like a bubble effect or something. I liked rough hewn West Seattle far more than what’s presently happening but also appreciate a business like Starbucks and always will.

Let's be more considerate March 28, 2016 (9:49 pm)

Hmmm. Bummed to hear the apparent slam of Starbucks. Back in the 80’s when a good cup of coffee was rare and hard to find, Starbucks set the course. Thousands of small coffee shops have Starbucks to thank for creating or growing their market. Yes, Starbucks made a market for others who, conciuously or not, ride that business coattail today. I’m not saying I won’t go to West Seattle Brewery, but that post makes me think twice. If I am wrong about the apparent slam here, please accept my apology. I prefer a more gracious attitude. Will the WS Brewery be slamming others who set the course for microbreweries as well? Hope not. Let the riding tide lift ALL boats….

Keri March 28, 2016 (9:54 pm)

We will miss Slices tremendously. I was just looking forward to the summer hours and days on the deck with the very tasty thin crust pizza, friendly owners and service. Quite sad to see it go. We will be there before closing.

Drew March 29, 2016 (7:46 pm)

I’m sorry guys. My intent was certainly not to “slam” any other business, only to help NW understand if his/her interest was in preventing WS from becoming a “brand, a label,” I don’t see any LOCAL business, or startup affording the $40+/sf which has become a norm in the Alaska junction; only conglomerates such as Starbucks. I’m very proud of what Howard Schultz has accomplished, but don’t see adding more Starbucks to the block as a solution to “maintaining our WS vibe,” and further, our goal is NOT to take over the World. Only to be happy and make others happy along the way. I have never blogged before and only hoped to help answer questions about the transition. What I’m hearing from my “pro-blogger friends” is that I could call Hitler a murderer, and there would be someone here to defend him and “counter-attack” us!? =0 Yikes! Frightening!!! What we won’t do however, is respond to real people with politically correct, evasive language. Perhaps face-to-face will be best, for any interested? You know where to find us now, and our actions, community service, and loyal clientele of amazing people will speak volumes over anything I can write here. Hoping all the best for all!! -WSBC

WSB March 29, 2016 (8:05 pm)

Hi, Drew, thanks for commenting (which is what this is – commenting on a news website – not “blogging”) – and no, we wouldn’t have anyone here in WSB comments defending Hitler. Ever. Our comment sections are pretty tame because we have rules and enforce them, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t spirited discussion now and then.

Anyway, mentioning Starbucks tends to evoke various reactions because while they are a ubiquitous worldwide chain, they also are a Seattle-founded corporation whose world headquarters are just a few miles away, with many employees living here in West Seattle and therefore supporting local businesses of all types. Good luck at the beach and please let us know (editor@westseattleblog.com) when you get ready to open – Tracy

David C March 29, 2016 (8:36 pm)

I’m looking forward to drinking more of your beer, Drew. Made it to the other location once, but this one is much, much closer.

Could you please consider putting a few seriously low IBU options on tap? Perhaps like even an alcoholic ginger beer with no hops. Or a mid range cab Sav.

I will be joining the NW cool kids– looking for high IBU imperial IPAs, etc, but find there are many folks ( my wife among them) who can’t stand the beer I like. It makes it easier to convince them to go to a taproom when there’s something on the menu for them. Thanks for considering. Good luck with everything.

dawsonct April 9, 2016 (2:05 pm)

I’m not a hop tisane fan myself, and have found a number of very satisfying low-IBU beers on tap at WSBC.

Law Man March 29, 2016 (9:34 pm)

I’ve been to the West Seattle Brew and Met Drew… He’s funny and I Think after Selling the Sonics Howard Shizz can goto Hell. Who cares about Starbucks with so many better places. Oh wait we need a drive through since we are too fat to get out of our cars. Try it folks it’s good for you ! Beer !!!

Mike E March 30, 2016 (10:27 am)

Looking forward to the new location! Love the existing location and the TVs to watch Sounders & USMNT games, but having the option of local beer & pizza on the beach is a welcome addition. Keep brewing and improving your offerings and atmosphere, and I have no doubt more success in WS will follow.