32 Replies to "Another West Seattle restaurant for sale: Garlic Jim's"

• JanS December 1, 2008 (10:37 am)

  Am I the only person who doesn’t think that Garlic Jim’s Pizza is “gourmet”? I found it to be extremely..average, pedestrian…oh, well..

• BGH December 1, 2008 (11:15 am)

  I hope that the WEST SEATTLE BROS. tree lot does not cut into tree lot run by HOLY ROSARY.

• jiggers December 1, 2008 (11:17 am)

  I knew they wern’t going to last long. To me, they were overpriced and very mediocre. Too much competition will kill you as well. And there’s a lot of pizza in WS.

• dan December 1, 2008 (11:24 am)

  I went there once to for pick up and it was so greasy I would never go back… mediocre at best.

• Agen December 1, 2008 (11:29 am)

  My family (and especially my toddler) has become a fan of Garlic Jim’s (surprisingly, the toddler really likes the pesto-based roasted garlic hand-tossed pizza). I’d call it gourmet, and I’d probably call Pagliacci gourmet as well, though it’s been so long since I had a Pags pizza since they refuse to deliver down to the Delridge ‘hood (while Jim’s does).

• CB December 1, 2008 (11:31 am)

  Considering Garlic Jim’s has no regard for public safety, lets hope they quietly close their doors and go away.

• JayDee December 1, 2008 (11:37 am)

  I tried their pizza once, and was not impressed. IMHO, Garlic Jim’s is an outside chain that offered poorly done pizza gussied up as “gourmet” by offering unnatural flavor combinations like “Chicken bacon ranch” and “Southwestern Chicken “with a zesty Chipotle pesto sauce”. I would hope this reflects the superior tastes of West Seattleites compared to the suburbs that launched this chain.

  While relatively expensive, Pagliacci offers a tasty product with superior service and quality. Now if we could get a pizza chain like “Via Tribunali” or “Tutta Bella” to come to the Junction, that would be great. A nice wood fired pizza place would be an addition to the neighborhood (well, maybe not the air quality) and would likely fare better than Garlic Jims.

• Ross Marzolf December 1, 2008 (11:39 am)

  Hi,

  I work for Garlic Jim’s corporate office and I’m wondering – and concerned – about the comment that says we have no regard for public safety.

  Please send me details.

  Regards,

  Ross Marzolf
  Director of Public Relations & Marketing
  Garlic Jim’s Famous Gourmet Pizza
  425.918.1900
  ross@garlicjims.com

• Joetheplumber December 1, 2008 (11:52 am)

  For the past several years, I looked forward to more and more food options coming to WS, I thought it was lacking in the Juction area(s), Alki not withstanding. Recently, it had been very encouraging to see more businesses open. But now this down trend is heading WS back to the doldrums of limited choices. Support your Locals, or lose them!

• rjb December 1, 2008 (12:26 pm)

  I refuse to be a customer of Garlic Jim’s for one reason alone – I am so sick and tired of their door hangers being left in my yard or sidewalk. I have a front gate that they either unsuccessfully try and attach the ad to, or else they decide that’s too difficult, and just toss the doorhanger into my front yard.
  .
  Stop with the door hanger ads already. Stop littering with this annoying advertising. Every other Junction merchant seems to be able to advertise and get customers without doing this.

• OP December 1, 2008 (12:26 pm)

  Considering Garlic Jim’s has no regard for public safety, lets hope they quietly close their doors and go away.

  Don’t you mean Easy Street Records restaurant? Relax, I kid. I enjoy my food served to me by people who are pierced in places I really don’t want know about. (Seriously, I’m kidding.)

  It’s a simple problem, I think: Too many pizza joints, not enough people. Somebody had to go.

• WSB December 1, 2008 (12:33 pm)

  Just to be clear, at least as of this writing, they’re not closed – they’re just “for sale.”

• lina rose December 1, 2008 (1:01 pm)

  Last year, Garlic Jim’s was nice enough to donate pizza to a youth environmental restoration volunteer event i was running at mee kwa mooks park. we were all grateful for pizza on a cold and rainy day. so i really can’t get down on them, they were really supportive about our community event.

  i will say that i always wondered why it was always empty in there and knew that this signaled a lack of business. i liked there pizza enough and was fine with thier service.

• TeresaP December 1, 2008 (3:08 pm)

  Say it isn’t so? I actually love their pizza and they found my house on the very first delivery and have ever since. That is a feat in itself!

• Alia December 1, 2008 (4:14 pm)

  CB: Are you referring to their delivery drivers? I’ve seen them zipping around recklessly…
  please elaborate on your comment!

• Stuart December 1, 2008 (5:26 pm)

  I hope they survive…I do like their pizza (and, delivery!)

• Cleveland Ken December 1, 2008 (7:13 pm)

  It doesn’t seem that CB can back up their claim of no regard for public safety comment. Why badmouth a business?

• carrot December 1, 2008 (7:52 pm)

  I really like Garlic Jim’s! I hope they find a buyer. JayDee, have you had the chicken bacon ranch pizza? It’s a favorite at our house!

• Sue December 1, 2008 (8:15 pm)

  I’m with rjb – I’m sick and tired of the flyers on my front walk as well – just picked up a soggy one today that fell off my gate. Yes, I know GJ’s is there – I don’t need a billion reminders that end up dirty and wet on the ground repeatedly.
  .
  I did eat at GJ’s once, before said flyers on the sidewalk. It wasn’t the worst pizza, but I think it was very expensive for what it was – mediocre pizza. And the servers (we ate in) moved so quickly that they nearly knocked stuff off our table when they came by and tossed the pizza onto our table. I have not returned.

• Ashley December 1, 2008 (10:42 pm)

  I used to order Garlic Jim’s a couple of times. Then I realized they had been charging a delivery fee without telling me on the phone. i was PISSED!! No more Garlic Jim’s for me!

• Daves December 2, 2008 (11:12 am)

  I agree with everything JayDee said. Pizza is never really bad, but Garlic Jim’s is average at best. I didn’t think it was any better than Papa John’s, just more expensive (and to their credit, better topping choices).

  Bring on Via Tribunali

• BORN&RAISED WEST SEATTLEITE December 2, 2008 (10:08 pm)

  Again to much stuff in the Junction…Overkill and it’s probably only going to get worse with all the new development coming. Get some food at Husky’s they know what people want!!

• Big Al (No, Not THAT One) December 3, 2008 (12:09 am)

  Um, Ross Marzoff, you might think bullying comment givers with intimidation is the way to go, but is that the kind of PR you really hope to cultivate? We can tell an anonymous comment’s worth — not much. My advice? Go easy, laugh it off, and play nice in the sand box. I’m sure GJ has plenty of regard for public safety — even if its management lacks circumspection.

• Ross Marzolf December 3, 2008 (11:48 am)

  My intent was not to bully anyone but only to get more information. I had not previously heard about any lack of public safety and if there is a problem, I want to help fix it. That was my only intent. I apologize if you thought I was “bullying a comment giver.” Garlic Jim’s wants to be a good neighbor in West Seattle – in every possible way and I welcome any comments that can help us in that regard.

  Ross Marzolf
  206.399.1785 – cell
  ross@garlicjims.com

• CMT December 3, 2008 (11:49 am)

  Big Al – I thought Ross Marzoff’s request was totally appropriate and didn’t see at as bullying and intimidating. This is a widely read blog and I was taken aback at the comment regarding public safety with no elaboration.

• WSB December 3, 2008 (12:13 pm)

  For context’s sake, the concern came up in older threads that mentioned GJ’s, and its previous owner, Ryan, invited folks to contact him directly with concerns. I hope they did. And kudos to Ross; it is VITAL for business owners to know what’s being said about them online (Patrick and I actually gave a mini-seminar about this recently) and to participate in the dialogue – it’s a good way to find out what the community is saying and thinking. Certainly not the only way – and certainly there are community sentiments that may never turn up online – but as online discussion grows and spreads (and it doesn’t just happen on blog-format news sites like ours – comments and forums are everywhere – newspapers, TV, radio, other independent sites), it’s a good way to find problems, and opportunities, and address them if/when appropriate. (I advise it for private citizens too – Google your name every so often – that’s the most publicly available information about you, like it or not. If you think you’ll forget to Google, set a Google News Alert for your name – you’ll get e-mail if something turns up.)

• Joetheplumber December 3, 2008 (2:25 pm)

  There have been numerous comments about delivery drivers in WS on other threads. Papa Johns on Brandon has been a big offender from my memory. GJ, I can’t say for sure if I have heard, or confused them with PJ’s. But there have been comments and I agree with the PJ’s, they cruise Juneau in our neighborhood very fast. I commend a corporate manager coming to our space and extending their concerns and asking for feedback. Why can’t people take that for face value instead of putting their own spin on it? He gives his cell, email and address and you want to accuse him of bullying?? good grief. At least his doesn’t use an alias. Circumspection? thats a big word.

• Adrian December 18, 2008 (2:45 pm)

  Oh my gosh, don’t close, it is the only pizza I like in the area. I was going to have pizza on the 14th of December but GJ’s was closed. I was thinking due to the ice and snow that day. So instead I went down to Pegasus Pizza on Alki (which is closer for me) and order two pizza’s that were disgusting. Piles of Olives on the supreme instead of spread out, under cooked and drippy dough (Blech!). Please please don’t close Garlic Jim’s. Ross, your comment is what I expect of a reputable business. Great job!

• MK December 30, 2008 (11:14 pm)

  I am a waitress at Garlic Jims.. and I Have been since we opened in Feb of 07. I would like to invite all of you to come in for some pizza. I am not much of a pizza critic myself however I will say our pizza is infact Gourmet. Some people may argue that depending on what their standards are I guess. I used to work in the kitchen and I see how our pizzas are prepared and how daily we cut the garlic cloves and other toppings fresh so that they are “Gourmet” for our customers.

  We are for sale, not closing. We are in corporates hands right now. And it’s not a bad place to be.
  The only thing that disappoints me right now is that we aren’t serving alcohol anymore for a short time period. Due to the fact that we have no owners, and the alcohol license expired. Since we don’t know from day to day when we will have a new owner we have not renewed the license.
  We know you want beer with your pizza and TV and we wil have it back for you ASAP. It is beginning to make a difference is business only a little bit though. So I thank those of you who are Loyal to us and come in at least once a week and those of you who don’t walk out on me after I inform you we are no longer selling beer. I am just as anxious as anyone to have it back.

  The comment of “I wondered why the dining room was always dead”, we have our days. As does any other business. I haven’t walked into one business lately where they’ve said they weren’t slow. But keep in mind we deliver. Thats where the majority of our customers are.

  I apologize for any bad experience you’ve had with us. And if you don’t like our pizza fine. Whats there to fight about? You are bashing our pizza and I’m sure there are a million other things that the average person doesn’t care for.
  You have your preferences and so does the next person as do I. Everyone will choose where they put there money and what they put in their mouth, and there are many factors of that. Do you like the enviroment, the staff, the food, the location.. what?

  I’ve been here almost longer than any of our staff and I am happy here. Please tell me if theres anything you would like us to change or begin doing to better serve you and make your visit at your West Seattle Garli Jims more pleasing to you.

  I do care.
  Come in and see us sometime!!

  Oh and one last note. Those pesky door hangers you all don’t like. I am sorry that they end up where they shouldn’t sometimes. But we send them out for those of you who complain that we are expensive. It’s very rare that any of my dine in customers pay full price because we have so many coupons out there!!

  Oh and come try our new Calzones! Theyre amazing.
  We also just started selling Gleutin free pizzas!!
  Alot of people are excited about that!

  Thanks so much!
  -MK

• Randy January 5, 2009 (6:23 pm)

  It appears that people’s reactions to GJ is 50/50. Half like what they offer the other half seem to just complain to say something. I am glad they are still here making this lack luster economy work. If there are issues.. make them known to the corporate owners or wait for someone to purchase what appears to be a working business and express your concerns. In todays economy public awareness of people’s concerns are as important as producing a good product.
  I have had their pizza more than a few times and honestly is has always been good to great. I must admit that I miss the beer, but other than that small issue… the service is good, the pizza is always hot and taste great and the seat down location offers a friendly place to converse. So.. what is the issue?

• Isaac January 7, 2009 (2:18 am)

  Hi, just putting my two cents in…
  Well to start things off, I have been working at the West Seattle Garlic Jims since before it even officially opened… Before that I was working at Pagliacci’s… so to say the least, I can I have a background in “gourmet” pizza making haha
  In response to the “public safety” comment, I don’t know if that was said in jest or seriousness but I’ll just quell it now with saying that food safety is something that we as a company take beyond seriously… Me in particular. Okay…
  I apologize if the pizza’s I make are mediocre or expensive. Please keep in mind that the reason our prices could be a little high up there is strictly because of the qualitiy of our ingredients and dough. This isn’t Papa Johns by a long shot (no pun intended) and since I can’t really prove it to you through a blog I guess you’ll just have to take my word for it.
  I can honestly say that Garlic Jims pizza is a gourmet pizza and that as much as we would love everyone to enjoy our pizza, it is probably not for everyone. In all honesty when I was working for Pagliacci’s I didn’t even enjoy any of their pizzas but I knew that they were delicious… The same with Garlic Jims, though I have developed a taste for the Smoking Sweet Barbeque ;))
  I appreciate all the comments both negative and positive because it helps me become a better cook and makes me want to be better… I hope after reading this, some of you will be willing to give us a second chance
  Don’t think Garlic Jims of West Seattle is going anywhere because we plan to stay as long as you guys will have us… As a born-and-raised West Seattlite I know it’s offsetting to see a corporately owned restaurant in the Junction (blasphemy!) but know that us employees are one big, closely tight-knitted family. We started Garlic Jims off with just me and a bunch of my friends (plus Ryan Reese of course) and since then our relationships with each other have evolved into something remarkably incredible… We hope to share that with the Greater West Seattle area as well (as well as making excellent gourmet pizza!!)

  -Isaac Wastman

• Former Manager January 8, 2009 (1:06 am)

  As a former manager of Garlic Jims, i can say that the intent was to create a truely unique concept…Include all of the positives that Domino’s, Pizza Hut, and Papa Johns had to offer…with definately higher grade toppings, and Re Brand it to make a buck.

  The problem for those who dont like Garlic Jims, is the same as those who dont like grandma’s cooking…its all in the recipe. If you dont add enough sugar, or too much flour, you get a different taste or a different bake. Same is true for all pizza places. Dominos, Papa Johns, Pizza Hut, and Garlic Jims. Having worked at all of them, i can say that if you had access to ALL 4 of these places that made the pizza the EXACT WAY it was supposed to be made, then Garlic Jim’s taste would come out on top. The Fresh and Never Frozen Cheese….
  But the problem is they have SEVERAL stores that have gone under for SEVERAL different reasons. The biggest reason the stores close are experience and support. If you have never done pizza and you own a dry cleaners, you are not set up for success. Pizza is cut-throat, and VERY much at the mercy of sales trends.
  Garlic Jims, as far as I know, no longer has any corporate owned stores. They no longer have a direct vested interest in the quality of thier product, only royalties the get off thier stores.
  People still want to open garlic jims stores though…but do to the economy, they cant. Lenders wont lend, so the stores wont open.

  Either way, any pizza place, or any business, is only as good as thier CEO, Corporate Staff, Regional Supervisor, Owner, Supervisor, Manager, and Staff can be. The ‘Trickle Down’ theory. If its great on top, it is pushed down the ladder. But if you have people that consider it to be ‘just a job to put food on the plate’, then thats exactly what you get. Just plain old pizza!

Sorry, comment time is over.