West Seattle restaurants: ‘For lease’ sign at Jade West Café

11 months after the drunk-driving crash on Beacon Hill that seriously injured the operator of West Seattle’s Jade West Café and his son, there’s finally, and sadly, a sign of the little restaurant’s fate. Sometime in the past few days, a “FOR LEASE” sign appeared in the closed-since-the-crash café’s window at 6032 California SW. We have not yet reached anyone at the number on the sign; other various inquiries over recent months, by us and others, had gone unanswered, so this is the first verification of what many had feared, that the café would never reopen. The driver who hit Wah Wong and son Jason Wong, who lost a leg as a result, pleaded guilty weeks later and is at Cedar Creek Correctional Center in Littlerock, serving a 2-year sentence (here’s our report from last February’s sentencing hearing).

mt November 14, 2010 (8:35 am)

Two years is nothing for that crime!! He will get out in 1 or less. So sorry to hear this.

WSB November 14, 2010 (9:01 am)

It was technically 30 months, but yes, as we’ve heard in case after case, there’s the “time off for good behavior,” etc., which is why I checked the state website to see if he was still in prison (he is, and the site usually says where an offender is, which is why we mentioned the specific facility). It was part of a plea bargain, and the judge kept to it despite what she acknowledged (see our report on the sentencing in February) were “overwhelming” letters from the community asking for something tougher. – TR

CB November 14, 2010 (9:33 am)

Another sad chapter in this sad story. Perhaps if DUI was a felony, people would think twice about drinking/driving. Our lax laws permit a culture where terrible crimes like this are treated with a slap on the wrist.

Cheryl November 14, 2010 (2:23 pm)

2 years is nowhere near enough time for what that driver did to this family. I sure hope there is karma or penance somewhere, somehow, b/c this is just the epitome of UNfair. :-(

Ben November 15, 2010 (8:51 am)

I believe Wah and his wife own that property (I base this on comments I recall him making while he cooked at the cafe, plus the names of the taxpayers of record for King County tax parcel 7625703290), so at least if they get a tenant in there they’ll be deriving some income from the space. I am saddened by the overall situation but hopeful that Wah and his son will continue their recovery.

george November 15, 2010 (1:52 pm)

Isn’t this where civil law steps in? (yes, the guilty is probably broke).

lenguamor November 15, 2010 (7:24 pm)

This is the society we’ve built for ourselves. There’s no karma, no divine retribution…and the probability is high that this scumbag will drive impaired again.
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If you want change, vote for it.

grr November 15, 2010 (8:31 pm)

Yes…Wah does own that building (and one across the street). The whole situation is just heartbreaking. I hope he knows how much his West Seattle community loves him and misses him.

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