‘We (heart) Alki Crab and Fish’: Supporters rally near Seacrest

Thule the dog was the hit of this afternoon’s rally to show support for Alki Crab and Fish in its challenge to the city’s decision to award the Seacrest Boathouse concession contract to a competing proposal. About 20 people were there for the low-key gathering. ACF’s owner Eric Galanti was among them; we photographed him with diver/photographer Laura James, who organized the rally and an ongoing petition drive to show support:

As Laura had been careful to say, the gathering wasn’t meant as a protest; the diving community wanted to show their appreciation for Alki Crab and Fish, saying its owners have gone above and beyond “business as usual” in serving them over the years at the popular dive spot/pier. The rally along the pathway east of Seacrest concluded with a group photo:

As reported here earlier this week, Galanti has sent a formal protest letter to the city, as provided for in the concession-contract process. He told WSB today that nothing else has happened in the meantime, except that he has submitted “another packet,” so “the wheels are turning” as he waits to hear what happens next. The city’s decision to give the contract to Marination – whose food truck was making its regular Saturday visit to West Seattle just a few miles away, in High Point, and whose supporters also have set up an online petition – ultimately needs City Council approval, and wouldn’t reach that stage till early next year.

WSMama December 10, 2011 (1:47 pm)

I like Alki Crab & Fish a lot but I think maybe this is a warning to others to not lease from the city.

WTF December 10, 2011 (2:39 pm)

Love the place, although their staff are generally rude.
They need to also take credit/debit.

Agree WSMama…hard to do business IN this city; scary to do business WITH it.
I wish them the best and hope they stick around.
If not, I’ll venture to guess the next shingle = Starbucks Cafe! Now wouldn’t THAT be sad!?

Wilhelm December 10, 2011 (3:55 pm)

Down with hipster taco! Up with fried fish! Yay!

frank December 10, 2011 (4:00 pm)

I don’t feel too bad about this. ACF’s food is less than mediocre. It’s about time that space was offered to someone that was willing to make good food.

wsea December 10, 2011 (4:25 pm)

Based on the RFP, the location has seen a growing loss for the past 3 years. I dont see how the current owners can make the location work unless they make some major changes to their business plan. I wish the current owners the best but I would be very hesitant to renew a long term lease based on the financial picture.
http://www.seattle.gov/parks/partnerships/RFP/seacrest_boathouse.pdf

If the city does get new owners, please keep a spot available for the paddle boarding shop. Not only am I a repeat customer but I usually bring my out of town guest down there for some summer fun.

DiverLaura December 10, 2011 (7:23 pm)

the owner has not seen a ‘huge growing loss’ over the past three years in the manner the numbers everyone keeps quoting imply. It is my understanding that they have paid off loans, made improvements ‘behind the scenes’ and i have watched as they a completed significant facelift to areas inside and outside of the facility.

The city gets their cut off the top.

The numbers don’t tell the real story.

Thank you to all the folks who stopped by the Rally today, I know the folks from ACF are incredibly grateful for your presence and to all of you for your continued support and signatures!

yeah... December 10, 2011 (8:20 pm)

@DiverLaura

Yes, the city gets their cut off the top. ACF knew this when they signed the lease/contract. They also knew that the length of the lease/contract was 10 years, and that it would be open to bids from other businesses at the end of that time. They failed to win the bid.

I understand that the location is convenient for your diving activities, and that you have, naturally, developed a relationship with the proprietors. Unfortunately, this is business (with the City of Seattle!!!), and Marination made a better proposal, in the city’s judgment. Now, I think it would be better to direct your energy toward finding ACF a more permanent location, if you find their food to be of quality.

Which leads me to this: West Seattle, you have got to stop supporting mediocre food. Marination is easily some of the best food you have, but only for one day a week. Spring Hill is good, but too “fancy” for all but a few of you. But somehow, A Terrible Beauty is packed constantly. Their food is terrible. Their fish n chips are the worst I’ve ever had, and it sounds like those at ACF are in the same league. I would have to down at least six pints to even think about eating the fish n chips again.

The list goes on and on. Endolyne Joe’s, Avalon, anything on Alki, Easy Street (we’ll remove all moisture from your eggs, we promise), etc. These places all do good business, and I don’t know why. Ok, I’m done.

Someone needs to get Laura a kimchi quesadilla and a kalgi taco so she can put and end to this nonsense.

jw December 10, 2011 (9:19 pm)

Much rather have hipster tacos than overpriced blah fish.

Maybe we could get decent fish tacos

Moose2 December 10, 2011 (9:47 pm)

What a difficult situation. As a taxpayer, of course I want the tenant that’ll provide the most return to the city. On the other hand, AK&C is an excellent restaurant – great staff and fish & chips that are significantly better than the other choices further around Alki (albeit at a higher price as well).

There is something to be said for continuity of the current tenant and their existing customers as a known entity. The figures from Marination, while presumably higher, are just estimates. Perhaps it would be good if they moved to the Porterhouse space.

-Moose

LS December 10, 2011 (10:29 pm)

Alki Fish & Crab Employees have never been rude to me or anyone I know. They are supportive of the community who use the area. The food is a welcome treat after any beach activities and always served with a smile. And yes they take Debit cards. Laura should stand up for businesses she likes and eat whatever she wants.

observer December 11, 2011 (7:12 am)

The dog in the picture looks embarrassed.

Best of luck to Alki Crab AND to Marination, wherever they end up. If Marination wins Seacrest, then I hope Alki Crab finds a good alternative location. If Alki Crab wins a second chance, I hope Marination still comes to West Seattle, either with a permanent location or with their Mobile operation during the week and in a more central location.

As for the divers, I have no doubt Marination would form a positive bond with them as well.

The protest shows that people occasionally feel a need to get in a kerfuffle. I guess all the camping spots at Occupy Seattle were taken.

Jason December 11, 2011 (9:04 am)

he has submitted ‘another packet’

.
Yeah, nothing beats retaking a “test” once you’ve seen the questions, answers and how it’s graded. Gee, I wonder how the resbumittal will go… Marination needs to be able to reword, refigure and resbumit now too!

KD December 11, 2011 (9:19 am)

Moose2… Excellent idea! The Admiral location on the old Porterhouse would be more accessible than trying to get down to Alki, especially summertime. “Yeah”… sounds like you need to relocate out of WestSeattle. Fine dining resteraunts on PacHighway, Tukwila or Southcenter sound appettizing to you? Wah,wah.

datamuse December 11, 2011 (11:38 am)

observer: Occupy Seattle has, in point of fact, decamped.

Brian Makar December 11, 2011 (12:43 pm)

@Yeah …

The compare Alki F&C and a Terrible Beauty to Spring Hill is quite puzzling. Last time I checked, neither place had a $19 burger or a $20 corkage fee.

jack12 December 11, 2011 (12:56 pm)

I made a bet on the Seahawks v Rams game tomorrow night. If I lose fair and square, I will want to have a rally to get keep my $20. I will text everyone the location. Can someone bring a dog if I bring the cardboard?

tacolove December 12, 2011 (7:13 am)

@Yeah……

have you heard of Buddha Ruksa, Mashiko, La Rustica, Phoenecia, Blackboard Bistro or Bakery Nouveau??

Meander’s ain’t too bad for breakfast either!

Ajax December 12, 2011 (2:10 pm)

@Yeah – not liking the same food that you like is not a character flaw. If by “fancy” you mean “expensive”, then I agree that Spring Hill is too fancy for all but a few of us. I’ve eaten there and the food was very good, but paying over $200 for dinner for 3 people was a stretch. Also, anyone expecting fine dining in a record store really should question the lucidity of their expectations.

Frank not "frank" December 13, 2011 (3:44 pm)

It’s one thing to support a local business that may potentially leave due to a lost contract. It’s completely another thing to heap anger, ignorance, and threats of boycott at whoever comes in next.

If my neighbor loses their home to foreclosure and has to move – I’m sad. Maybe I’ll petition the bank to stop the foreclosure. However, I will not ignore the new neighbor or make fun of his/her culture/personality/style or ask them to refrain from coming to block parties.

Many ACF supporters have shown their sadness about them potentially losing out but many others have also spouted a lot of anger towards Marination by attacking their food, culture, longevity and/or business model.

Why is that?

Frank not frank December 13, 2011 (3:46 pm)

Many ACF supporters have shown their sadness about them potentially losing out which is understandable but many others have also spouted a lot of anger towards Marination by attacking their food, culture, longevity and/or business model.

Why is that?

sinky December 14, 2011 (1:14 pm)

I’m a little confused by the commenter who stated

“Love the place, although their staff are generally rude.
They need to also take credit/debit.”

I pay by card all the time there (maybe their machine went down one day or something)

They’ve always treated me nicely. I’m not saying other people couldn’t have had different experiences…rude just hasn’t been mine

DiverLaura December 14, 2011 (11:47 pm)

re: the supporters of ACF…

this isn’t about incumbents… or winners or losers… or food…

its simply a group of people who truly appreciate the owners, mangers and staff of an establishment and want to thank them and give recognition to their years of service to a community.

This isn’t about what marination would or wouldn’t do, its about what ACF has already done.

i think this petition entry sums many of our feeling up perfectly…

“They are an amazing local part of the community. When my cousin died of a heart failure while scuba diving, Alki Crab & Fish joined with local divers to make sure there would be a defibulator on-site to help prevent future tragedies. Don’t get me wrong, the Marination truck is yummy, but this is NOT the way to handle this situation.”

50yrsWS December 29, 2011 (10:13 pm)

It’s about the City – and their business model, not the tenants. The process should be changed. Yes, the financials should have been submitted. But I just did a refi, and I took things in per request all through the process. I wasn’t kicked out of the process because I didn’t have them all the first time. The City (on our behalf as taxpayers) should support the community as a whole, and the continuity of a successful, on going business that is supported by that community as long as the terms of the contract are being met and there is nothing to indicate they won’t be in the future. Yes, there should be an evaluation and “renewal” review periodically, but to just chuck them out to give someone else a try at it – ?? What kind of support for local businesses is that? I’m a landlord. It’s far more profitable of me to support and encourage the renewal of my stable tenants with a track record than it is to create a bidding war with new ones every time the leases are up. As a neither not there issue legally, I’ll add that the water setting certainly seemed to me to lend itself better to ACF than other specialties. If I were a Council or P&R member I would want to promote that relationship as long as the current business was stable.
I agree with those that earlier mentioned bringing their out of town guests to ACF to enjoy the menu blended with the setting. I like ACF’s calamori, and I like tacos. For me there is no hostility either way. For me the criticism is with a short sighted City process.

Sorry, comment time is over.