Marination Ma Kai at West Seattle’s Seacrest Boathouse: New opening estimate – late September

The fence is up, the windows are covered, and intensive work is under way at the Seacrest Boathouse as Marination gets ready to open its first West Seattle bricks-and-mortar location, after three years of bringing its truck to the peninsula on Saturday. This afternoon we spoke with Marination co-owner Kamala Saxton for an update, six weeks after they announced the start of construction – and the official name.

Twists and turns in the permit and construction process have now pushed the expected opening date back to late September, Saxton says. “Progress is being made … not as fast as we wanted.” However, she and co-owner Roz Edison are still rooting for the round of summery weather that often happens in late September/early October, in hopes it will grace the West Seattle waterfront as they fire up the shave-ice machine (and the rest of the new Marination Ma Kai) for the first time. If you are a West Seattle Water Taxi rider, diver, kayaker/SUP’er, or other frequent Seacrest visitor, you will likely notice the roof-replacement work any day now (tomorrow’s parking-lot closure there, however, involves an unrelated ladder replacement on the pier); today’s highlights, she told us, included a new door. They’re also working on hiring – recruiting notices are posted on the boathouse windows – and Saxton says that’ll be finalized in a week or so; lots of West Seattle locals have applied, she says. They’re also excited about Marination Ma Kai’s potential as an event space, including its availability to local groups like PTAs.

It’s been five months since the revelation of a snag in the permit process – extra reviews required because, though the location had been run as a restaurant for more than a decade under previous concessionaire Alki Crab and Fish, it had never formally been approved to serve as one – and almost nine months since word that Marination had been chosen to take over the space. But, as the Marination owners wrote in another flyer that’s posted in the boathouse windows, “We are so in love with Seacrest and the incredible good times to come, we know every hoop, thorn, and fire we deal with will all be worth it!”

16 Replies to "Marination Ma Kai at West Seattle's Seacrest Boathouse: New opening estimate - late September"

  • kumalavula August 27, 2012 (5:54 pm)

    and for this’d of us who’ve been frequenting the truck on Saturdays at high point, we’re so in love with your offerings!!!! can’t wait to visit you at seacrest—-it’s even closer for me (which might translate into more “dangerous!”)

  • Kathi August 27, 2012 (6:05 pm)

    I’ll forever miss the fish n chips that were available there. Wonderful staff and wonderful consistent food.

  • datamuse August 27, 2012 (6:48 pm)

    I am really looking forward to trying out Marination! Their food sounds so good.
    .
    As for fish and chips, I’m looking forward to trying out Seattle Fish Company on California.

  • WSMama3 August 27, 2012 (8:08 pm)

    Can’t wait – and I’ll be sure to bring a PTA gang down!!!

  • Gatewood August 27, 2012 (8:10 pm)

    If you haven’t tried Seattle Fish Co., do so now. The view of the Eagles Hall can’t match that of Elliott Bay, but the fish…

  • Mightymoh August 27, 2012 (9:30 pm)

    The NIMBYs only have a month before the scourge of Korean-influenced street food changes the area for the worse.

  • LSz August 27, 2012 (11:53 pm)

    @datamuse, Seattle Fish Company is SO GOOD! My favorite is probably the crab cakes… maybe the halibut cakes… actually, it’s all good. Go check it out!

  • T-Rex August 28, 2012 (8:43 am)

    Try the Lobster Rolls at Seattle Fish, they are wonderful! Costly, but well worth it!

  • Quebecoise August 28, 2012 (8:50 am)

    …sure do miss Alki Crab and Fish at that location.

  • george August 28, 2012 (9:12 am)

    What a great decision by the Parks Dept to time the transfer during the busy summer months. Wonderful!!

  • Common August 28, 2012 (11:05 am)

    No kidding! I don’t care what is there specifically but that area is desperately in need of a good place to get takeout.

  • Velo_nut August 28, 2012 (11:54 am)

    *sigh*

    I’m tired of the “I want the fish place back” People.

    Move on… Things change.

  • Martin August 28, 2012 (12:56 pm)

    What ever happened to Crab place?
    Did they just desolve like the Rocksport?

  • datamuse August 28, 2012 (2:34 pm)

    I’m kinda with Velo_nut on this one. Can we move on, please?
    .
    (Martin: if you search Alki Crab and Fish on the WSB site I believe you will find the answer to your question. Short version is they lost the concession to Marination.)

  • george August 28, 2012 (4:07 pm)

    *sigh* I’m tired of the “Holier than thou” attitude from the same people, over and over.

  • ColesMom August 31, 2012 (9:22 pm)

    Ditto Velo_nut & Datamuse. Welcome Marination, I’m SO looking forward to opening day!

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