Red Star Pizza seeking new home, with clinic project set for site

| Development | Sunrise Heights | West Seattle news

By Tracy Record
West Seattle Blog editor

In their fifth year at 7514 35th SW in Sunrise Heights, the owners of Red Star Pizza are looking for a new home.

Co-proprietor Mike Supino tells WSB they’ve been told they’ll have to clear out by year’s end, if not sooner, because the site’s owners are selling the property. No sale is on record with the county so far, but there’s an early-stage redevelopment proposal for a three-story medical building, described in city files as an “eye clinic.” Documents filed with the city in the past week further describe the project as a 13,000-square-foot clinic, with 1,460 square feet of retail and “more parking than required by city code” – 15 spaces are proposed in a garage, up to 51 on the surface, and the project proponents are hoping to keep it accessible from 35th, though current city codes usually encourage parking access from alleys.

Supino identified the future clinic owner as West Seattle Highline Eye Clinic, and one of the city documents indeed lists that firm as the applicant; The architect for the project, PB Architects, also worked on the clinic’s current space in Westwood Village. We sought comment from the clinic; our message for its owners has yet to be returned.

The site-plan documents indicate the project does not involve the building housing John’s Corner Deli, but that at least two residential structures on the property would be demolished, as would the small retail building housing Red Star.

Supino and wife Shannon Cross opened Red Star in fall 2009, after buying what had been Pizza Time. They had been operating a pizza shop under the Red Star name in the Pierce County town of Lakewood before that. Supino says they’d appreciate any leads on a suitable new spot; they’ve been looking but haven’t found a workable site yet.

More than a year before they opened the shop in 2009, the site was listed for sale, as reported here, along with the co-owned parcels north to Webster. It’s all zoned NC-40, which means buildings up to four stories (depending on the grade). Records show the owner has held the deli site on the corner for almost 30 years, and the south part of the site, where Red Star is, since 2006.

Westside May 6, 2014 (4:04 pm)

Does this explain why Red Star always seems to be closed these days?

Tucker May 6, 2014 (4:40 pm)

Well, that’s sad. I like having them close by.

Jeff May 6, 2014 (4:46 pm)

Major bummer, I love having Red Star right up the street. I hope Mike and Shannon are able to find a great spot to move into. Also have noticed that they’ve been closed a lot as of late, hope everything is OK. This could be good though, it worked out well for Zippy’s.

Starsky May 6, 2014 (4:49 pm)

Great pizza

Toby May 6, 2014 (4:52 pm)

Probably REALLY expensive, but what about where Jamba Juice was in Westwood Village? Love Red Star! Hope they can stay close by!

w.s. maverick May 6, 2014 (4:59 pm)

boooooooooooo

Founding Member May 6, 2014 (5:53 pm)

There’s already great pizza at Westwood and I’m sure there’s exclusive rights in the leases there. Best of luck to Red Star though!

Joan May 6, 2014 (6:58 pm)

Why are they always closed on Wednesdays?? And their voice mail is FULL. Excellent pizza, the best around, but hard to get.

Trickycoolj May 6, 2014 (7:18 pm)

Would love to see them in a walkable place from High Point. Probably wishful thinking. Zeeks delivery is super fast but spendy for a pizza for 2.

Fred May 6, 2014 (7:53 pm)

I believe this building was the original Dominos back in the late 70s or early 80s.. Back when delivery pizza was in its infancy around here..

KM May 6, 2014 (8:09 pm)

Oh man! We love Red Star! We’ll miss them.

pizzaexpert May 6, 2014 (8:34 pm)

It’s sad to see them go, however, the quality of their pies has gone downhill. At least the last couple of times that we ordered, the pies were subpar. I assumed the quality went downhill because they were selling the business (this was reported here on the WSB) and their heart just wasn’t in it anymore. We had been ordering pizza from them since they opened and had always recommended them to friends and anyone else that would listen. We loved the chewiness of the crust and the freshness of the ingredients, along with the pride that Mike would convey when handing over a pie. Sadly, this hasn’t been the case in a while, perhaps because they now have other people working for them that don’t care as much about the quality, e.g., thin burnt crusts, too much cornmeal (like sandpaper) on the crust, greasy tasting/smelling toppings, etc. So we stopped ordering their pizza, because frankly pizza is not the healthiest of meals and if we’re going to have it I would prefer consistency in the quality so I know I can expect a good pizza. I hope Mike or Shannon read this and address why the quality is not what it used to be. Perhaps if this is rectified we will seek them out again at their new location.

M May 6, 2014 (8:43 pm)

Just ordered from Red Star last weekend. Excellent as always. I’m optimistic that a new space will be found and I’ll be more than willing to follow them.

wsn00b May 6, 2014 (9:13 pm)

@WSB Editor: Street address is 7514 not 7914

Thanks for the insights as always on neighborhood developments.

WSB May 6, 2014 (9:24 pm)

Thanks, typo, fixing. Trust me, I had the right address for the documents quoted therein :)

SJ2 May 6, 2014 (9:54 pm)

They have not been open the last few times I tried to order. I used to love red star, but I agree with the previous comments. The last few pizzas I have had have definitely not been up to par. I hope they get a new location and soon resume to their tasty pizzas.

Star red May 6, 2014 (10:12 pm)

Maybe they can share the space with West Seattle Brewing Company?

WMF May 7, 2014 (10:01 am)

I can’t remember the last time I saw that place open.

tickingtimebags May 7, 2014 (10:49 am)

Damn! We’ve loved having them close by, despite the limited availability mentioned several times above. I hope they’re able to find another spot that’s not too far away and can keep up the tasty/affordable/personable combination we’ve always experienced there, and introduced to many of our friends.

I have been wondering when the developers would discover that area…there’s an auto shop across and down the street that’s been for sale for a while, and I would imagine it’ll wind up as another large mixed use building soon, for better or for worse.

zackpanic May 7, 2014 (12:59 pm)

best pizza in seattle!

cecfire May 8, 2014 (9:31 am)

Love Red Star Pizza and proximity to our home! Please stay close!! We’d rather give you our pizza business than to give it to anyone else!

G-mo May 8, 2014 (2:54 pm)

hello Red Star owners, does anyone over there want to reply to so many comments about your inconsistant hours (wihout notice), full voicemail box and recent inconsistant food quality? I love you guys, but would love some assurance that you’re listening

Chris In Seaview May 9, 2014 (3:08 pm)

I haven’t noticed the quality drop, still tastes great to me. But I do wonder what is up with the schedule, last 4 times I’ve tried to call same as the others say, no answer vm full. Had to resort to Zeeks which while good is almost 2x as expensive.