West Seattle businesses: The Cask has closed in Admiral

Thanks to the readers who e-mailed this morning to report that The Cask in The Admiral District has closed. We have just confirmed that with proprietor Marty Ogan; no further elaboration. He took over the wine/beer bar at 2350 California SW earlier this year; it opened in summer 2010, a few owners ago, in a space that had previously been home to a shoe shop. This means two storefronts are now empty in the commercial building on the east side of California north of Admiral Way, after Royal India Grill‘s sudden closure five months ago.

square eyes October 22, 2014 (12:50 pm)

That’s a bummer. We’ve been maybe a dozen times since it opened, but it was just missing that intangible something.

Wes C. Addle October 22, 2014 (12:52 pm)

I think that intangible something was good food.

Me mama October 22, 2014 (12:54 pm)

The admiral district NEEDS more dedicated, free parking.

hmmm October 22, 2014 (1:14 pm)

Agree it was missing something. It just didn’t have a strong identity. It seems like the new owners tried to focus more on beer, but it’s not really a beer kind of place. And the wine selection wasn’t strong or varied enough to call it a wine bar either.

MacJ October 22, 2014 (1:27 pm)

Because what goes better with alcohol than more incentives to drive!

JanS October 22, 2014 (1:34 pm)

The previous owners, Matt and Rochelle, had a lovely little place…good wine, good beer, good light eats. We were treated very well there, and it even won an award for best wine bar once…new owners? Nothing…they dropped the food, made inferior choices of beer and wine..very sad indeed

Brian October 22, 2014 (1:36 pm)

@Me Mama: Does anyone know if the Metropolitan Market allows people to use their lot after they close? I went to a show at the Benbow Room last weekend and street parking was really hard to find but the MetMarket lot was nearly empty.

WSB October 22, 2014 (2:20 pm)

@Brian: Except for short breaks at winter-holiday time, Metropolitan Market (WSB sponsor) *never* closes. Speaking as a frequent very-very-very-late-night shopper, we know this firsthand. Sorry I don’t know their parking-lot policies.
.
(Not that the other two locally owned grocery stores, also sponsors, close early … both PCC and Thriftway are open until midnight.)

Robert October 22, 2014 (1:43 pm)

We live within walking distance (1/2 mile) of Admiral Junction and frequently walk to the restaurants – it is a great way to get out.

ho October 22, 2014 (1:46 pm)

That whole block area kinda sucks, especially all the wierd drunks out in front of the Admiral Pub/ Yen Wor. Last time we parked we almost got ran into several times walking down the sidewalk. I’m not suprised!

junctioneer October 22, 2014 (1:50 pm)

They served food?

Me mama October 22, 2014 (2:45 pm)

Yes, if we all lived a walkable distance- or mass transit? Ha no. Strongly agree that yen wor and admiral pub are not a good influence on nearby business!!!

onion October 22, 2014 (3:38 pm)

There’s nothing wrong with that block that decent restaurants can’t overcome. Mrs. Onion and I love Pizzeria 22, whose business doesn’t seem to suffer from their location around the corner from the Admiral Pub and Yen Wor. Also the restaurants across the street, Angelina’s and Copper Coin seem to be doing decent business. We even play pool at the Admiral Pub every now and then (where Mrs. Onion usually wins!). We went to The Cask for drinks and music once this summer, and the atmosphere was nice and laid back — but probably too laid back for the proprietors to make a decent return on their investment.

AM October 22, 2014 (4:23 pm)

worst news i’ve heard today :( SUCH a fun little bar. Never too crowded, they had fun events (music bingo and more recently smart phone trivia). Yeah, parking is a bit of a pain, but it was really a great place. I was just planning a visit there on Friday actually. So so sad……. here’s hoping another cute small bar opens up in its place!

brandon October 22, 2014 (4:46 pm)

Admiral district needs some high rises like the Junction so that some more retail shops and restaurants can move in.

WSB October 22, 2014 (4:50 pm)

There’s no zoning higher than 4 stories in Admiral, fwiw.

twobottles October 22, 2014 (5:18 pm)

That’s too bad. Marty was a nice guy, looked like he was gonna make a go of it. However, when he stopped serving food, I stopped going.

Rockergrrrl October 22, 2014 (5:23 pm)

We LOVE The Cask! Marty and his wife have been building a wonderful community gathering spot. The closure isn’t their fault, it’s some kind of snafu by the previous owner. Hope they get it straightened out!

Anne October 22, 2014 (5:23 pm)

Before we start wishing for more retail in Admiral – let’s see what new retail moves into all the new builds in the Junction. The new Fly Fishing shop at 42nd & Oregon- was a pleasant surprise. Been in twice already-feel bad their name escapes me as I write this- but the folks are super nice . Have bought clothing & GoPro items – so it’s not just for Fly Fishermen. But have not heard anything about what else might be coming.

Guy October 22, 2014 (6:11 pm)

I wish I had supported the place more. Bummer, I like small bars sometimes.
“I agree with the strange people by the Yen Wor and the Admiral Pub. Why can’t they be more like the shiny dress shirt types in the junction. Oh, not to mention the wonderful crowd at Poggie’s”….. end sarcasm.

Rachel H October 22, 2014 (6:26 pm)

Ditto Rockergrrrl – The Cask was really coming into its own and blossoming. We’ve been several times in the last few months to hear live music (excellent singer-songwriters), enjoy the ambiance, and yes – have a small dinner. It was really lovely! I have heard rumor that there is still a chance they may re-open – just taking time out to get some things in order. I sure hope they do!!

mike October 22, 2014 (8:05 pm)

It is a great place and we loved going there a couple times a month. I really liked what they were doing with the place. Live music and a great variety of beers and wines. Hope they can open again. Anything that can be done?

jayjayb74 October 22, 2014 (8:19 pm)

I am not surprised, it originally opened as a wine/beer bar and it morphed into more of a neighborhood bar scene. They probably should have changed the name as the feel was soo much different from the original. My wife and I used to go once a week when it first opened. While the new owners were very nice I feel they didn’t quite get what was going to be successful in west seattle. Hopefully something new and inventive goes in there.

lvbebe October 23, 2014 (5:20 am)

Unfortunately this does not come as a shock, we loved the former owners and back last summer and fall went there almost every weekend for small bites, wine/beer, and music playing. While the new owners mean well and seem nice it has felt like it has lost it’s way no food, service went downhill, a wine list they couldn’t speak to or answer questions about, and feeling like it was 1/2 bistro and 1/2 want to be a local pub.

As a note – we walk from south of the HS – it’s not that far and as others have noted other places, Cooper Coin, Mission, Circa, all do well. The difference is serving solid food, solid service, and having their act together. Oh and we never really felt the Wen Wor crowd etc…but that is further north than where we are.

wsEd October 23, 2014 (7:46 am)

JanS and Square Eyes,

Jan has explained it first time I went in it was great. Went back after New owners, not so great. That intangible thing they were missing is service.

North Admiral Resident October 23, 2014 (9:29 am)

There IS very reasonably priced parking at the Anytime Fitness lot and the underground lot by Bartell. It is very underutilized. Supply and Demand would indicate the demand is not so great that people are willing to pay. $2/hour is a bargain. There’s even less free parking in Ballard, most people pay to park in lots. It’s market driven.

Sorry, comment time is over.