West Seattle restaurants: Eats Market Café closing; space plans show Wingstop on the way

A longtime Westwood Village restaurant has just announced it’s closing – and according to city permit files, its successor is waiting in the wings, with the wings. After discovering plans for a change in her space, we asked Eats Market Café proprietor Toby Matasar for comment. Her reply is in the note she just forwarded us, and also sent to her newsletter subscribers:

It is with a sad and heavy heart that I have to tell you all that Eats will be closing at the end of July. The mall management has decided not to renew my lease. This is a huge loss not just for me but for my wonderful staff and for all of you, my favorite customers. We have all become a family over the last 10 years and it truly breaks my heart to have to say goodbye. I hope to see all of you in the next few weeks as we serve our final Reubens, Farmhouse breakfasts, Spinach salads, Burgers and all of your other favorite Eats meals.

I will continue my passion for feeding others at my new endeavor, NICHE, which will be opening next month on Capitol Hill. This will be a dedicated gluten-free cafe & bakery. There you will find some of the Eats classics, i.e., the Spinach Salad and the Veggie Burger, along with many new items. You can check us out on our website nicheseattle.com. We will have the same love and dedication for good food and friendly service that you have known for all of the years at Eats. We hope you will come join us in our new space and continue to enjoy our food and our smiles.

Thank you all for your patronage, love and support over the last 10 years. I will be forever grateful for knowing all of you and for your loyalty and your smiles.

Thank you from all of us at Eats
Toby

According to a site plan filed with DPD for the Eats space, work will be done to change it into Wingstop, on behalf of the local franchisee Rice Wings, owned by former Seahawk Sidney Rice. We haven’t yet reached them for comment; the Wingstop website shows Southcenter as the nearest current location.

P.S. For more on Matasar’s new Capitol Hill endeavor, here’s the story our friends at CapitolHillSeattle.com published in May.

Ron Swanson July 8, 2015 (2:18 pm)

Sounds like a lovely restaurant, never went in there. Condolences to the regulars and the staff. I am very excited for wings, however.

Craig July 8, 2015 (2:23 pm)

Nice neighborhood place. Never felt like it was in the right neighborhood though, more like a Morgan or Alaska Junction restaurant. I’ll add it the “I miss it” list like I do Pica. Man, I miss Pica. :(

ws_suzanne July 8, 2015 (2:30 pm)

Toby,
Thank you so all the fantastic meals and special times at your wonderful restaurant. I have so many great memories of being there with my friends. And I remember meeting you at the WS farmer’s market when you used to have space there. It was how I discovered Eats.

It’s great to know that you are opening Niche. I will see you there soon, I’m sure. In the meantime, I wish you very well and hope it’s successful beyond your wildest dreams!

–Note to Ron Swanson — Eat’s is terrific. You should go before it’s gone.

Suzanne July 8, 2015 (2:32 pm)

I will miss their incredible ice cream sandwiches!

Sue July 8, 2015 (2:34 pm)

Ah, dammit … as a New Yorker, it was the only place worthy of eating pastrami and matzoh ball soup that I’d found in Seattle, neither of which I see on the menu of the new place. I used to be a regular there when I lived very close to it, and although I don’t go as often as I used to, I’ve been there 3x in the past month. I’ll truly miss it.

Jan Hubert July 8, 2015 (2:35 pm)

Seriously? What the world really needs is another Wing place? This is what’s wrong with our city in a nutshell.

Westwoodmom July 8, 2015 (2:39 pm)

Ugh, replacing a lovely place with a wide variety of choices with an unhealthy restaurant that I will never enter. Stupid move, WWV, killing us and the mall.

RayK July 8, 2015 (2:43 pm)

I will miss this cafe for its great food at reasonable prices. Sad.

CM July 8, 2015 (2:44 pm)

No!!!! I am so incredibly sad to hear this. Excellent food and they are such a wonderful team. Please consider finding another West Seattle location. Pushed out for a wing joint? So disappointing.

Joe Szilagyi July 8, 2015 (2:49 pm)

Awwww, Eats was awesome. Damn. Is this local wings chain good? I love me some wings, so that’s solace…

JanS July 8, 2015 (2:50 pm)

a wings place? Seriously? Doubt that I will ever go there…never went to the one in the junction , either…

Azimuth July 8, 2015 (2:50 pm)

Alki will have you!

Joe Szilagyi July 8, 2015 (2:50 pm)

@Sue go to Roxy’s in Fremont for pastrami (I grew up in CT; many, many weekends in NYC). It’s pretty good. There’s apparently a place up by NOAA at Sand Point that’s also fantastic, but I can’t recall it’s name.

JanS July 8, 2015 (2:51 pm)

but for the guys, I’m sure it will have multiple TeeVees and sports on the weekends…enjoy!

Chris July 8, 2015 (2:54 pm)

Really bummed to see Eats go. It’s been my “go to” spot for brunch on Saturday mornings with my son (him for the PB&J Sticks, me for the sliders). Great staff, tasty food. Thank you Toby for 10 years, and best of luck with NICHE.

SJ2 July 8, 2015 (2:54 pm)

I am so sad about this. BEST Matzo ball soup in the city! Also loved their breakfasts and sandwiches. And really? Wings? It was nice having an option for breakfast in West wood.

highlandpark July 8, 2015 (2:55 pm)

Darnit, we just started going here and really liked the originality in food and service. We will visit as often as possible this month.

DW July 8, 2015 (3:01 pm)

WSB – is it possible to get a comment from the owner of WWV? I’d like to hear the reasoning behind this from them. Can they really just throw a (seemingly) well performing tenant out in favor of (potentially) higher rent?

jetcitydude July 8, 2015 (3:03 pm)

The mall will not renew your lease? Something’s missing.

ANW July 8, 2015 (3:04 pm)

I will truly miss Eats. As a gluten free eater, I found many delicious options there. It is a great place to get a healthy breakfast, which is a hard thing to do at Westwood. Thank you, Eats! I will see you at Niche!

dhg July 8, 2015 (3:07 pm)

A recommendation for Niche: Do not over-manage the seating. We stopped going to Eats years ago because we’d walk in and be told that we couldn’t sit at that lovely table by the window. Here, sit here in this narrow space against the wall. They did that to us twice and we decided to never return.

owen July 8, 2015 (3:07 pm)

Oh no! I love Eats’ Reuben and the whole restaurant is such a refreshing change from typical shopping complex options. Good luck in your new venture Toby, you’ll be missed.

Debbie July 8, 2015 (3:10 pm)

Too bad a healthy choice restaurant is leaving….and getting replaced by a very unhealthy one. I won’t be eating there.

Newcomer July 8, 2015 (3:11 pm)

Super sad to hear this.. love the food.

I really don’t understand the choice to have Wing’s place take over – Can’t see my family eating there. I agree stupid move.

Gina July 8, 2015 (3:15 pm)

Oh gross. Wings? I surely would love a healthy restaurant I could eat in. Gheesh.

Andi July 8, 2015 (3:18 pm)

Super sad to hear this. The little one and I loved to sit outside during nice weather, grab some delicious (and healthy!) food and people watch while running errands. Not much of an option anymore unless we go to the grocery stores or bring our own, and that’s no fun. Oh well… C’est la vie! Best of luck to Toby!

sam-c July 8, 2015 (3:21 pm)

That is too bad. Their curry chicken salad is fantastic, as are the cookies. :( boo management

Casey July 8, 2015 (3:27 pm)

Sorry to year you’re closing. I loved your grilled cheese sandwiches, and my 79 yo mom REALLY LOVED your coleslaw. Any chance that since you’re leaving the neighborhood, I could get your slaw recipe to surprise her with?

Eve R July 8, 2015 (3:29 pm)

Oh no! The blue cheese burger was the best!!!! In fact this was my favorite burger joint :-( I do really like Wingstop though and I don’t even normally like wings. They have boneless wings, large variety of flavors…both saucy and dry rub. The rolls are amazing and the beans are yummy. @Joe Szilagyi I think it’s worth trying

Heliodoro July 8, 2015 (3:35 pm)

Green bridge cafe is a good opcion for sanwiches and salads 9901 sw 8th ave, seattle, WA. Rigth next to white center.

Louise black July 8, 2015 (3:37 pm)

For a mall that cannot even fill the empty spaces it has, I am dumbfounded by their logic. The old Hollywood Video space has been available for almost 5 years and the number of other businesses that have failed and/or struggled there means the mall management isn’t understanding business needs. I will watch with interest to see if some of the more “corporate” lease holders don’t start leaving too.

Paul July 8, 2015 (3:45 pm)

Too bad the wing place didn’t take the old Jamba Juice space instead. Isn’t that still empty?

WSB July 8, 2015 (3:48 pm)

According to both what a merchant mentioned and what city records show, the nail salon is moving from its spot next to Wyatt’s Jewelers (WSB sponsor) to the ex-Wyatt’s spot. Note that Jamba didn’t cook food – beyond blending smoothies and warming up some baked goods – so it didn’t have the kind of equipment a full-scale restaurant needs in its kitchen. The city file notations for this suggest there isn’t much work necessary.

Melanie July 8, 2015 (3:48 pm)

Bummer to see a place like this go. Went inside once and stood there for 5 mins while the waiter and host sat at a table and looked at their cell phones. Obviously I did not go there again, but their menu looked great!
Excited to have a wings place here since we don’t have one yet.

Hey least it’s not ANOTHER pizza place ;)

Bonnie July 8, 2015 (3:49 pm)

Wings? Um. No. So sorry to see Eats go. Ripple Cafe is not far and she makes great sandwiches.

RKW July 8, 2015 (3:52 pm)

The decline of Westwood Mall has been baby steps until now. This is a huge leap to the bottom. Eats is excellent. “Wings”, none of them, are anything but drinken bro food, i.e. sometimes delicious, but not when you’re in your right mind.

onion July 8, 2015 (3:56 pm)

Sue and others looking for a great reuben or pastrami sandwich or matzoh ball soup should give Goldberg’s Deli in Factoria a try. I’d eat there regularly if 1) I was in Factoria around lunch time, and 2) I could eat more than half of their sandwiches without bursting (they are THAT hearty).
They also make and sell the best rye bread in Seattle.

Sorry to hear about Eats. Westwood Village is not convenient for me, so I only ate there a few times. But I knew they were among West Seattle’s very best lunch and sandwich options. As others said, it would be awesome if they found a spot in one of the new buildings opening in the Junction or along California.

ACG July 8, 2015 (3:58 pm)

NOOOOOOO!!! So sad to see Eats go. They will be missed. I can guarantee we won’t be stepping into the Wings restaurant. Yuck. Big loss for WWV and the entire AH/ Westwood neighborhood. One of the few decent places to get a menu with lots of variety and some healthy choices. Boo.

NotOnHolden July 8, 2015 (4:07 pm)

Sorry to read this news.

West Seattle Hipster July 8, 2015 (4:08 pm)

Wings?

Yummmmmmmmm

But, sorry to see Eats go, they had some good food.

lj July 8, 2015 (4:18 pm)

Another reason to NEVER go to Westwood Village again. One of a very few good places to eat in West Seattle. :(‘(‘(‘

miws July 8, 2015 (4:18 pm)

Sorry to see Eats being forced out.

I was thinking same as Paul; why not the old Jamba Juice spot? But, WSB’s comment of it not having the proper equipment makes sense, although I would think if Wingstop was interested enough in locating at Westwood, they would find the investment of installing the equipment worthwhile.

Not happy with WWV management’s decision in regards to this, but then again, what should one expect from a company, that when they shared a property listing of one of their tenants on their Facebook page, corrected me when I pointed out that their tenant mentioned that the property was across from “Watercrest Dog Park”, I pointed out they must be talking about “Westcrest”, and WWV “corrected” me “No, Water Crest Park…”

Mike

Josh July 8, 2015 (4:24 pm)

Two thoughts. There must be more to the story. It doesn’t make sense Westwood management wouldn’t renew the lease to a good tenant.

Second: Westwood has gone WAY down hill since the bus hub came in. Why so many vacancies there? That doesn’t make sense either. It needs a restaurant LIKE Eats, or that type of vibe. Why is Jamba Juice still empty and why is the old Hollywood still empty? I thought Panda Express (another boring tenant) was going there years ago.

More questions than answers! I wish the management would comment on what the plans are. Maybe re-design some spaces so a restaurant could go in. I bet Barnes and Noble will close one day and it will become a Red Robin.

Dave July 8, 2015 (4:32 pm)

Look in North Delridge, we need more restaurants. Great food, you will be missed.

rundmc July 8, 2015 (4:32 pm)

This is so sad. I love Eats and ate there all the time. Was just there this past Sunday. Everything is delicious. I find it hard to believe they lost their lease. If they could move to Capitol Hill/afford Capitol Hill, then they must be a pretty thriving business overall. Would love to go to their new place, but NO PARKING and TOO CROWDED in that ‘hood now. Really, really too bad.

Honestly, I like wings as much as the next person, but the other well-known wings place in a heavily trafficked area on CA went bust pretty quickly. You can get good wings on Alki at Fatburger and various places in White Center. Really poor decision-making seems to me. Seems also to be more “dumbing down” of Westwood. Sigh.

Apey July 8, 2015 (4:32 pm)

I can’t believe this! I just took my parents to Eats this afternoon and had no idea it would probably be our last meal there. Such fantastic sandwiches and wonderful staff; so sorry to hear this news.

Chrisbeans July 8, 2015 (4:51 pm)

Although I’m sad to see Eats go, I’m happy that Wingstop is coming to West Seattle. They have the best chicken wings, in my opinion.

Mongo July 8, 2015 (5:14 pm)

Sigh… For those of us in Arbor Heights, there aren’t that many neighborhood restaurant options (especially for anything healthy). Given that environment, the “Eats for Wings” trade is loss of another precious option. At least it will continue to be a restaurant space, so I can hope for a more useful concept longer term (unlike the former restaurant space at 35th/Roxbury, which is now a marijuana retailer).

Norma July 8, 2015 (5:23 pm)

We often went there after visiting our eye doctor in Westwood. They served good healthy food. We’re not interested in wings at all. We’re really disappointed.

Jay Koster July 8, 2015 (5:36 pm)

Sad to see this note. I’ve only recently discovered Eats, and had made plans to add it to our family and office lunches in the future.

I wish them all the best of luck in their new venture.

coffee July 8, 2015 (5:50 pm)

In my opinion, WWV management is horrible. The place is always a mess, I hear tidbits from the current renters about how they charge for everything but get minimal. I think the place is not that great, WWV that is, not Eats. I think Eats got the shaft.

Trickycoolj July 8, 2015 (6:17 pm)

Huh. Every time I considered popping in there for food when I was shopping they weren’t even open. I swear I don’t keep odd hours but the businesses in West Seattle really cater to the schedules of senior citizens and not working twenty and thirty something’s that don’t get home from work until almost 7pm. Glad to see a wing place coming in. I hate having to go to Greenwood to get Wing Dome since y’all chased them off.

iggy July 8, 2015 (6:28 pm)

This is such bad news. Since the bus hub went into Westwood Village, it’s really going downhill. EATS was one of the few quality, locally owned businesses.

AG July 8, 2015 (6:30 pm)

We eat at Eats weekly, and having recently (within the last year) discovered my husband has celiac disease, we appreciated tremendously that Toby had expanded the menu to include so many gluten free options. So, while another place may have great pastrami, they don’t usually have decent gluten free bread for the rest of the sandwoch, much less gluten free rye. Sigh. And Eats’ coleslaw is just like my mom’s. Not all mayonnaise filled like most.

We’re going to miss Eats SO MUCH. And I can already guarantee we’re not going to be eating at Wings. Just not interesting to me. Dammit.

Toby, I hope you’ll consider expanding and keeping a version of Eats in another WS location. This community loves you. And we love Heidi our wonderful waitress. Some other WS restaurant had better snap her up. I know she’s local and is looking for a new job.

Ex-Westwood Resident July 8, 2015 (6:34 pm)

Eats was a niche eatery, serving a VERY select clientele.
Every time I walked by, I never saw more than 3 or 4 people.
But what gets me is the screams that there needs to be an Applebee’s type restaurant in WWV. But now that there is a franchise restaurant coming in, the cries change to laments. Although not an Applebee’s, the wings are GREAT, and IMO so is everything else on the menu, MUCH better the Applebees!!!
BTW – Seahawk WR Sidney Rice owns at least five Wingstop franchises, I wonder if this is one of his???

PangolinPie July 8, 2015 (6:34 pm)

I liked Eats and went there pretty often — I’ll miss it. That said, I think they’re making a mistake opening a “gluten free” place. This whole GF thing is just a trend, I’m pretty sure. In another five or six years it’ll be replaced with the next food fad (except of course for those with celiac disorder who really DO need to avoid gluten). Anyway, won’t be going to a wings place, that’s for sure. At least there’s still Gianonni’s.

WSB July 8, 2015 (6:35 pm)

EWR, that’s the second-to-last line in the story … TR

wsBorn&Bred July 8, 2015 (6:49 pm)

So many memories at Eats. I’ve been taking my now 8 year old niece there since she was big enough to eat solid food. It was our tradition and she lovingly refers to it as THE restaurant. The go to place for mac-n-cheese, the best cranberry Turkey melt on the planet and waiters who will dive like they are catching a game-winning touchdown to save an anxious toddler from bouncing out of her seat onto hard concrete. I am heartbroken.

John July 8, 2015 (7:26 pm)

We love Eats! It’s one of our favorite places to eat in West Seattle. The food is terrific and the staff so wonderful. Shame on Westwood Village for driving away local businesses and bringing in yet another national chain into W. Seattle.

Weiss July 8, 2015 (7:59 pm)

Thrilled that a Wing joint is moving in, and a local one at that. Fat Burger and the previously mentioned Wing Dome on California are/were no good. Sad that some are losing Eats, but my wife still cracks up when I described their sausage as tasting like the blood sponge in a meat package. Far and away the worst breakfast I’ve ever paid to eat.

Jbug July 8, 2015 (8:05 pm)

I was expecting Eats to close. Last month I persuaded the family to go there and the booths were taped with duct tape, the burgers were from frozen patties and undercooked and the dude cooking loudly criticized us for asking for extra sauce. This place USED to be really great years ago. That’s the only reason I kept going back once in awhile – hoping it would be great again. I was disappointed every time on the food and found the service and attitude to be disheartening. Sorry to see it go, but it was circling the drain for years. I don’t eat wings so no excitement over the new place either. I’m dreaming of a Shake Shack coming to WS.

Sandy July 8, 2015 (9:22 pm)

My husband will really miss the matzoh ball soup, we will both miss the reubens, but mostly we will miss the great staff and Toby herself! We were always greeted like old friends and given excellent service–not to mention that the food was REALLY good. Toby was always gracious in contributing a fabulous dessert to the ArtsWest Gala and Auction. A big loss for West Seattle.

Breakfast Sliders 4ever July 8, 2015 (10:06 pm)

I shed a tear when I heard this terrible news. I found this place about 5 yrs ago while shopping. The grilled cheese with apple was so incredible & perfect when I was about 6 months pregnant. I brought my husband back for brunch on a Sun & it’s been our fav brunch spot since. Our 2 kids have been going since gestation so we’re super sad and incredibly disappointed. Our 1 yr old walks in confidently like its a 2nd home. Our now 4 yr old calls it “Heidi & Aaron’s place” because the staff have become friends. They practically have our orders waiting for us! We’re really at a loss…can’t understand why the owner isn’t considering WS or why a wing/chain restaurant is a good choice for a neighborhood that needs more healthy choices. WWV certainly is now a follower vs being a leader in the community.

Cupajoe July 8, 2015 (10:18 pm)

I’ve been in West Seattle for 30 years, Fauntleroy for 10. I have been to Westwood Village 100’s of times. I never knew this place existed!!! What does that say?

Josh July 8, 2015 (11:40 pm)

What does that say?
What does it *also* say that there are so many comments already just about this place and Westwood Management can’t even comment… not necessarily about this itself (I understand privacy/business, etc.), but if we care THIS much about it, you would think management would have something to say about the mall in GENERAL. So many of us want it to be a great place, and yet it falls short and no question is going down hill. The Sprint Store? Why is the old hollywood STILL empty? That could be a Panera. Why is the Jamba juice still empty? QFC was once a pristine store, but now with Whole Foods, Thriftway, etc., QFC is quite dumpy. I see bums rooting in the garbage can and the security guards watching you tube in their office by the old skate shop. Terrible place.

AMD July 8, 2015 (11:47 pm)

Wow, huge bummer to see you guys go. I don’t know that there was anything I ever had on the menu I didn’t like.
: (

Elizabeth July 9, 2015 (7:10 am)

On no! So sad to hear this news. Eats was one of our regular spots! I wish Toby and co would consider opening something else in West Seattle rather than (or in addition to!) Capital Hill.

CJ July 9, 2015 (8:19 am)

Bummer!

Had the coolest experience at Eats Market. I was enjoying a late morning breakfast one day and in comes Richard Sherman with his wife and baby!… Couldn’t believe it. Something I’ll never forget.

The staff was awesome too. Very nice people…

Looking forward to trying out NICHE!

Lisa July 9, 2015 (9:01 am)

I am so sad and disappointed to hear this news. I loved their food so much, their delicious turkey and cranberry toasted sandwich, their amazing spinach salads and their homemade soups…and in place of this? YUK! Chicken wings? a chain fast food place that I will never use? Disgusted by West Wood Village management. I hope they read these comments and feel mortified.

Muggens July 9, 2015 (10:35 am)

Oh So Sad!!! I will miss EATS and their tasty everything!! I’ve always loved the staff and AMAZED that your wait staff has not changed – at least not in recent memory. You inspired me to make my own Matzo Ball soup and now it is a staple in our household :) Eating there as often as I can before you close :(
XOXO

John Q Lincoln July 9, 2015 (10:39 am)

Sorry to hear this. They made a damn fine tuna melt! Of course was never crazy about the location.

Josh July 9, 2015 (11:19 am)

You’re right. What does it say that WW management is silent. You would think they would like to be part of the community/engaged. The vacancies speak volumes. I used to be positive about Westwood, but the bus hub ruined a lot of the energy, and it seems its less and less a (relatively) nice place to do business.

RayWest July 9, 2015 (4:29 pm)

This is the same thing that happened to the Dress Barn and probably a number of other business. Westwood Village owners are jacking up the rents after the current tenants leases run out and replace them with generic chains. Pretty heartless and crass.

JB July 9, 2015 (5:09 pm)

Can’t wait to get some wings after my workout at 24 Hour Fitness.

Rebecca M.m July 9, 2015 (8:05 pm)

There were many nice meals at Eats with friends. We have no desire to patronize a “wings” establishment.

wb July 9, 2015 (8:56 pm)

@Pangolinpie Gluten free is hardly a trend, for some it literaly is a lifesaver. For those like me, it is a way back from a lifetime of gut rot from eating “food” from our poisoned food chain and ingesting denuded wheat. I plan to patronize the new place and wish the owners luck in their next venture.

Aimee July 10, 2015 (2:28 am)

This is aggravating to say the least. The same thing happened to a mall in a city I used to live in. It tried and tried, but eventually it literally just died. Someone else came in to buy and now it has exploded with an AMC, Whole Foods, etc. There almost isn’t anything you can’t find there now. I have hope…

SBW July 10, 2015 (7:04 am)

I’m disappointed to see you go:( You have amazing food and a wonderful staff. What a loss for West Seattle.

A July 10, 2015 (10:27 am)

Thank god. Finally, a decent restaurant in Westwood!

mel July 10, 2015 (11:02 am)

Another franchise wing place in West Seattle! Obviously hopping on the bandwagon of Wing Dome’s raging success in the Junction…
.
…What? Wing Dome closed in less than two years, despite its location in the busiest part of West Seattle?
.
Bummer.

East Coast Cynic July 10, 2015 (1:09 pm)

@Onion, thanks for the info on Goldberg’s Deli. This east coaster has been dying for some crucial stuffed pastrami on rye—-w/o mayo, alfalfa, and lettuce:)

Kate Maass July 10, 2015 (4:47 pm)

Oh Man, where will I get my chicken soup this winter!!!! Good luck in your new venture, you will be missed!

Jacqueline July 12, 2015 (9:38 am)

The same trend is happening all over West Seattle. Big corporations are pushing out small businesses and buying apartment properties to raise rentals. The cost of living in West Seattle is skyrocketing and becoming unaffordable for small businesses and tenants. There is no such thing as an affordable apartment or wonderful small businesses any more in West Seattle. What can be done to stop the trend?

West Seattle Hipster July 13, 2015 (6:27 pm)

For all the folks who loathe chains in West Seattle, keep in mind how many Starbucks there are here.

AML July 20, 2015 (10:10 pm)

So sad to hear this! Eats is one of the best places in WS. We have enjoyed your restaurant over the last 10 years! Thank you for your sharing your lovely meals with us!!