HAPPENING NOW: Feedback Lounge’s final night, after 6+ years

Sometimes, businesses close quietly … not even a note on the door. Not the Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction. Almost three weeks after its proprietors announced its days were numbered, the closing-night party to end all closing-night parties is under way right now. We stopped in for a few photos – above, co-proprietors Paul Larkin and Jeff Gilbert; below, co-proprietor and award-winning mixologist Matt Johnson:

The Feedback opened in spring 2009, showing personality even earlier – like a sign outside promising “opening soon-ish.” It sported rock ‘n’ roll memorabilia as part of the decor, and eventually got around to live bands, with two performing tonight:

We got there during Dead Letters‘ set (above); The Black Bangs was to follow. Many will remember the Feedback even more for its community spirit, hosting benefits for causes big and small, each one with a poster created by Gilbert, a prolific graphic artist – who told us tonight, “West Seattle can’t get rid of me!” so expect to keep seeing him around. As for the space at 6451 California SW, which was home to Beveridge Place Pub before its move across the alley, and to Full Moon Saloon before that – somebody’s moving in, but nobody’s saying who, yet.

sad in the junction August 9, 2015 (6:49 pm)

I heard last night that the building owners blocked the sale to a local business owner that was going to keep it alive and is planning on putting it on the market to attract a national tenant. So sad that there was a chance to keep it local and the building owners killed it. First they kicked the BPP out and now this. Bad business!!!! Morgan Junction will not support a chain. Shame on you building owners!

Sassy August 9, 2015 (8:53 pm)

Not surprised, great cocktails and food but their customer service was lousy! Too bad…they could have been long-timers.

Mr. B August 9, 2015 (9:04 pm)

Sorry to see Feedback go. We enjoyed their menu and friendly staff. Watched a few Hawks games there too. Good luck on your future endeavours.

buzz August 9, 2015 (10:13 pm)

What’s going in there???

Fiwa Jcbbb August 11, 2015 (10:56 am)

With the loss of the Benbow, West Seattle now only has the Skylark for the live music that has historically been one of our greatest gifts to the world. Interesting that “Seattle’s City Of Music” initiative uses tax dollars to promote the increasingly-bland and self congratulatory KEXP and put bands in the ticketed area of SeaTac for an audience that is flying away, rather than lift a finger for actual musicians.

Gilbert told me their rent had doubled in the short time they were there, and the building’s greedy owners wanted them out for a national chain that can pay even more. Gosh maybe we’ll finally get that Applebee’s we’ve all been pining for. Do these owners have any recollection of what happened when the seemingly OK ice creamery chain Ben and Jerry’s opened in The Junction? I smell a boycott.

HelperMonkey August 11, 2015 (1:09 pm)

so many rumors flying on whats going in there. I’ve heard a few plausible ones, but if it’s actually a chain going in I imagine there will be a massive boycott.

shabby abby August 11, 2015 (6:38 pm)

I heard from a bartender at the Feedback earlier last week a local established WS restaurant owner was stepping up to save it and the plans I heard sounded great. Then this weekend a different bartender there told me it got nixed buy the building owners because they wanted to put it on the market. I heard the name of the potential owner and it would have been a great fit. They had just turned around another place that happens to be my new favorite restaurant. Hopefully there is still time for someone to change there minds.

Word August 11, 2015 (8:39 pm)

If hope those owners know something I don’t. As a commercial broker it is a tough gig to get a chain in that Junction, in that space. Plus people are locally owned protective down there. The last few places that opened were, eye doctor, local pet store, local restaurant, local consignment sports gear, local kids clothing shop and coming soon a doctors office. Chains are not looking to move there. The density isn’t there yet. In order of location you go Alaska Junction, Alki, Admiral then Morgan for mid chain commercial space. Admiral has a ton of open properties right now which will compete aggressively to land a tenant and things are coming online right now all over Alaska that owners will help build to speck with TI money get chains in. These guys are in for a ride.

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