West Seattle restaurants: Work starting at Pecos Pit BBQ site

Almost two years after the abrupt closure of Beni Hoshi Teriyaki by the West Seattle Bridge entrance at 35th/Fauntleroy, the work to revamp the site into the home of Pecos Pit BBQ is getting under way. When last we updated the restaurant plan a month ago, they weren’t sure how soon work would start, but then this week, contractor banners went up on the fence and equipment including a big dumpster showed up at the site. We first reported the Pecos Pit plan back in February. The site is actually city property, owned by Seattle City Light as part of the former substation to the north, so Pecos, as was its teriyaki predecessors, will be a tenant. Current timeline for opening: Spring.

West Seattle since 1979 December 18, 2015 (1:20 pm)

Great news!

datamuse December 18, 2015 (1:40 pm)

Can’t open soon enough!

Disappointed December 18, 2015 (2:25 pm)

Wasn’t there talk by the west Seattle junction neighborhood organization of this becoming green space? I voiced support at a meeting a few months ago, and can think of a few things that would be a prettier way to greet and bid farewell to residents and visitors. Oh well! I suppose it can’t be worse than the way it sits now.

Chris S December 18, 2015 (2:42 pm)

I just got back from their SODO location with a delicious sandwich. This new location will be very dangerous for my bank account.

onion December 18, 2015 (2:48 pm)

Finally! Huge eyesore at a main entrance to West Seattle.

Bradley December 18, 2015 (3:15 pm)

I’ll be their first customer!

cj December 18, 2015 (3:22 pm)

Sweeeet!

HelperMonkey December 18, 2015 (3:34 pm)

To paraphrase Obi-Wan Kenobi: I felt a great disturbance in West Seattle, as if millions of cockroaches suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced.

West Seattle Hipster December 18, 2015 (4:18 pm)

Nice to get some good BBQ on the peninsula.

Good restaurant December 18, 2015 (4:34 pm)

Going to make this area a worse choke point than it already is though.

onion December 18, 2015 (5:10 pm)

Hipster,
I assume you’ve tried the Carolina pork at Swinery and the numerous options at Jones BBQ? Always nice to have options, but West Seattle isn’t exactly a bbq wasteland or vacuum.

wetone December 18, 2015 (5:21 pm)

First off I like the food ! but very bad location… When did the permits get pushed through ? Sure happened very quietly. Feel sorry for neighborhood behind as all traffic from drive thru will be exiting onto Genesee St eastbound (1 lane road). Has anybody driven that street lately ? Very bad planning city has allowed once more. Making a big high traffic area much more dangerous. Sure would like to know who middle person $$$ is that actually leases property from city then re-leases to Gerry Kingen owner of Salty’s ? or does Gerry Kingen now hold lease directly from city ?

WSB December 18, 2015 (5:58 pm)

The remodeling permit was issued this week: http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/PermitStatus/Project.aspx?id=6509438
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Permits in general for work like that without a change of use, etc., aren’t particularly complicated. There was no land-use permit involved here as the site already was in use as a restaurant. When there’s a land-use permit involved, there are specified comment periods, and then an appeal period for the decision, but not when it’s for the same use. There’s even already a curb cut on the Genesee side, where the drive-thru users are going to emerge. Of note, the site is zoned for a much-busier use – NC3-65 – than what it’ll get from this.

West Seattle Hipster December 18, 2015 (5:34 pm)

Already tried Swinery (pricy) and Jones (bland) so looking forward to Pecos Pit!

wetone December 18, 2015 (5:54 pm)

I see Permit Application Sept 21,2015 and Permit issued Dec. 2, 2015. Sure happened very Quickly. No comment time ? or study to see impacts to area neighborhood ? as drive through exits into one lane residential street. Thanks Mayor Murray.

wetone December 18, 2015 (7:09 pm)

Here’s another one.
http://web6.seattle.gov/DPD/PermitStatus/Project.aspx?id=6474528

Adding a drive thru, more sqft to building, less parking than originally should be reason for comment period, especially at the busiest intersection in WS, along with drive thru dumping traffic into a residential neighborhood. Just look at TT drive thru. Only way traffic can legally enter Pecos will be from north bound 35th. I have a little knowledge on permit process and this one smells bad. Funny how 7/11 has signs up for in-ground tank work… but Pecos needs nothing…

Dan December 18, 2015 (7:18 pm)

the absolute worse piece of property in the city for any business. the only who can access this property are those going northbound, but more incompetent drivers will continue to make a left into their parking lot from southbound lanes…WHICH IS ILLEGAL AND UNSAFE. REMEMBER, YOU CAN NEVER CROSS A DOUBLE YELLOW CENTERLINE.

WSB December 18, 2015 (8:00 pm)

Dan, that’s not true. It’s been debunked here and many other places multiple times; it’s not illegal to cross a double yellow center line.
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One reference: http://blog.seattlepi.com/seattle911/2011/07/19/is-it-legal-to-turn-over-a-double-yellow-line
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Wet – Despite what that permit line says, the curb cut there already exists (you can see it on Google Street View).

Fiz December 18, 2015 (9:24 pm)

Yay!!
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We won’t have to drive to SoDo anymore for the best pulled pork BBQ sandwich in the county. Best of all, we can ‘walk it off’ on the way home. Our smoked Thanksgiving turkey from Pecos was amazing – kudos all around the table.
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Welcome! We will be at the front of the line.

redblack December 18, 2015 (9:44 pm)

fiz: and you can wash it all down at west seattle brewing on the way home…

whether it’s on the way home or not.

Jason December 18, 2015 (10:06 pm)

No worse a location than the KFC. When the Terriyaki joint was there I don’t recall reading any complaints from the neighbors. I’m impressed some you think this will cause an endless avalanche of cars into neighboring streets. It’s only barbecue.

dsa December 19, 2015 (12:36 am)

I think they are replacing what looks like a narrow driveway with a wider 19′ 11″ one. That is an interesting dimension. I wonder if 20′ would kick in some regulation.
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The remodel is a $250,000.00 undertaking according to the permit. Uhhh…I may be out of touch with prices, but looking at the building it seems like they could skirting a teardown and review for new construction.
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And I agree, that corner is already a mess with TT and 7-11 traffic competing with the red lights. Dumping customers on residential streets is not good city planning, but this is Seattle. It’s not Pecos fault. I look forward to them coming as much as anyone. I just wish downtown has some sense.

WSB December 19, 2015 (12:57 am)

Per the site plan, the existing curb cut is 21’6″.

dsa December 19, 2015 (1:13 am)

Thanks, it looks narrower, since residential sidewalks are usually five wide. That is what I was comparing it to by viewing it on my computer. Also if the width is already there, the ornamental tree in the planting strip should be saved without any hassel.

TheKing December 19, 2015 (3:44 am)

I don’t care if it’s in the middle of 35th ave, I’m going to be a customer. Better Peco’s than another McD’s or Starbucks. Best BBQ around.

Manhattman December 19, 2015 (9:45 am)

I think open bbq space will be better than green space. Just sayin

Matt S. December 19, 2015 (12:37 pm)

I second West Seattle Hipster’s BBQ assessment and applaud HelperMonkey’s comment. If it turns out to be *good* barbecue (in response to “it’s just barbecue”), entitled drivers are going to choke traffic flow. I’ll happily be walking there, but I think it’ll be a car circus if it’s a successful enterprise.

Poopser December 19, 2015 (10:24 pm)

Seattle is certainly not a Mecca for BBQ, so having a chance at legit BBQ is worth all the traffic concerns. And while Jones may not be the very best, it’s local and the family that runs the joint are wonderful. Agree though that the location is quite possibly the worst possible for accessing, so the food will need to be spectacular to endure what’s coming!

T Rex December 21, 2015 (7:45 am)

For those of you West Seattleites who are willing to drive a few minutes for GREAT BBQ, hit up Jack’s in Airport Way South. Smoked meat Central Texas style. The BEST BBQ in Seattle.

Neil December 30, 2015 (4:25 pm)

First of all, the world’s best bar b q sandwich comes from Wilber’s in Goldsboro NC. Even a kosher Yankee knows that. Second of all the day I moved here I looked at that building and told my wife “that is a fantastic building for a bar b q place”. Unfortunately with clean air ordinances, poor access and ridiculous costs, including wages, ( not to mention another bbq place almost across the street) I give them slim odds on prosperity. I wish them well and I will definitely try it, but having grown up on Genuine Carolina Style sammiches, I will probably not like it.

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