West Seattle restaurants: Wingstop work at Westwood Village

| West Seattle news | West Seattle restaurants | Westwood

(WSB photo)

10:56 AM: Eight months ago, when Eats Market Café announced it was closing, we reported the plan for Wingstop to take over its space in the heart of Westwood Village. That space has remained vacant and idle since then, but work has finally begun to remodel it for Wingstop – we had been going by periodically to check, and spotted the crew at work this morning. As our photo shows, the space is now completely gutted. A crew member told us that the delay was mostly attributable to a long wait for city permits; they’re hoping to have the restaurant open sometime in May.

While Wingstop is a national chain, this restaurant is being opened by local franchisees from a group headed by include former Seahawks player Sidney Rice, whose fifth one opened in Pierce County a little over a month ago.

2:55 PM: A comment related to this story has led us to one update since the original report – one of Sidney Rice’s former Seahawks teammates is now a Wingstop franchisee and has become the owner of this future store, as confirmed to WSB by a corporate spokesperson – Richard Sherman.

Kristan March 7, 2016 (12:02 pm)

Have there been any announcements about what could be going into the, now empty, Pier 1 space. Actually, what about ANY of the other spots at Westwood Village. It has had numerous empty vacancies, some ( like part of the old Hollywood Video) have been empty for 4 years or more.

WSB March 7, 2016 (12:05 pm)

Most if not all remain listed for lease. I check in on those listings from time to time too.

T Rex March 7, 2016 (1:11 pm)

Great wings!

Carissa March 7, 2016 (1:28 pm)

We need a Jimmy Johns!!!

waikikigirl March 7, 2016 (1:57 pm)

NO, we need a Pita Pit!!!!

HelperMonkey March 7, 2016 (2:07 pm)

No, we need an In-n-Out! :)

NW March 7, 2016 (7:26 pm)

No we need a local NW favorite Dicks Burger

SpeakEasy March 7, 2016 (2:15 pm)

No we need Red Star Pizza to resurrect!

Joe Szilagyi March 9, 2016 (7:04 am)

Red Star was awesome but they weren’t nearly as good as Gionanni’s in Westwood.

D Del Rio March 7, 2016 (2:18 pm)

I have lived in the West Seattle and White Center areas for over 40 years. Not once have I ever seen Westwood Village without vacancies. This was even after several remodels and when the Seattle area economy has been booming. Could the owners be asking too much for the rent? I’d love to hear what others have to say.

WSB March 7, 2016 (2:38 pm)

7 properties are listed as for lease, 2 with leases pending. I don’t know what’s “too much” but anyone who does can view the listings for themselves:

http://is.gd/CVQ215

That should bring up a page where you can click Westwood Village on the left or the map marker for it toward the right, and bring up the box with the seven spaces listed … TR

xenscooter March 7, 2016 (2:45 pm)

I’ll second the vote for In’n’Out… or if not, a Five Guys, but while Five Guys is the only place you can get A1 on your burger, I actually *like* In’n’Out better.

West Seattle Hipster March 7, 2016 (3:06 pm)

Gorditos, please!

i have heard that Popeyes will be opening in White Center in June, excellent news!

Joe Szilagyi March 9, 2016 (7:05 am)

Whaaaat? Where is a Popeyes coming in White Center? This is bad for my waistline. Popeyes is fantastic. Even chefs legitimately call it their preferred junk food.

Julia March 7, 2016 (3:23 pm)

Weren’t we expecting a Panda Express?

WSB March 7, 2016 (3:29 pm)

WSH – Really? That would be big. Nearest one is Renton. I’m checking with them immediately.

Julia – As far as I can tell, the Panda Express space is back up for lease. Last time somebody asked me about it, the permit appeared to have been renewed … but the lease sign is decidedly up for that particular space as of our drive-by a short time ago, and it remains empty, inactivated.
- West Seattle Hipster March 7, 2016 (4:23 pm)
  
  I spoke with one of the managers at the Renton location a couple of weeks ago and she said the owner of that location would be opening new stores in White Center and in Everett this coming summer. I am hoping that’s true,

sick March 7, 2016 (4:06 pm)

Panda Express????UGH, can you say sodium fix???

Sheila G March 7, 2016 (5:07 pm)

In’n’Out, pullllease. Pretty please. With sugar on top!!!

Bonnie March 7, 2016 (5:36 pm)

Can we have Groucho’s come back? :)

Mmm... Reuben... March 7, 2016 (5:55 pm)

What would be REALLY great is an awesome, old school east coast Jewish deli. It’s so hard to find food like that here but it’s SOOOO good.

Joe Szilagyi March 9, 2016 (7:07 am)

Goldberg’s in Factoria is sadly our best bet for that.

Fred March 7, 2016 (6:15 pm)

They definitely won’t open another sandwich shop in Westwood. There is a no compete in place, maybe a burger joint would go nicely. Besides who needs another sandwich place with sub shop rocking it there?

Hunger Pains March 7, 2016 (6:15 pm)

I see the old Guadalajara has its Windows papered over. Any word what might be opening there?

DarkHawke March 7, 2016 (6:17 pm)

Never had an In ‘n Out burger, but I’d be good with that showing up in WWV. Jimmy John’s would be as good. The Sub Shop is okay, but I’d rather go slightly out of my way for Subway if I’m in a sandwich mood.

I’m not a chicken wing kinda guy, but as a lifelong Seahawks fan, I can’t help but smile at the idea of both Rice and Sherman being in on a new venture so close to home. I wish it well and will definitely give it a try. Go Hawks!

And did ya ever notice how popular ANY stories about restaurants are here? Glad to know we have our priorities straight over here in WS. Politics, public policy, feh! Give us new good places to eat! ;)

Fred March 7, 2016 (6:29 pm)

Shame you go out of your way for subway, I’ve always enjoyed subshop. Comparable prices and fresh ingredients. Their day crew is always pleasant and speedy.

Sam-c March 7, 2016 (6:55 pm)

Jimmy johns? I haven’t been there since hearing that he’s a big game hunter. http://www.snopes.com/jimmy-john-liautaud-hunting-photos/

The Farm March 8, 2016 (6:34 am)

Maybe I’m mistaken but I think I’ve been going to the Panda Express in Burien?

WSB March 8, 2016 (8:29 am)

Yes, there’s one in Burien. The company had applied for permits to take a space on the south side of Westwood Village … but it never materialized. We’re seeing lately that there’s a growing trend for potential tenants in commercial spaces to apply for permits even before a lease is finalized, just to get them in the pipeline, since the city has a backlog … and sometimes the lease never does get signed. – TR

Ex-Westwood Resident March 8, 2016 (3:54 pm)

As much as an In-N-Out burger joint would be FANTASTIC, and I would pay triple the cost of a McDonald’s burger for one, it’ll most likely never happen. It is not, and never will be a “franchise” chain. It is a family owned business. They have been expanding with 300 restaurants now open in CA, NV, AZ, UT, TX and one in OR.

But who knows…they said Chick-Fil-A would never by up here, so we can maybe hope!!!

Eric March 8, 2016 (6:44 pm)

LOL, people think traffic would be bad with Pecos? An In N Out burger in Westwood Villagewould be a nightmare if anything like the ones in Cali. There are massive lines where workers have to stand outside to do pre orders. It’d be nice to actually have a decent night time restaurant

"Fast" foodie March 9, 2016 (1:00 am)

Why such lines needing pre-orders. That sounds like the problem. I thought the beauty of it was like Dicks where the menu option was limited. Just pump em out and go no? Never been but didn’t picture in and out as a special order place with a huge menu .

Jim P. March 8, 2016 (11:02 pm)

I had the impression that “IN-N-Out” is owned by similar Christian religious extremists as is Chick-fil-a.

Not exactly sure that’d be a good fit for Seattle. I don’t particularly want “bible” verses with my food or have the local store banning gays or demanding the return of Sunday closure laws.

I’d rather see a good local coffee shop (the restaurant kind) to take up where “Eats” left off.

WSB March 8, 2016 (11:05 pm)

I had to look that one up. Have been to In N Out many times and never noticed.

http://www.snopes.com/business/alliance/inandout.asp

Eric March 9, 2016 (5:10 am)

Fast Foodie, their menu is rather simple, but it’s the popularity that causes the problem. Google In N Out Lines and look at images. What you’ll see is no exaggeration.

I’m originally from Cali. but there was no In N Out Burger when I lived there. My sister introduced me to it when I visited her in Cali.

I didn’t realize the chain was Christian either and put number referenced on all the cups and wrappers. I’m not really down with that

Eric March 9, 2016 (5:56 am)

I should clarify. I don’t really care if they’re Christian. It’s putting biblical references on everything I’m not really down with

Westwood Insider March 9, 2016 (7:12 am)

The reason why Panda Express never materialized and why that front space by the transit terminal is eternally empty is because both McDonald’s and Target have contract provisions with Westwood management on what can be done with that space and on the nature of businesses coming into the space, and both are holding out in exchange for certain work to be done on the facilities that the WWV owners aren’t in any rush to actually do at the time. Westwood management told me when I applied once for a lease for something. This was about two or so years ago.