BIZNOTES: 2 more West Seattle closures

Thanks for the tips on these following our coverage of other recent closures:

IRASHAI RESTAURANT: Though the “open” sign remains illuminated and flashing, the Japanese restaurant in The Admiral District has closed, according to the note on its door, first noticed by Kim. The note says, “We hope to serve you soon with a new restaurant and a new menu.” (We did note recently that there was an application for a change in its liquor license.) Irashai opened a year and a half ago in a space that previously housed Mawadda Café.

CHECKMATE DRY CLEANERS: This first surfaced in comments on our coverage of the West Seattle Pizza Hut‘s impending closure – commenter GatewoodGuy noted that the cleaners next door had recently closed too. We went over to verify and found a note on its door citing “personal matters” and referring customers to Q Cleaners in The Junction. This is the second dry cleaners to close in West Seattle in six months, following the Alki Cleaners closure in July.

Nw mama January 9, 2019 (2:43 pm)

Irashi- too bad that the same ownership is opening a different restaurant in that space… our experience in the last couple months was that they had no clue how to run a restaurant. I think one of the key guys left a while ago and the quality of the food and service has been umm… not good.

dsa January 9, 2019 (2:46 pm)

I have a sentimental attachment to the Checkmate building. Way back when…when I was in high school it was a mom and pop grocery called A&B for Ann and Brian. I asked and got a job price marking foodstuffs and stocking shelves after school on Thursdays. It’s future doesn’t look too bright now with Pizza Hut out too.

~hockeywitch~ January 9, 2019 (3:23 pm)

That building is right out my back door.. when I first moved in that Apt, about a month in, someone broke in their back door and stole clothes and their register… I called the cops, but I think the guys got away. They threw the register and some of the clothes in our dumpster.

~hockeywitch~ January 9, 2019 (3:19 pm)

I live right next door to Pizza Hut and the Dry cleaners and this is the first time I’ve heard about either of them closing.. are they building something new there?? Do you know?

WSB January 9, 2019 (4:14 pm)

As noted in the Pizza Hut story (linked in this one), we checked the permit files, nothing pending under either the Pizza Hut address on 35h nor the Checkmate address on Morgan. However, the Pizza Hut property had a change of hands of sorts just a few months ago – the same ownership but removing the designation that it was part of an estate.

Dave January 9, 2019 (3:24 pm)

I agree on Irashi. The sushi had a bad smell, like old fish (not good) plus a crazy long wait with only a few tables (over an hour). We didn’t even eat it and just left after paying. Never went back.

G-Man January 9, 2019 (3:46 pm)

No surprise. Went there once when they first opened. Worst sushi ever.

James Frank Walker January 9, 2019 (4:34 pm)

It’s your own fault. You should have gone to Kamei. I assume you must be new. To WS that is.
- G-Man January 10, 2019 (9:32 am)
  
  Hello James Frank Walker…thanks for chiming in. Your message so laughable, I had to collect myself before sending this reply. Firstly, what exactly is my fault? Is it my fault that Irishai went out of business? Is it my fault that they made the worst sushi ever? And why the personal attack? We’re all entitled to our opinions. I wasn’t looking for suggestions for good sushi places, thanks. Hint: Kamei is not one of them. But again, you’re entitled to your opinion as am I. And as for your assumption that I’m new to West Seattle…I’ve lived in West Seattle for 21 years. If you’ve lived here longer, and consider someone like myself “new”, then so be it.

kate January 9, 2019 (7:20 pm)

We ate Irashai a lot and LOVED it! Never had a problem getting a table and they would even deliver to us in Seaview. We loved that they had a wide array of vegetable options and they even served fresh spinach salad with some of the rolls. The rolls were unique and the traditional options were as good, if not better than, some of the sushi we had in Japan, which is why we kept going back. Needless to say, but we’re sad that they’re closing. We will give the new place a try.

JR January 9, 2019 (8:38 pm)

Bummer about those businesses closing. Those that used Checkmate may want to try out the folks at Southwest Cleaners on 35th. I have been using them for years and they are quick, do a good job, and the prices are fair. They have an average of 4 star reviews on Google. I have no affiliation with them, just know they are a great business from an immigrant business that makes our neighborhood a great place to live.

SS January 10, 2019 (12:25 am)

I hope we don’t see another multistory building go in there. WS is getting unlivable with the increased population and all the traffic.

JayBob January 10, 2019 (10:44 am)

Whine, whine. God forbid someone lives here who hasn’t already been here twenty years. Imagine if you moved to a neighborhood and heard nothing but old timers whining about the fact that you’re there. Incredibly unwelcoming and unkind.
- MS January 17, 2019 (10:18 pm)
  
  Amen!

Gene January 10, 2019 (8:28 am)

With Pizza Hut & the next door Checkmate Cleaners closing-,what a huge space that could leave & guessing nothing but a multi story building will go in there .

newnative January 10, 2019 (9:10 am)

We loved Irashai and I was very disappointed to find the note on the door the other night. We went often since they opened and always had very good service and food. It wasn’t high-end like Mashiko but still a lot of fun for the neighborhood. The people were very friendly and I never experienced what people are describing above. I also love Kamei but that involves a trip to another neighborhood.