BIZNOTE: The Tug has indeed sailed away

Lots of questions recently about the fence up at the long-closed Tug Inn (2216 SW Orchard), known as Tug Tavern until 2008. Its owners confirm they’ve closed permanently. The site was sold back in February – its new owner is Bee’s Plumbing and Heating, whose co-proprietor Melissa tells us they’ve grown so much in three years, they had to get out of their home-based digs in Gatewood. For now they’ll use the ex-tavern building for storage, and they have an office trailer on the site, but eventually they plan to build their own office/warehouse. As for the Tug’s operators, we reached out via email and got this response:

Regrettably we will be closing the Tug at this time. We lost our lease at its current location and will be taking a pause as our family decides next steps. We have appreciated the support and community love over the years. We don’t know what the future holds but hope the best for the West Seattle community in these difficult times.

Cheers!
Hal and Gloria

By the way – one Tug fixture, we learned, has found a new home in The Junction:

View this post on Instagram

We are honored to display this 100+ year old anchor in our bar. It came from the legendary Tug Tavern. We are beyond sad to see our comrade bar shut it’s doors. The Tug will never be forgotten. ✨

A post shared by Poggie Tavern (@poggietavern) on Jul 25, 2020 at 6:33pm PDT

AB83 July 29, 2020 (5:20 pm)

Ahh the good old days ……. was kicked out of there many a nights 🤣 glad I don’t live that way anymore. Sad to see it go though

Dan K July 29, 2020 (6:29 pm)

Sad to see the Tug go, few places in West Sea left that can be called a true dive bar. This place was a classic—including the spin of the wheel during Hawks games and how the story of the shooting morphed in lore. I guess all we’ve got now is full tap menus of sours and small plate sports bars. Maybe we need to establish a historic preservation district for bars without pretention…or we might become Ballard.

Dan H July 31, 2020 (9:34 am)

“I guess all we’ve got now is full tap menus of sours and small plate sports bars.”Well put. Too dang well.

Debbie July 29, 2020 (9:53 pm)

Another link in history gone. The newer young age will never know the best of true hell times for alot of West Seattlelites lol! You will missed….

WSea July 29, 2020 (10:20 pm)

As much as I hate the idea of the Tug closing, I’m just as glad if this means Bee Plumbing will stop clogging our already clogged neighborhood street with their trucks on Othello

Steeeeeve July 30, 2020 (4:38 am)

So many black outs…

Delridge Resident July 30, 2020 (6:26 am)

We are so sad to hear the Tug is gone. It was our first night out when we moved here years ago and one of our last before the COVID shutdown. One less piece of history and one less place of community… you will be missed!

Jerry Schultz July 30, 2020 (7:32 am)

I used to live right next door in the 80s plenty of good times and hangovers they were only allowed to sell beer at that time.

WSB July 30, 2020 (9:10 am)

As our 2008 story noted, that’s why the name was changed from Tavern to Inn – they added hard liquor. Same reason The Poggie is no longer a tavern.

JJ July 30, 2020 (8:34 am)

There was something soothing about real dive bars. You never had to put on the costume theatre, and look like one of the beautiful people to have a drink at a dive. Any despair of the heart had plenty of company in dive bars. The Tug warned with it’s essence against letting a few sorrowful drinks become a habit, so in that way it was a public service. I’ll miss you Tug.

Vincent July 30, 2020 (9:13 am)

Similar to food deserts, this is zoning gone sideways. Now highland parks closest tavern is miles away. Bee plumbing is just doing what they can to grow, but when you see restaurants and bars being closed for townhouses or commercial businesses, our zoning is totally broken.Yet another thing that’s the responsibility of the city council that no one has the will to change.Even Junction retail is filling up with banks and real estate offices, enjoy the “neighborhood character” You can always drive downtown!

hj July 30, 2020 (12:12 pm)

What is the evidence that zoning was a factor here?

GHP July 30, 2020 (11:27 am)

Cheapest drinks on the Westside. It was a tempting place for a pit stop during my frequent Home Depot runs. Won’t have that distraction now.

KayK July 30, 2020 (3:17 pm)

There goes the neighborhood 🙃

CJ July 30, 2020 (4:40 pm)

So sad to hear. I blew a ton of money on pulltabs at Tug and spent many a night there as it’s within walking distance. It was a good, cheap dive bar. I’m going to miss it and the Pudding Shots!