BIZNOTE: Alki Beach Pub remodeling closure

| West Seattle businesses | West Seattle news | WS beverages

The new owners of Alki Beach Pub (2722 Alki Avenue SW), who took over last November, have announced a temporary closure. Jackie Mallahan and Dan Mallahan emailed WSB with this announcement:

On Sunday, February 27th, Alki Beach Pub will be closing for a couple months for upgrades and renovations. We appreciate the continued support and look forward to welcoming everyone back late spring/early summer to our reimagined space! Much Love, Alki!

The temporary closure means that the west end of the beach business district will be a bit lonely for a while – east to west, the former Alki Cleaners space is still vacant, the No-Name Diner just closed (but has a “new concept” on the way), and the former Top Pot Doughnuts and the space next to it are still up for lease, as is the former J&J Public House space.

WSEAFoodie February 24, 2022 (3:42 pm)

Is rent just so high that these restaurants can’t seem to stay open and profitable (even pre-covid times)? You would think beachfront restaurants in one of the most well known areas of Seattle with views would be booming with amazing variety of restaurants/ bars/lounges for both locals and tourist and Seattlites to enjoy year round but especially during the spring and summer months. But it seems more prime real estate is empty than occupied alone the stretch of Alki Way. And many of the restaurants that are down there and open for business are lacking greatly in either quality of food options and/or variety of cuisine. 3-4 fish & chips restaurants along that stretch seems a bit excessive. Any word on when the grocery market be open down there?

WSB February 24, 2022 (4:03 pm)

I don’t know if that is still an active plan; they have not responded to my inquiries.

Keith February 24, 2022 (4:32 pm)

Noticed a “temporarily closed” sign at Copper Coin today as well.

CarDriver February 24, 2022 (4:37 pm)

There WAS a grocery market on Alki. 63rd & Alki, where Cactus is now. Was a good sized market with off street parking. When it closed it was remodeled with roll up doors making it a modern market with sidewalk displays. It closed, probably because most everyone drove up the hill for cheaper prices at Safeway.

Mark Schletty February 24, 2022 (5:48 pm)

I suspect the main culprit is the astronomical property taxes on these sites. They force very high rents. More than many businesses can handle with mostly seasonal business. The City and/or County could alleviate the problem by passing special tax relief for these businesses as long as the property owner passes the savings directly to the businesses in reduced rent.

Michael Waldo February 24, 2022 (6:22 pm)

Speaking of restaurants, what happen to the restaurant tab at the top of the page?

Rocket February 24, 2022 (7:44 pm)

The top pot closure was due to their lease not being renewed so the building owner could build luxury apartments above the commercial space, they did not want to leave that location but had to.The spot where alki bakery used to be struggles because it’s views are blocked by the bus stop and none of the restaurants that have been there since have been any good. The food has been consistently bad. J and J and that space never really tried it seems.It doesn’t need a grocery store, there are 2 within 2 miles of the location, there is no way even a stop and shop style market or worse a niche quasi high end little market would survive there given the seasonality and varying needs of the population that would walk by it. The folks who flood the area in the summer are not the fine dining set and the neighborhood is already punching above it’s weight with Il Nido.plenty of places have stayed in place there for very long times because they have the correct business model and lucked out with their tenancy. It’s not the property taxes but the nuts and bolts of running a business in an exceedingly niche and seasonal neighborhood. I have wondered why the old Phoenicia site has been empty for so long though.

WSB February 24, 2022 (7:58 pm)

The old Phoenecia site is not empty – that’s where Gyros on Alki reopened recently. The ex-Alki Cleaners spot net door is what’s still vacant (and was at one point last year under consideration for a small market). – TR
Brad Curran February 24, 2022 (11:02 pm)

I think a bodega style store, or even something like Cone and Steiner could have a solid chance of success, especially with more people working from home. My theory is that a lotta businesses fail because they only consider the summer crowds and not the Alki community. If there was a well stocked corner store on Alki, I’d be there once a week or more.
- 😎 February 25, 2022 (10:28 am)
  
  Second that—I’d hit the bodega probably every other day.

Kathleen February 26, 2022 (6:00 pm)

yes! I’ll be the third vote for the bodega style place on Alki.

Tealynow February 26, 2022 (10:32 pm)

Some of those places need some serious remodeling and move that bus stop a little so it doesn’t block the view and hey here’s a thought: remodel the bus stop too! It is tacky . Does the city want business and tourists or not?? Man Seattle is going downhill….