BIZNOTE: Pho Than Brothers closing in West Seattle Junction

Thanks for the tip; we’ve confirmed that Than Brothers Pho is closing at 4822 California SW, after 16 years in West Seattle. No word on whether they’re seeking another West Seattle location in the future. We reported in 2020 that the building, where the restaurant was a tenant, had been put up for sale; King County Assessor records show it was sold back in April. The new owner is an LLC associated with the Redmond headquarters and owner of Origins Cannabis, which has a West Seattle store a few blocks away, on a site with a redevelopment project under review; Origins declined comment on whether they plan to move or expand into the California SW building. Meantime, Than Brothers is the ~~sixth~~ seventh Junction restaurant to close in the past eight months, after Café Mia, Taqueria Guaymas, Kamei, Lee’s, West 5, (added) and Ma’ono.

Sillygoose July 26, 2022 (3:38 pm)

Oh no, I will miss these happy folks and yummy bone broth. Best of luck to you all.

Jack July 26, 2022 (4:18 pm)

How about a bar similar to West 5 now in its place? We have a ton of asian restaurants around here

Ron M July 26, 2022 (5:37 pm)

How about a restaurant similar to Pho Than in its place? We have a ton of american bars around here
- Jw July 26, 2022 (6:05 pm)
  
  We did just get 2 new pho eateries. Alki Pho and Bojour VietnamNow if only one would open for breakfast like Pho is supposed to be served
  - Cricket July 27, 2022 (8:50 am)
    
    We do, its called Pho 99, in white center and has the best broth around. Opens early.
    - johnny July 27, 2022 (12:55 pm)
      
      thanks for reminding me of pho99 – I haven’t been there for years and it’s worth a visit again. Plus, Uncle Ike’s is right there so will be easy to blaze a fatty first!
R0B0 July 26, 2022 (5:57 pm)

First they take away our creampuffs…
East Coast Cynic July 26, 2022 (8:04 pm)

How about a Chinese Restaurant, which we don’t have at all!
- Derek July 26, 2022 (9:15 pm)
  
  New Luck Toy, Yum Yum Cafe, Yen Wor, Dumplings of Fury……
  - East Coast Cynic July 27, 2022 (7:17 am)
    
    New Luck Toy is a bar with a very small menu that doesn’t do take out. Yen Wor has horrible food, worse than the frozen dinners in the super market. Dumplings of Fury is mostly dumplings w/ an arguably small pan asian menu. Yum Yum may come the closest to filling the bill, but is in White Center/Highline, not West Seattle proper.The Chinese restaurant equivalent of Grillbird or New Teriyaki & Wok with bigger menus is needed.
    - Derek July 27, 2022 (1:39 pm)
      
      Sorry the ones I suggested aren’t up to your superior tastes! Geeesh……. your hyperbole is still wrong. “we don’t have one” is wrong. And New Luck Toy has a big menu. Not just a “bar” and Yum Yum is a short bus ride away from Delridge. If you’re on Alki then your restaurant shortage is by choice.
  - Sue July 27, 2022 (5:29 pm)
    
    Is this what you consider a “big menu” at New Luck Toy?http://newlucktoy.bar/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/master_togo.pdfUnless they haven’t updated it on their website, that is NOT a big menu for a chinese restaurant. And even if the menu was 5x that, it still doesn’t do take-out. I have no interest in sitting in a bar to eat.
  - 22blades July 28, 2022 (4:39 am)
    
    New Luck Toy, Benbo’s… They’re so loud you need ASL to order your drink. Fridays are full on raves. Nope.
- Mad Matt July 28, 2022 (9:49 pm)
  
  I agree. We have too many American style bars and not enough Chinese restaurants. We certainly do Not need more pot shops

cjboffoli July 26, 2022 (4:38 pm)

It would seem to me that the expansion of cannabis outlets in the Junction would catalyze the need for even more restaurants. I expect the first entrepreneur to open a cannabis shop with a connected BBQ joint would make a fortune.

johnny July 26, 2022 (4:56 pm)

Amen to that! Or a good little burrito joint (pun intended). 😬
Vee July 26, 2022 (5:02 pm)

No more,pot shops needed especially by 7 11
The King July 26, 2022 (5:47 pm)

Sounds like a good idea on paper until reality sets in. Robberies, break ins and vandalism lead to high insurance premiums on top of very high leases, government set wages and B&O taxes set on gross profits for starters. I don’t know how those small restaurants that have even made it did so.
- Jack July 26, 2022 (8:33 pm)
  
  This is nonsense and discrimination against cannibis users. And disproven a thousand times over. Robberies happen everywhere for a litany of reasons.
  - Dazed July 26, 2022 (9:50 pm)
    
    Hey, at least the homeless are getting a break for a moment.
  - MJ July 26, 2022 (11:24 pm)
    
    I don’t think the poster meant cannabis users would break in, just that cannabis shops are sometimes targeted by thieves. Many operate on cash only basis which is why. Another reason for decriminalizing is being less cash based which makes them less attractive targets.
    - Derek July 27, 2022 (6:47 am)
      
      We know what the poster meant. Don’t insult our intelligence. They’re still wrong. Everywhere is a target. They don’t have disproportional crime to banks or convenient stores etc
    - Blbl July 27, 2022 (9:19 am)
      
      Banks and jewelry stores are targeted by thieves, too.

Reese July 26, 2022 (6:04 pm)

Any ETA for Just Poke??

Wes C. Addle July 26, 2022 (6:50 pm)

I would love to know also.
emcq July 27, 2022 (7:03 am)

Yes me too!!! I’ve been walking by regularly to check if there are any updates on the store front.
Mark P July 27, 2022 (4:03 pm)

I DM’d them on Instagram. They just opened their Cap Hill location, are now moving to open a Queen Anne location, and then will open WS this fall. They said they are having permitting issues but are still committed to WS.
- emcq July 27, 2022 (6:36 pm)
  
  Awesome!! Thanks for doing that and the update. Can’t wait for some poke in The Junction!

Charles Krefting July 26, 2022 (6:30 pm)

“It would seem to me that the expansion of cannabis outlets in the Junction would catalyze the need for even more restaurants.”

Can you say why?

AdmiralMan July 26, 2022 (7:24 pm)

You never had the munchies after smokin’ a fat one?
Nora July 26, 2022 (7:27 pm)

Munchies
johnny July 26, 2022 (7:31 pm)

ummm… the munchies…. whenever I smoke, I can’t stop eating! swedish fish, gummy worms, Ezell’s, Grillbird….

Midnight Cowboy July 26, 2022 (7:48 pm)

A French Bistro would be awesome.

oerthehill July 26, 2022 (7:50 pm)

I would love to see a cannabis shop offering yummy Baked goods. Pun intended too.

Colonel Mustard's Wrench July 26, 2022 (9:49 pm)

So sad to see so many restaurants closing.
Too bad the free parking went away.
That has not helped businesses at all.

Westwood July 27, 2022 (10:07 am)

Oh please. I’ve been to the junction five times in the last week and never had to pay for parking.
Vic July 27, 2022 (11:29 am)

You can still park for free on many streets in the area.

Double decker cat stroller July 27, 2022 (5:56 am)

We have so much food in the area already. I never knew so many people did not know how to cook. Like seriously during a pandemic you’re going to trust somebody to handle your food with Clean Hands you don’t know they’re hygiene practices all that lovely E coli and salmonella going in your stomach making you sick yeah we need more restaurants like we need more guns.I smoke weed I don’t get the munchies for junk food cause I take 5-HTP and Acetyl L-Carnitine both are a type of Nootropic supplement which means they pass the blood brain barrier. They both help you get the nice happy buzz feel with less cannabis.Anyway we don’t need any more food stop being lazy and cook your own. We should get a dollar tree out this way. I don’t know about anyone else but I live on a budget. I do this have the expendable money to go waste on somebody’s food and then be mad that it tastes like crap. Think of all the useful items a dollar store could bring you cheap trash bags office supplies school supplies. Dollar tree has name brand stuff like why pay $6 for trash bags when you can get a box of hefty bags for $1? Just a thought.

HTB July 27, 2022 (10:00 am)

Why is there never a plan for these buildings? Case in point – Guaymas was sold to the Junction Indian restaurant, yet there’s been no change with either. Same with The Hydrant.Why are so many landlords/restaurant owners content to let storefronts sit empty?

WSB July 27, 2022 (10:34 am)

There is a plan for the ex-Taqueria Guaymas space; a liquor-license application was filed months ago. As for the space once planned as “The Hydrant,” it hasn’t changed hands, just seems its owners have a different priority for it. And as we’ve reported, the ex-West 5 space has a new tenant working toward opening. Ex-Café Mia recently reopened as Dough Joy Donuts.

Nicole July 27, 2022 (10:17 am)

Shucks. 30 yrs ago I was introduced to Pho by this companies UW location. I was so happy to have one here in WSEA when we moved here 20 yrs ago. Admittedly there are many Pho options in the area, but I think the Than Brothers should get credit for introducing it to a large swath of Seattleites!

April July 27, 2022 (11:48 am)

Cannabis Store would be awesome!! I will miss the Pho. Was the best in West Seattle. We need a frozen yogurt place that does real smoothies made with yogurt and fresh fruit and not just liquid juice or premade powder crap!

Jamie July 27, 2022 (3:06 pm)

6th* Ma’ono also permanently closed. No more GF fried chicken

WSB July 27, 2022 (3:15 pm)

Thanks, I had the feeling I was missing something, should have gone back through the archives…

anonyme July 28, 2022 (6:16 am)

I don’t think there’s a restaurant left in the Junction that warrants a special trip anymore.

LK July 28, 2022 (7:32 am)

Bagels and smoothies would be great. I wish we had a good, classic bagel spot in west seattle.

R July 28, 2022 (8:38 am)

If folks are looking for an alternate pho place, give Pho Aroma on Delridge some love! I think they’re the best in the city and it’s a shame more people don’t know about them, maybe because they’re a single-location small business.

Sorry, comment time is over.