WAX BAR TO THE TRIANGLE: Not every day you check the latest list of liquor-license applications and discover one for a skin-care business – but that’s what happened today, when we noted The Wax Bar has applied for a “snack bar”-class license at the storefront above in The Triangle, 37th/Fauntleroy (map), between the new shoe repair shop and West Seattle Brake Service. We called The Wax Bar’s current location in Ballard to confirm. They told us they’re hoping to open in West Seattle in February, but that depends on how permits go. So what’s the liquor license for? we asked. Answer: To serve beer, as they do in Ballard (here’s a feature our partners at the Seattle Times published last year). This is part of the Triangle’s ongoing business boom, just as its first major mixed-use project (Link) begins construction (bringing 200 residential units in 2011) – Mountain to Sound Outfitters just opened at 3602 SW Alaska (and they’ve just joined the WSB sponsor ranks – more on that tomorrow); Cycle University opened 2 months ago at 4550 Fauntleroy; the aforementioned shoe-repair store is about two months old; Lien Animal Clinic just opened a brand-new building. (Wednesday afternoon note: The Wax Bar has now announced the expansion on its own website – here’s the item.)

JUNCTION WING DOME UPDATE: “Villagegreen” asked in the WSB Forums whether Wing Dome was still coming to The Junction, as first reported here two months ago – wondering whether the “for lease” sign that’s still in the window was, so to speak, a bad sign. We checked today with Colleen O’Leary of Consolidated Restaurants (Wing Dome’s parent company) – she said they have not yet finalized the lease but still expect to; since it’s not finalized yet, they don’t have a timetable for opening the restaurant. She also said they’re not planning to take the entire ex-CAPERS space.

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli)
Finally some info this morning about what’s going into the space in The Junction left vacant since Ama Ama Oyster Bar and Grill closed in July – several people e-mailed after noticing the “For Sale” sign had come down, but we found no permit applications or other hints about what was to come. Then last night Paul e-mailed to report signs of activity inside – gone by the time we got there, but this morning WSB contributing journalist Christopher Boffoli has confirmed that a new restaurant will be opening there. He reports: “No name yet, but the menu will be a Continental/Mediterranean mix. They expect to open after the holidays.” Working on more details – but for those who’ve wondered, now you know! (And thanks for all the notes. Your collaboration is truly what powers WSB. Contact us 24/7.)

That’s Allison Rich (thanks to Krista for the photo!), co-owner of the newly remodeled Angelina’s in Admiral (2311 California SW) – she just sent word that after several nights of “friends and family” dinner rehearsals, they’ve passed their inspections and Angelina’s will reopen to the public as of 5 pm tonight. Allison says it’ll be dinner only till Monday, when they add lunch. Allison and husband Skip Rich bought the restaurant from its longtime owners and did extensive remodeling inside, including adding a bar (here’s our story from halfway through the 2-month remodeling process). 1 PM UPDATE: Just went by for a couple photos:

(Note in the dining room photo, the chalkboard on the wall in the booth, as mentioned in our earlier story – they also have portable ones if requested for the non-booth tables.) The menu’s not online yet but we took a sneak peek at that – it does indeed include some old faves from the Trattoria days (tonight’s Fresh Sheet, for example, is topped by the chicken-and-hazelnuts fettucini, but also includes steak). Their website is just bare bones now, with more to come: angelinaswestseattle.com.

RIVERHOUSE’S FINAL DAYS: Tomorrow is the final day of business for Riverhouse Creperie at ActivSpace on Harbor Ave just north of The Bridge, according to its owner Kathaleen. As reported here earlier this month, she is closing the business to focus on her health. She e-mailed to say she’s offering the business for sale or sublease, and is also willing to sell equipment. You can reach her for details at riverhousecrepes@gmail.com.

NAME CHANGE: Across the street from West Seattle Nursery, another name change appears to be in the works for the former Olarn Thai Bistro, now Boontin; an application to transfer its beer/wine license to new proprietors says it will be called Thaitan.

This morning we’re welcoming one of our newest sponsors, Endolyne Joe’s. While it’s the southernmost restaurant in West Seattle, it’s just minutes away from wherever you live. Joe’s is owned by Chow Foods, known for other popular Seattle restaurants like the 5 Spot. Endolyne Joe’s has the same manager, Dicki Crumm, who’s been there since it opened in 2003, as well as many of the opening waitstaff (photo at left: Dicki with Cindy Luby).

Theme menus are continuing, and there’s a spotlight on specials, including the Not-So-Early-Bird Breakfast. How about a goat cheese and fresh herb scramble? Or Caramel Apple French Toast with half a rasher of bacon? Or maybe the Trailer Park Benedict, a buttermilk biscuit topped with thick-sliced ham, poached eggs and cheddar cheese sauce? Any Not-So-Early-Bird Breakfast Special is $5 (including the Breakfast Burrito!), Monday-Friday only from 8:30 a.m. to 11 a.m.

For dinner, you’ll find a rotating dinner menu that changes every 3 months to highlight a different region of the “Americas.” This allows neighbors and West Seattle residents to try a new menu each calendar quarter, while Joe’s also offers all of the favorite standards off of their base menu.

Endolyne Joe’s isn’t just about food. Joe’s is very active in fundraising for local West Seattle concerns. Fundraisers in the past several months have included such causes as musical instrument and art supplies for a New Orleans elementary school leveled by Hurricane Katrina, the Fauntleroy Community Association and West Seattle elementary and middle schools. Joe’s, along with the other Chow Foods restaurants, is in the midst of a monthlong campaign in October to raise funds for Arts Corps, a locally operated non-profit that provides art, music and dance programs for Seattle area schools and community centers. Visit www.chowfoods.com for more information on this effort. There is a big, big prize for some fortunate entrant!

The historic Endolyne district — where else in Seattle will you see a neon sign that says EAT AT JOE’S? — is a few blocks east of the Fauntleroy ferry dock. Find Endolyne Joe’s at 9261 45th SW (map). (206) 937-JOES. We thank Endolyne Joe’s for sponsoring independent, community-collaborative neighborhood news on WSB; the sponsor team, with info on joining, is all here.

While we were reporting recently on the opening of Shipwreck Tavern in the Admiral District, talk turned to the fate of the former Admiral Benbow Inn nearby. We have a few more details this morning directly from Jay Wergin, who’ll be opening a cafe there (as previously revealed here) – here’s his announcement:

Coming soon to West Seattle: The Heartland Cafe, a family-friendly restaurant with a focus on great, affordable Midwestern comfort food.

Co-owner and longtime West Seattle resident Jay Wergin was born and raised in Green Bay, Wisconsin, on the classic dishes served at supper clubs, church picnics and back yard barbecues: bratwurst, Italian beef, chicken booyah, and of course, beer from Wisconsin, such as Leinenkugel and Milwaukee¹s Best. Together with Jeff Loren, a 25-year restaurant industry insider, who has run the show at Julia¹s and other prominent Seattle-area eateries, Wergin will open the Heartland Cafe in the heart of the Admiral District on the site of the former Benbow Inn. The iconic space is currently undergoing major renovations to restore the vintage pirate ship bar and transform the main dinner and banquet room into a family-friendly space. The Heartland Cafe is slated to open later this winter and will serve dinner during the week and breakfast, lunch, and dinner with a late-night menu on weekends. Stay tuned for updates … !

ADDED 2:02 PM: We asked Jay a few followup questions. For one, we’d heard of a “West Seattle Sausage Co.” coming to that vicinity – turns out that was an early working name for the project. For two, here’s a little more about the bar/restaurant delineation:

As for the layout of the place. A full service bar will be located in the pirate ship and will be identified as the ³Benbow Room² with the primary access to the bar (21 and older) from the alley entrance. The main restaurant and banquet room will be entered through the Admiral Street entrance (Next door to the Shipwreck).

He says the late-night all-ages dining will run to 3 am Friday and Saturday nights (of interest to us since your editor here has a 13-year-old fellow extreme night owl in the house).

Two notes, both cooked up in this WSB Forums thread but worth noting here too: Marination Mobile will NOT be at its usual High Point spot tomorrow – it’s part of the Mobile Chowdown in Interbay 11 am-3 pm (map). Meantime, a quick update on Rancho Bravo Tacos‘ plan to come to West Seattle (first reported in April); checked with proprietor Freddy and he said he’s aiming for a mid-November start. He also had a question for YOU regarding the site (the old West Seattle Motors lot [map]):

How about some ideas from your beloved readers about what to do with the building on the property since the taco stand will be outside?

(Photo by Christopher Boffoli, first published here in August)
Thanks to Don for the tip that Mashiko‘s Hajime Sato (profiled here in August, just as he was gaining widespread fame for focusing on sustainable sushi/sashimi) is scheduled to be on Food Network tonight, 9 pm. Read all about it on this Mashiko webpage. And a reminder – he’s one of the chefs participating in this Sunday’s Eat Local Now! benefit dinner/auction/entertainment event (see the lineup here) – 5 pm 10/11 at Alki Masonic Hall in The Junction – tickets available here.

Almost two weeks after West Seattleite Marty Riemer and his broadcasting partner Jodi Brothers got the boot from The Mountain, he is still interacting with fans via his Facebook page – where he’s also announced that they will host a “Marty Riemer Show Severance Blowout” party on the downtown waterfront, 6:30 pm October 22 at Elliott’s (as Marty noted, right next to the Water Taxi dock). Not a fundraiser or donation drive, he elaborated in a FB update – no admission – just be there. The two have not announced another gig yet but did post a goofy little video about “Day 10” of unemployment; see it on FB here. (Photo courtesy Marty Riemer)

It’s been almost two months since the sudden death of Phoenecia at Alki proprietor Hussein Khazaal (here’s our original report; here’s coverage of his Alki memorial). His family said at the time that they would take a while to decide the fate of the restaurant that he had so lovingly operated for so many years. Now, they’ve made the decision. We talked today with Hussein’s son William Khazaal, after many people had e-mailed us to ask if the exterior work at the restaurant (the photo at right was taken yesterday) was an indication a decision had been made. William says yes – they’ve decided to reopen, so that’s why they’re doing some work, inside as well as outside. He says they spent a lot of time considering what might be the right course of action; they talked about selling the restaurant, but came to the conclusion they just didn’t want to see the space turned into something else. William says the staff remains, and a chef who left a few months back is returning to help out. According to William, he and his sisters plan to be there to manage each night. He says they will bring back the same menu, along with several dishes his dad had been experimenting with in the months before his death. They believe they can provide customers with good food and great service, but the atmosphere will be a bit more casual, he said, and a bit more affordable. Most of all, William told us, they want to thank the hundreds of people who sent e-mail and other messages of sympathy and well-wishes after their father’s death. They currently hope to reopen the restaurant in early December.

(Google Street View of Wingdome Greenwood location)
Thanks to Dave for the tip: We’ve just spoken with Consolidated Restaurants president Jim Rowe to confirm that the company is close to signing a lease to open a Wingdome restaurant in the Junction storefront left empty when CAPERS downsized its space. Rowe says they’re confident they’ll finalize the deal within the next few months, at which time they’ll have a better idea of when they’ll open. Right now Wingdome has restaurants in Greenwood, Kirkland and Kent; you can see its menus here. Rowe told us, “We think (West Seattle is) a great market … The demographics are good, and it should fit well there.” Consolidated Restaurants also runs the Metropolitan Grill downtown as well as Elliott’s Oyster House, and took over Wingdome three years ago; Rowe says they’re hoping to add additional locations after West Seattle joins the fold.

Just seven months after Sean Goff and wife Sofia Zadra Goff finally brought their dream of an Italian restaurant to fruition with Café Revò in the Luna Park business district, family and friends are in mourning — Sean has died, at the age of 43. (He is shown at left with Sofia in a photo we took in June 2008 while profiling them for a story about their restaurant plans.) The restaurant, a WSB sponsor, opened this past February – at least a 15-year dream for the couple. But a few months ago he became seriously ill, and early today his illness turned fatal. Here is the obituary just sent out on the Cafe Revo mailing list:

West Seattle Restaurateur Sean Goff fell asleep in the Lord September 17 at age 43. His death followed an illness of several months. While initially there was hope for his recovery, in the end, Sean was stricken with a fatal cerebral hemorrhage. Since February, many West Seattle residents had gotten to know Sean as the tall, genial chef of one of the area’s newest restaurants, Café Revò.

Previously, Sean served as a master chef at such area restaurants as Grazie and Anthony’s on the Waterfront. But Sean always hoped to open a restaurant of his own. The idea began to crystallize on one of his several trips to Northern Italy with his wife, Sofia Zadra Goff. Specifically, they both enjoyed the cuisine of the village of Revò in the Italian alps, home of Sofia’s ancestors.

Fascinated by the local cuisine, Sean found himself cooking alongside the locals, learning their centuries-old methods of producing unique flavors. One day, thinking about his dream restaurant, Sean came up with the “perfect” name, Café Revò.

Sofia and Sean were both long-time residents of West Seattle, so what better place to realize their dream? This past year, with the help of a number of friends in the restaurant business, Sean and Sofia were able to open Café Revò, right near Spokane Street, on Avalon Way SW.

Although very active in developing the restaurant site, Sean began experiencing symptoms of fatigue and other complications in April and May. Through the summer, Sean could only be active part-time with the restaurant. Still he was able to hire and train an outstanding staff of servers and chefs, as the restaurant’s many customers can attest.

During Sean’s illness, the actual running of the restaurant has been handled by his wife Sofia and the general manager, Milo Goodrich. Both feel confident that in spite of suffering the loss of Sean, they can continue Café Revò as a West Seattle landmark, maintaining Sean’s legacy of fine dining and customer service.

Sean is survived by Sofia, his two children Forrest and Maya, his father Michael Goff of Idaho and his brother Dan Goff of Colorado, plus a host of loving family and friends.

Sean’s passing is being mourned not only in the Seattle area but also in Revò, Italy, where the entire town has been proud and somewhat amazed that the ambiance and cuisine of their region was now present in a faraway place called West Seattle

Funeral services for Sean are set for September 21 at 1:00 p.m., at Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption, 1804 13th Avenue on Capitol Hill. Viewing will begin at noon. Interment will follow at Evergreen-Washelli.

Since July, Sean’s treatment has involved many days of hospitalization. And even with medical insurance, the family is responsible for covering 20 percent of the costs. Not surprisingly, much of their financial assets are already tied up in opening the restaurant.

In lieu of flowers, contributions are welcome to the Sean Goff Medical Fund at any U.S. Bank branch. Checks should be made out to Sofia Goff and can be mailed to Café Revò, 2940 SW Avalon Way, Seattle, WA 98126 or to U.S. Bank, 4200 SW Edmunds St., Seattle, WA 98116.

And here’s the funeral information we have received from the family.

Funeral Schedule For Sean Chano Goff
Monday, September 21st
Noon – Viewing
1 pm – Funeral Service
Greek Orthodox Church of the Assumption – 1804 13th Avenue
Burial at Evergreen Washelli – Procession from church to cemetery
11111 Aurora Ave. North – Seattle, WA 98133

Cafe Revo will be closed that day, for a private party for friends and family, but Sofia stresses that the restaurant will go on. Here are the photos sent out atop the mailing-list obituary tonight: