Loretta alerted us to this nugget: Hannah Levin, a KEXP DJ and author of Seattle Weekly’s Rocket Queen music column, is opening Gainsbourg in the Northside Grill location at 8550 Greenwood Ave. N.
Sara posted an e-mail from the grill owners on our restaurant listing that explains more about the closing and offers tantalizing details about the new bar:
We are sad to leave the neighborhood and especially all the incredibly loyal and wonderful customers we’ve met along the way, but as many of you know, we welcomed into the world our son Younis in February (who is exactly 8 months old today!) and balance is hard enough as it is, and that much harder when you own a restaurant.
It’s been so great serving you and from our hearts, we really appreciate all of your support. Keep an eye out for the new business coming in called Gainsbourg featuring small plates, a full bar and lots of live music. It should add a nice new ambiance…
There’s more information about the new bar on Three Imaginary Girls and Seattle Weekly.
Update: Etta has put out a call in the forum for more information on The Walrus, a bar and music club that burned down in the 1970s, according to a reference js made in comments on this post.
12 responses so far ↓
1 Neighbor // Oct 17, 2008 at 12:55 pm
Spiral Stairs of Pavement is a minority partner in this, as well. Secret shows!
2 js // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:03 pm
Not my cup of Tea. Good luck, you will need it.
3 etta // Oct 17, 2008 at 2:23 pm
I hope that they are serious about bringing music to Greenwood. No offense to the smaller, coffee house-type places that feature sedate jazz trios and folkies, but it would be great to have a music venue in Greenwood that features energetic, amplified music. Bring back the glory of the legendary music venue rumored to have existed where there’s now just a brick wall on the east side of the 85th St.-87th St. block.
4 js // Oct 17, 2008 at 3:11 pm
That rumored club was Called the Walrus and burnt to the ground in the early70s, it was thought to have been an arson.
5 Hannah Levin // Oct 17, 2008 at 8:26 pm
Thanks for the kind mention. Just to clarify, we won’t be a regular music venue, but a relaxed neighborhood bar and bistro that occasionally has low-key shows. We will definitely have a carefully curated jukebox and weekly DJs. My partner and I have lived in the area for many years and are really thrilled to be a part of the neighborhood. Few places in Seattle have so many great shops and restaurants (hello, Mr. Gyros!) in such a small stretch. As far as potential music venues, I’d say the Crosswalk has that written all over it. That place could be amazing.
6 Trapper // Oct 17, 2008 at 10:32 pm
My husband remembers the Walrus fondly. It was in the same block as the Mexican grocers and the Wayward. Doug Kershaw played there at one time. The interior was rustic with a rounded log look to the walls.
7 Tiktok // Oct 18, 2008 at 12:59 am
Too many pre-existing residential dwellings near the Crosswalk for full-on rock music. Seattle’s new noise ordinance makes it really difficult for loud music clubs to avoid trouble.
8 Hannah Levin // Oct 18, 2008 at 1:51 pm
Tiktok–Maybe I’m missing something, but where are these dwellings? My my estimate, there’s just a parking lot behind them, no one above ‘em or below ‘em, and with a stage in the back of the space, it’d be really hard for it to be prohibitively loud, even for the condos across the street (near the Baranoff). Granted, the city does little to encourage (let alone tolerate) new music venues, but that space strikes me as one that could really fly.
9 Rabbit // Oct 18, 2008 at 3:18 pm
My wife and I have been living in Greenwood for almost 3 years now and we have been dying for a nice, hip place close by to grab a drink. It seems that most places around here either feature karaoke 7 nights a week or are more geared to the restaurant crowd. The last place JJ worked at was Tiger Tail, which is a fantastic place. I’m hoping Gainsbourg will be similar vein. I don’t think they’ll need luck, I think they’ll do bang up business here…at least from us! Thank you to Hannah and JJ deciding putting up shop here!
10 Allison // Oct 18, 2008 at 7:05 pm
I think it’s really exciting. Between this new place, the new brewpub, and the sale of the Sundown, this neighborhood may soon have some real hangouts. I love the places down on 65th, but it will be great to have some places in walking distance from home.
Hopefully all this good stuff is not marking the impending demise of a somewhat affordable neighborhood!
11 jm // Oct 20, 2008 at 3:36 pm
I don’t think the neighborhood would appreciate a recreation of the 1970s Walrus Tavern atmosphere and clientele.
12 Lou // Nov 28, 2008 at 5:18 pm
The Sundown Tavern will be opening it’s kitchen in a few weeks with an all new menu.
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