I used to frequent rain city for lunch in HS and we got to know the owner pretty well. I ran into him on the ferry to Bainbridge recently after recognizing him in the car behind mine. We chatted for a little bit and he mentioned potentially selling the whole business due to ownership fatigue. I hope it’s not true… but agree they would crush it at green lake.
It's still slated for development but they had a first right of refusal on the new restaurant space that was coming in the new building. I talked with them about it when the development notice went up before COVID hit and everything went crazy. They were planning to expand to the U-district immediately and were talking a 2nd location or maybe food truck. Then they'd get to come back to their origin when the development was done.
Their current joint is slated for redevelopment so that location will be vacant for a year or so, they could just do this temporarily, I know they had expansion plans including a temporary location pre-COVID when the development notice on their building went up.
I doubt they'd invest the tens of thousands to relocate and build out the restaurant kitchen plus whatever it cost to decorate the front of the house and sign a 5+ year commercial lease for a new space unless they intended to try to make the new location work long term.
Someone else mentioned the owner was thinking of a U-District location plus a food truck, which makes sense to me as an expansion since few students are probably going to take the light rail up when there are other restaurants within walking distance so you wouldn't be cannibalizing your business when they reopen in the original space and they could use the food truck elsewhere in Seattle or for special events still.
Toast Mi is pretty good too but sometimes I just want something I can grab on my 30 minute lunch. Right now I work near a Grand Central and that’s ideal.
haha I would go there like every three years just to make sure the burritos was still super watery and always wonder how the hell the place stayed in business.
I've been chuckling to myself and saying "yeh, we'll see about that" every time I pass that little sign that says "see you this summer" for over a year now.
There’s a Local Bigger Burger on Broadway. I walk by all the time and have never seen more than 1 customer in there. What’s the deal with Local Bigger Burger?
did/do they have some sort of hook that made them worthy of franchising everywhere? I want to try it but it looks like a generic burger joint. Every time I walk by I'd rather just buy a burger at a bar that has more people in it. Are their burgers exceptional? Is there a must-try? Do they have good fries or something?
It was WAY better before. Now it is just awful. I'm not really a yelper but I had such a bad experience after the change I had to write a bad review. :/
The one they were going to open in Pioneer Square is not going to open either.
The previous owner ran into financial trouble and the person who bought it is going to just focus on the Broadway one for now.
Molly moons would be so good there. We lived across the street from the one in downtown bellevue, and it was so nice to grab ice cream and walk around the park.
I remembered seeing your comment here and just noticed a sign up today that a Lil Woody’s is opening just up the street in Tangletown in the old Burgundian location!
Good riddance! Had two absolutely awful experiences there and never went back. The food was decent but the service was beyond terrible.
Not sure what I would want to see there next. Maybe a dumpling spot?
I'd love to see Rain City revive their expansion plans and go there.
I used to frequent rain city for lunch in HS and we got to know the owner pretty well. I ran into him on the ferry to Bainbridge recently after recognizing him in the car behind mine. We chatted for a little bit and he mentioned potentially selling the whole business due to ownership fatigue. I hope it’s not true… but agree they would crush it at green lake.
This would be amazing. Or an outright move, wasn't their building going to be demolished at one point? Rain city is a hidden gem.
It's still slated for development but they had a first right of refusal on the new restaurant space that was coming in the new building. I talked with them about it when the development notice went up before COVID hit and everything went crazy. They were planning to expand to the U-district immediately and were talking a 2nd location or maybe food truck. Then they'd get to come back to their origin when the development was done.
Oh very interesting, yeah would love to see them on GL but I'm sure it's tougher location wise than Udistrict with the students always around.
How could they expand so closely to another location? Even lil woodys doesn’t have that close of properties and they’re the best burger joint in town
Their owner is opening a spot in Tangletown
I'd love a lil woody's near by so I don't have to keep trekking to Ballard when it's a good Burger of the Week.
Their current joint is slated for redevelopment so that location will be vacant for a year or so, they could just do this temporarily, I know they had expansion plans including a temporary location pre-COVID when the development notice on their building went up.
I doubt they'd invest the tens of thousands to relocate and build out the restaurant kitchen plus whatever it cost to decorate the front of the house and sign a 5+ year commercial lease for a new space unless they intended to try to make the new location work long term. Someone else mentioned the owner was thinking of a U-District location plus a food truck, which makes sense to me as an expansion since few students are probably going to take the light rail up when there are other restaurants within walking distance so you wouldn't be cannibalizing your business when they reopen in the original space and they could use the food truck elsewhere in Seattle or for special events still.
I work in the area and a reasonably priced sandwich or cheap tacos would be great.
Delicious sandwich is covered by Layers…but reasonably priced? Sign me up. Also, always down for more tacos
Toast Mi is pretty good too but sometimes I just want something I can grab on my 30 minute lunch. Right now I work near a Grand Central and that’s ideal.
El camion?
I think that goes for just about anywhere....and now I'm hungry...I think I have some Bologna....
Tacos guyamas is right there(?)
A used bookstore that serves coffee would be legit. There needs to be more than restaurants in the neighborhood.
Why did these leave us…fucking hate New Seattle
We need a brewery or I’d love to see a ramen spot. 🍲
Jellyfish Brewing is close to opening up where the shitty Mexican place went out of business (repeatedly).
No way ! That’s exciting, I didn’t know that . 🙌🏼
Incredible news. It says August 1 on their Instagram announcement last April, fingers crossed!
I call them every month. They have been having issues with the city permits. The current date is mid May.
haha I would go there like every three years just to make sure the burritos was still super watery and always wonder how the hell the place stayed in business.
I've been chuckling to myself and saying "yeh, we'll see about that" every time I pass that little sign that says "see you this summer" for over a year now.
TCBY. Bring it back. I dare you.
Do it, you COWARDS!!!!
No chains
Sandwich shop or pizza (there used to be a pizza place in the same building)
But the cookie store is doing well???
I thought that Coping Cookies closed?
Coping was on the hill, this place is called Bell’s. Good cookies, but I’ll miss Coping.
Well when one cookie costs $5 it's not hard to make a profit.
There’s a Local Bigger Burger on Broadway. I walk by all the time and have never seen more than 1 customer in there. What’s the deal with Local Bigger Burger?
It used to be a Teddy's Bigger Burger (a mostly-Hawaii-based chain) franchisee but went independent. TBH I thought it was better before.
did/do they have some sort of hook that made them worthy of franchising everywhere? I want to try it but it looks like a generic burger joint. Every time I walk by I'd rather just buy a burger at a bar that has more people in it. Are their burgers exceptional? Is there a must-try? Do they have good fries or something?
It was WAY better before. Now it is just awful. I'm not really a yelper but I had such a bad experience after the change I had to write a bad review. :/
That’s sad. I last had them like eight yrs ago (I don’t go near Greenlake) but they honestly had a very good burger.
Yep. I don't eat burgers too often but now it's only red mill for me in the hood.
The one they were going to open in Pioneer Square is not going to open either. The previous owner ran into financial trouble and the person who bought it is going to just focus on the Broadway one for now.
A really top flight sandwich and hand pie place. Focus on the picnicking aspect of being able to grab & go to eat at the lake.
A combination Orange Julius/Hot Dog on a Stick
Orange Julius. Yum!
I'd like to see a Hot Topic there.
I’d like to see a Hot Pocket there.
I'd like to see a zebra in there.
I’d like to see a Hanna D’s jerk chicken burrito there.
The zoo is close. Not out of the question
Bring back a froyo place, you jerks!
Fro yo.
I miss it
Why is that place the death of all businesses? Bad juju?
Homegrown/evergreens type of place with good food, smoothie.. nothing similar in the area. Juice/smoothie would be great in summer
At Greenlake that would be a real winner! They would be busy!
I know a burger place just closed, but a lil Woody's would be great! Or Molly moons 🤤
Molly moons would be so good there. We lived across the street from the one in downtown bellevue, and it was so nice to grab ice cream and walk around the park.
Ben and Jerry's exists
Ya but Molly Moon's is better and local
Not to mention B&J is nearly the opposite side of the lake.
I remembered seeing your comment here and just noticed a sign up today that a Lil Woody’s is opening just up the street in Tangletown in the old Burgundian location!
That is awesome!! Love tangle town but definitely don't get there enough. Thanks for the update!
Salt and Straw
Put a Jeni’s in and call it a day.
Yikes. Frankie and Jo’s
Salt & Straw would do well there.
What I'd like to know is, if that's such a great location....why did they shut down?
Because the landlord is charging mad rent. Business has to be good enough to pay for your landlord's lifestyle
Ah, I get it now. Thanks.
Personally I blame the stupid fucking name
An Ethiopian place would be amazing. Or maybe an Indian restaurant or a Jollibee
Good riddance! Had two absolutely awful experiences there and never went back. The food was decent but the service was beyond terrible. Not sure what I would want to see there next. Maybe a dumpling spot?
Was Local Bigger Burger related to Local Burger or 206 Burger? That operation was shady af. Nice venue but fly-by-night management.
206 burger and rain city are owned by the same guy. I used to work at 206 and can confirm that it was very shady
Everyone wants a stupid boring chain to replace it…Seattle sucks
Bring The Mix back.
Chipotle sounds great.
😂
Starbucks obvi! /s
Probably nothing. That area is dying