Winter is traditionally the cruelest season for restaurants and bars, and a couple of famed watering holes just announced that they would soon be shutting down.
First, Light Sleeper in Capitol Hill’s Chophouse row posted on Instagram that it was closing on February 13 after five years in business. Owner Ezra Wicks, a hospitality industry vet, opened the natural wine bar in the middle of the pandemic lockdown era, and managed to not only survive but thrive. Light Sleeper served its own food but is maybe most famous for hosting a dizzying array of acclaimed pop-ups, making it a vital part of the crowded Capitol Hill restaurant scene.
In an emotional Instagram post, Wicks thanked those pop-ups alongside his employees and guests. He was a little vague about the reasons for the closure, but did write, “Opening a spot as an independent operator is very personal. Lots of dreaming and sacrifice. Lots of fear and joy. The costs to do this in Seattle are insane… some can pull it off, others can’t.”
“Please, eat out at independent places. If you love a place, become a regular. Show them how much it means to you that they’re there,” he added.
A Sunset Hill bar rides off into the sunset
In other sad bar news, Baker’s, a cocktail bar in sleepy Sunset Hill that doubled as a restaurant, is closing after seven years. Like Wicks, the owners don’t sound interested in crying into their drinks. “The decision is certainly devastating, and a myriad of factors contributed,” they wrote on Instagram. “No point in lamenting though. We believe it’s much more important to celebrate the beautiful life.” It will be closing at the end of January.
Man, more bad news? On Instagram this week, Itsumono, the wildly creative Japanese-Hawaiian-etc. restaurant in the CID, announced that it was up for sale. It had an impressive six-year run, getting named to the New York Times list of the best restaurants in Seattle in 2023 and earning a rave from the Seattle Times. More recently, chef and co-owner Sean Arakaki was just given an award from StarChefs magazine. The Instagram announcement said that Arakaki is moving back to his home state of Hawaii; his last day will be February 14. After that, the other co-owners will run Itsumono as a “more casual drinking and eating experience” until someone buys the restaurant.
Seattle is getting a Tendon Kohaku
Finally, something positive! The Seattle Times reports that Tendon Kohaku, a Japanese-born tempura chain that opened last year in Bellevue to massive lines, is now coming to Seattle. To the CID, more specifically, in the former Momosan space on Fifth Avenue. There’s no clear timeline for when the new Kohaku will open, but expect a lot of buzz when it does.