Almost everybody in Seattle is aware of China Harbor, even when they’ve by no means eaten there. It’s arduous to overlook: a jet-black rectangular construction lurking on the sting of Lake Union with a neon signal that glows an nearly menacing pink at evening. If you happen to’re unfamiliar with it however pushed by on Westlake Avenue, possibly you’ve puzzled, What goes on there?
For 30 years, what went on there have been banquets, pace courting occasions, weddings, political rallies — something that somebody would want a giant house for. For the final half-decade underneath its most up-to-date possession, it’s additionally been a preferred dim sum vacation spot. However after September, nothing will probably be occurring inside China Harbor, because the restaurant will shut down completely.
“This choice just isn’t made calmly and comes with heavy hearts, however we imagine it’s the proper selection at the moment,” the restaurant crew wrote on Fb on Sunday. The closure announcement (written in each English and Chinese language) cited challenges together with inflation and rising labor prices — frequent difficulties amongst restaurant homeowners in Seattle and nationwide — as contributing to the choice to shut. China Harbor additionally needed to cope with a 2021 closure after a few of the constructing’s metal help beams shifted within the evening, necessitating repairs.
In accordance with Seattle Met, the constructing, which opened within the early Sixties and has a pool within the basement, began life as an Elks Membership. In 1976 the primary house started for use by a sequence of eating places. “In 1994, China Harbor took over,” the Met wrote, “making a reputation for itself by internet hosting dances, political rallies, karaoke, and pace courting nights, together with many different gatherings.”
In 2019, Thomson Zhao purchased the restaurant and introduced in chef Danna Hwang to assist replace a not significantly inspiring menu. “Prior to now, so many individuals complained concerning the meals,” Hwang admitted to the Seattle P-I in 2021. New dishes included honey-walnut prawns with slices of inexperienced apple, taro balls with abalone, and pan fried chive dumplings wrapped in delicate rice paper, all of which helped set up China Harbor as a spot one may really go for the meals.
Hwang additionally serves as government chef for Zhao’s different restaurant, Vivienne’s Bistro on Mercer Island, and the duo will probably be specializing in that enterprise now. In accordance with the Met, they plan to open a second Vivienne’s downtown in mid October.
It’s unclear what’s going to occur to the long-lasting, if unusual, constructing.
