We must have heard now from a half-dozen or more folks who all have a question similar to Susan’s:
“”Italian Spaghetti House on Lake City Way has a big fence around it. Anyone know what is up?”
We’ve looked around, and still don’t know the answer. But we’re betting one of our readers does.
The Italian Spaghetti House & Pizzeria closed earlier this year after 55 years in the same location, 9824 Lake City Way N.E. The owner told The Seattle Times she hoped to reopen, but it’s never happened.
There’s no permit activity for the address visible on the city’s website, and the property doesn’t appear to be actively for sale or lease.
Who can help figure this out?
http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/allyoucaneat/2015258166_italian_spaghetti_house_cave_m.html
Simon- I think you’re conveniently ignoring that medical marijuana and strip clubs are also part of those businesses that are thriving (and sadly not restaurants, given that we’ve seen LC’s Kitchen, the late night bbq joint, Seven Seas, Divine and the Spaghetti House all close). Mainly I was knocking the people that have issues with medical marijuana businesses opening in our neighborhood and stereotyping their customers as criminals. I’d love more bars and restaurants to open, but I see the trend going in the opposite direction.
It is a complete red herring to denounce local residents who voice opinions on businesses opening in the area for not opening their own businesses. That is obviously intended to shut down a perfectly legitimate conversation about the kind of neighborhoods people want theirs to be along LCW.
The fact is that LCW is not in reality that tough to do business on so long as you understand the demographic changes of the past ten years; finding businesspeople who understand that is what’s hard, not operating a business successfully. After all, there are 80,000 people who live within walking distance of the LCW corridor and who have plenty of disposable income, and most properties on LCW have excellent parking – another perk other commercial strips lack.
LCW businesses have traditionally not relied on destination traffic from out of the area (with the exception possibly of the old Jolly Roger); they have to rely on local traffic and commuters. So LCW businesses that are faring well even in the recession are generally those that appeal to the needs and tastes of the people who currently live in the area. Historically the LCW corridor appealed to middle class, retired, and lower-income patrons, but in the past ten years the median income in this area of town has skyrocketed, residential developments right on LCW have multiplied, and the percentage of people moving to this area with kids or who plan on starting families has also skyrocketed because of relatively affordable housing combined with terrific views.
Businesses that have closed or scaled back in the recession are those that have failed to grasp and adapt to these demographic changes. Businesses that are holding steady or even thriving are more often than not those that understand trends along the LCW corridor: from iBurger to Payathai to Seattle Mini to Starbucks to Middle Eastern groceries and halal butchers to Dick’s to Fred Meyer, it’s truly not rocket science understanding where local people are spending their money.
It would be awesome if all the people that were complaining about the types of locally owned small businesses that open in our abandoned storefronts would be willing to step up to the plate and open their own small businesses instead. Lake City Way is a tough road to run a business on, I think the market shows you what types of businesses can survive on it and what can’t. And right now in the down economy there are quite a few storefronts for lease along Lake City Way, I’m sure the property owners are happy to have any business move in to pay the rent.
Paul….I have issues with “medical marijuana clinics” setting up in neighborhoods. I am an RN and have nothing against marijuana used as med. However, I would feel better if it were distributed by licensed people and regulated as Zoloft is at Bartell’s or any other licensed and legit pharmacy. The classification needs to change for marijuana from a schedule 1 drug (same as heroin) to that of maybe Schedule 4. This requires the DEA changing it and will require pressure from the people to do this. Lake City has enough problems with various businesses operating on the “edge of the law, but within the law” and it hasn’t had the effect of improving the neighborhood. Does it have anything to do with the sharp increase in crime in our neighborhoods? I think all of them have a collective effect of being more inviting for criminals.
Yeah…I also worry about parking next to the Bartell’s…all those people hopped up on Zoloft coming out of there.
Given the business that is next door the spaghetti house, it is going to be difficult to have a legitimate, family oriented business come in. Not sure i really want to park my car and leave it with medical marijuana being sold right next door. *sigh*
What we really need is another mattress store. Not nearly enough of them up on Northgate Way.
I think it’s a great place for any business that has the ability to open in the location; as long as they are legal and respect the neighborhood.
Please let it be a Tutta Bella! Please let it be a Tutta Bella…
Maybe we will get lucky and it will be another car dealership!
Neighbor….you took the thought right out of my head. Yikes, not another strip club, pleeeeze! It would be so nice if a good family restaurant moved in…maybe Mexican or even Chinese? Anything that would improve or complement Lake City. Lake City needs all the help it can get.
There were also a couple nights when I saw rv’s parked there – as Ms. Bunn said, it may just be that the fence is there to prevent any further illegal activity
I’m sure it will make a nice future home to a strip club…. or dispenserie… that’s how we roll in Lake City yo!
Reports of suspected illegal activity in the parking lot may have caused the property owner to have it fenced off, so that no one can go in there.