From the Jun 19 – Jun 25, 2003 issue

News

Storm Clouds

Cloud Room to Shut June 30

by Sandeep Kaushik

Employees conFIrm that Seattle's historic Camlin Hotel--home to the shabbily elegant Cloud Room, much-beloved by the city's culture mavens for its retro cool--will be shutting its doors for good on June 30 ["In Other News," May 1], more than a month earlier than employees had expected.

Employees had been told to take reservations through August 6, but union officials were informed by owners on June 12 of the earlier closing date.

The building is slated to be converted into private vacation condominiums by new owner Trendwest Resorts of Redmond.

Beyond their sadness at the closure, employees expressed anger at the short notice they had received. Shelley Ryan, a manager at the hotel, decried the "shoddy treatment" her employees were receiving, and expressed her fears that older workers--many employed at the hotel for 25 years or more--would have a tough time finding alternative employment.

"I can't keep the Cloud Room from disappearing, but I'm concerned about the employees and how they're being treated," Ryan said.

John Baker, a Cloud Room bartender, said he was "shocked, and frankly pissed" when he learned he had only a little more than two weeks before losing his job. Employees had begun a petition drive to press for the Cloud Room to remain open, collecting more than 700 signatures before the effort was discontinued with the announcement of the final closing date. The hotel and bar employ a total of about 80 people.

sandeep@thestranger.com