Food & Drink Apr 30, 2013 at 12:32 pm

Tonight's the End for the Viking Tavern in Ballard

Bethany Jean Clement
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Comments

1
Meh.

It all started going downhill when they took out the bowling alley and the steak joints.
Will in Seattle on April 30, 2013 at 12:54 PM Report this
2
My personal time machine's maiden voyage will be to the Dog House.
Fred Casely on April 30, 2013 at 12:58 PM Report this
3
The more things change, the more they become the same.
Here Lies Violet Trefusis on April 30, 2013 at 1:08 PM Report this
4
So a safer Seattle,is a worst off Seattle?
Seattle14 on April 30, 2013 at 1:15 PM Report this
5
Oh, please, Bethany, I'm sure when the new Ballard Lofts has the latest Matt Dillon restaurant (or whatever) in the ground floor, you'll be there, swooning.
annettefunicello on April 30, 2013 at 1:17 PM Report this
6
I had ribs there about 3 months ago and they were among the worst I'd ever eaten. All gristle and sauce, hardly any actual meat. Plus one of the old, fatass, regulars sitting at the bar was rude to my girlfriend for no reason. Good riddance.
Keenan C on April 30, 2013 at 1:21 PM Report this
7
The Bus Stop is open for one last time this evening...
https://www.facebook.com/events/14845526…
Kelly O on April 30, 2013 at 1:22 PM Report this
8
I think I'm going to start a project of visiting all the cool old places in Seattle before they get turned into "lofts" and "condos". I'm glad to say I drank at the Viking, only but once.

I really miss the psychedelic cows that used to be on the corner of Madison & 19th. Now: Lofts.

Ah well, bye bye Seattle of yore.
treacle on April 30, 2013 at 1:26 PM Report this
9
It will be replaced by someplace that's all glass and all facade, where every seat is within ten feet of the window because the space is so shallow, where the decibel level is over 100, and where the beers are $8 and the cocktails $13.

They might as well put up signs at the city limits: DOUCHEBAGS WITH TOO MUCH DISPOSABLE INCOME WELCOME ALL OTHERS TAKE ALTERNATE ROUTE.
Fnarf on April 30, 2013 at 1:50 PM Report this
10
Not surprised. Last time I was there, about two years ago, it was full of New Ballardites, featureless people who looked like they had just come from scowling at the guys wiping their Escalades down at the Elephant Car Wash. Ballard is theirs now.
--MC on April 30, 2013 at 2:00 PM Report this
11
@6 You ate food there? And you're complaining about it? LOL
ian on April 30, 2013 at 2:28 PM Report this
12
Working class douchebags driven out by yuppie douchebags. Yawn.
tiktok on April 30, 2013 at 2:28 PM Report this
13
Old businesses close down and either become or make way for new businesses. This is the way of the world. It is all part of constant renewal. It is sad to lose somewhere you have pleasant memories of, but something new will come along. If the new thing is nice too, it's not such a sad story.

Unfortunately, in this case, the "something new" is yet more of Ballard's malignant condo cancer. Yecch. I can understand condo overdevelopment back when the market was superinflated, but how can it still be happening? This is nuts.
balderdash on April 30, 2013 at 2:34 PM Report this
14
Drove by it a bazillion times thinking it was a sewing-machine store. But that would be Wiking with a 'W', right?

But on the other hand, my alcoholic grandfather was probably there when it opened.
Dr_Awesome on April 30, 2013 at 2:43 PM Report this
15
The condos will look like communist era tenement blocks soon enough.
fletc3her on April 30, 2013 at 2:45 PM Report this
16
Total sucky news. If this crap keeps happening, Ballard (and Capitol Hill, and [insert name of your neighborhood here]) is at risk of losing its soul.
Dingle Berries on April 30, 2013 at 2:53 PM Report this
17
@4. Since when did tearing down little taverns and building lofts make a town "safer"? More bland maybe.
And, it's "worse", not "worst".
tacomagirl on April 30, 2013 at 2:53 PM Report this
18
@14 I had the same reaction, the first couple of years I lived in Ballard. Not sure why.

They still have that place that does the battered fried mushrooms and shakes and burgers at NW 24th, thank god.
Will in Seattle on April 30, 2013 at 2:55 PM Report this
19
Ballard is like the TV show Mad Men - lots of bars, white guys drinking and no people of color.
snacktruck on April 30, 2013 at 3:12 PM Report this
20
RIP Viking. My thumb will never be the same.
Baby Blue on April 30, 2013 at 3:28 PM Report this
21
One more example of how the urbanistas hate Seattle.
Unbrainwashed on April 30, 2013 at 4:14 PM Report this
22
I am contractually bound to publicly mourn the 318 Tavern any time we lament the loss of another old school Seattle institution.

karion on April 30, 2013 at 4:27 PM Report this
23
If Seattle hadn't been so historically underbuilt, this wouldn't be happening. You don't see anyone tearing down the apt. building at BWay and John - it's already 5 stories tall.
Max Solomon on April 30, 2013 at 5:19 PM Report this
24
Bleh.

Another dive with character being replaced by overpriced condos
Frank Blethen's vodka distiller on April 30, 2013 at 5:22 PM Report this
26
All things, good and bad, must die.
Joel_are on April 30, 2013 at 9:19 PM Report this
27
I miss Rachel Kessler's reporting. What is she doing now?
seatackled on April 30, 2013 at 10:19 PM Report this
28
Ballard hails its new condo overlords.
Ballard Pimp on April 30, 2013 at 11:55 PM Report this
29
I'll miss the Viking. Met one of my best friends there totally by chance.
CPN on May 1, 2013 at 9:00 AM Report this
30
Another façade for MOHAI.
Nelson Bradley on May 1, 2013 at 1:20 PM Report this

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