According to Capitol Hill Seattle, the north Capitol Hill drinkery is closing on or about July 31.
They are looking for a new location, but still: the end of the Chia Pet! The Roanoke is known as the Chia Pet in honor of its exterior coat of ivy. From the inside looking out, each window has an extra frame of encroaching twigs and leaves; the place is dim and friendly and worn, like a tree house with drinks and pinball. The food—sandwiches, burgers, nachos—is surprisingly good. On sunny days, there’s ping pong out back. On many days, people watch sports, but they do not get too rabid about it. I love the Roanoke. (Full disclosure: I worked there as a very shy, only semi-competent cook many moons ago.)
The heartbreak!
Thanks and condolences to Brad and Kevin.
Noooooooooo!
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Is the ping pong table for sale?!?
Well, that fucking sucks! One of the best homey/divey fun bars in the city, and now it’s on its way out. Seattle needs MORE places like that (not more pretentious wine bars and hipster faux-dives with dead animals on the walls, which is what we’ll end up getting). Sad.
This is a tragedy.
No! I adored that place since I was at Prep and couldn’t go there!
Bummer.
On the plus side, it means the rental market is on an uptick. So the recession is over.
As a kid I always assumed the ivy outside meant super-fancy for the more northern Cap Hill folks, Fed Ave types. Such a nice surprise it wasn’t so at all.
This city will truly die when The Viking closes its doors.
Fucking Brutal. The Roanoke is one of the best bars in Seattle and their staff rocks the house. Seattle, you are losing a magnificent historic bar. Go enjoy the fuck out of it before it closes!
fuckeddy fuck fuck fuck …
I visited the tavern and no one was there…the only clue was that someone had carved CROATAN on the door post!
this is horrible news. i just moved to the hill a couple months ago and quickly fell in love with the place.
This breaks my heart. And I was just getting half-decent at pingpong.
Terrible, terrible news. @4 hit it right on the head. I’ll miss the awesome staff, nachos and Micro Mondays. Sad times when a place that’s been around forever like this has to close its doors for good.
I’ll add my voice to the lamentations. Sadness!
Fucking sucks
$1 tacos and PBRs watching hockey. Laid back bartender. No hipster fucks. Drunks. Buh-bye.
Truly sad. All roads led to the Roanoke. Now where will they lead?
I have been going there since I was 19! Almost 30 years! Save the Roanoke!
Truly sad. All roads led to the Roanoke. Now where will they lead?
Aw, thanks for the kind thoughts, you guys! Get involved on Facebook with the official Roanoke Park Place page (for updates) and the “Save the Roanoke Park Place Tavern” page, started by a fan.
Hey Roanoke,
Is there any way to save the Roanoke at it’s current location by purchasing the building? Do you know what the new landlord paid for the building?
Thanks.
All we know currently is the building is under contract but has not yet sold.
I believe the owner is looking for around 600-650,000 for the building. they had an offer of that much, but the people backed out at the last moment.