Columbia Citizens

All those Citizens who asked for Thai? Prayers answered.

Here's the liquor license application for the Spice Room. It'll be next door to sushi, that other popular request.

update: Scott's comment below seems right. "Puri" and "Sarveshwar" do have an East Indian ring to them, don't they? Last month I heard Thai was coming to that spot. Anyone know for sure?

I would guess Indian, not Thai.

Hey, we're not Gymboree but we do have the same age groups! We'll be a available this December, opening fully in Janaury, the City permitting.
:)
John

While I'd love to have a Trader Joe's in the hood as much as anyone, I just don't see that happening — especially in the former Long's site. I would be VERY surprised if Safeway's lease doesn't have some language that prevents another grocery store in that location.

This site is really going to be a difficult one to fill, in my opinion. The space is too big for many businesses (e.g. a dollar store), but too small for the big guys (e.g. Fred Meyer). I would say that the most likely tenant in that space would be some sort of second-tier discounter along the lines of Big Lots or Tuesday Morning.

The building owner e-mailed me asking about BeatWalk, and confirmed that the restaurant will be Thai. He's looking for a tenant for the upstairs, too, if anyone knows of anyone …

Stash is already open.

I went there today. I certainly don't NEED more fabric, but supporting a local business is a good excuse, there is lots of luscious fabric, and the owner is very friendly. So of course I had to buy a few yards!

We need a grocery store on or right of the main Ranier strip.

Too long to walk to PCC's or Safeway.

I think this plug is off-topic and frankly a bit rude here (I'm reading this thread to talk about the neighborhood, not to hear about your presidential political views).

If there were a flag button, I'd click it.

I would find a broader selection enticing. Another high-quality place would be welcome!

Good points everyone, and thanks for the neighborly conduct.

I heard somewhere that Target is scoping out the location of Rainier and Dearborn (part of the Goodwill "complex" that includes at least 2 blocks of buildings and parking. Anyone know if there is any truth to that rumor?

I stumbled upon the website for the Dearborn Street Coalition for Livable Neighborhoods (DSCLN). That site confirms the rumor I heard about Target.

Reading that site made me ask myself many questions around the topic of this forum post, actually.

I suppose I'm not for banning chains altogether. But it would be nice to have a process is in place to ensure that careful planning decisions are made in this regard. Does anyone have experience or knowledge about this? Or a model of a community that has done this particularly well? Jennifer

Just to let you know, there is quite an elaborate process in Seattle. For example, neighbors held up Safeway's rebuilding of their Pinehurst location for three years until agreement was reached. Just latch on to DPD's posted notices and have at it!
:)
John Sweeney

The ATM near the VA hospital is a branch of Verity Credit Union. It's located in the parking lot of the VA hospital. From Columbian Way you'll want to turn in at the main entrance to the VA (where they've just put up the new signs) — it's the first light after Beacon Ave if you're coming from C-City. Once you've made the turn, the CU is more or less directly in front of you maybe a block up. You can't really miss it.

The address is 1660 S Columbian Way. Here's a map, if you want more specific directions.

By the way, Verity's ATM locator says that they also have a surcharge-free ATM at a Texaco station at 6600 MLK (a few blocks south of Graham Street), for those looking for cash a bit further south.

Update: After doing some drive-by reconnaissance, it turns out the "Texaco" listed on the Verity site is now a Shell station (and has been for several years). It's located on the east side of MLK. I didn't stop to confirm the existance of the ATM.

A reasonably priced grocery store! Please!!! Not a Trader Joe's and not a PCC. Something like New Seasons in Portland. Where you can get your fancy organic produce if you like but they also have your standard issue marshmallows etc. A great location would be to replace that store?? that provides the parking lot for the farmer's market. What is that place? :)

@Anon .142 ->

I assume that "that place" you are referring to is the Columbia Plaza site, which is slated to be developed into retail/housing within the next year or two. A full discussion of the plans for this plot can be found here. According to the notes of one community meeting the developers are envisioning some sort of "boutique grocery" for the site.

I believe there have also been suggestions that the Saint Gobain development at Rainier and Hudson might include a grocery of some sort.

In a (marginally) interesting side-note, the Columbia Plaza was originally a grocery when it opened in 1957.

Here's a new liquor license application for Wabi-Sabi Sushi Bar & Restaurant. It's at 4909 S Ferdinand St Rainier Ave S (thanks Frank!) — that's the Hepler Block, where Twinks used to be.

Anyone know more about this?

I am in favor of liquor. I head that Chinoise Cafe were opening a new restaurant there. But are they going to forgo the Chinoise Cafe name in favor of Wabi-Sabi? Having this and Maki & Yaki in the neighborhood, I foresee some tongue-twisting conversations about sushi.

Seems to be the same owner as Chinoise…The liquor license is listed under the name Thoa Nguyen…the same as this guy:

http://www.thoaseattle.com/

oops!…I mean this GIRL: http://www.thoaseattle.com/about.html

…sorry ladies.

Thats 4909 S RAINIER, a restaurant at 4909 ferdinand would be pretty gutsy

That's my address and I'd be in heaven with a sushi restaurant in my house!

Tracy — That line of hungry people outside your door? Sorry about that…

The Times' Nancy Leson says Wabi-Sabi will open on Wednesday:

Thoa (pronounced "Twah") called Columbia City home for more than a decade, and as she prepares for Wabi-Sabi's opening day, she's excited to be back in the neighborhood — especially now that the neighborhood's become a hot-spot for eating and drinking. "This has been in the works for six months," she said of the restaurant built in the husk of a former daycare center "right next door to Roy's BBQ and across the street from Tutta Bella and the Columbia Ale House."

The name Wabi-Sabi, cutsie though it may sound, references a Japanese aesthetic — one said to find beauty in nature, simplicity and even imperfection. Exposed brick walls, cement floors painted to resemble sea colors, and benches and booths designed by Seattle artist Michael Fujii were built to look "very natural, very soothing, very Zen," Thoa says.

The rest of Nancy's post is here.

Hurray! Thanks for that news about Wabi-Sabi, Scott. I'll definitely try to get there this week.
I am betting that Anonymous who posted way back in November 2007 about wanting a sushi restaurant in the neighborhood is really happy, too.

Wabi-Sabi had a rough opening night, and Publicola's food critic ain't too happy about it.

The rest of the meal went from bad to worse to laughable. It took nearly two hours for our sushi to arrive, during which our waiter assured us repeatedly that the sushi chef was “working on it.” I should’ve known that wasn’t true when I saw the pile of abandoned order tickets on the floor (and the half-dozen folks around us who simply gave up and left), but I tried to hold out hope.

That was the first hour…

Itai!!

That's Japanese for "Ouch".

The sushi was OK and the service was horrible. I was suprised that the rolls were so small and so expensive. I hope that after the first week the menu and prices are adjusted and new staff hired. I did see the new sign posted next door that says a Thai place is coming! That's something to look forward to.

We had a great experience opening night. Two different maki rolls were tasty and unique; kids bento box excellent. I've been to Japan several times [and eat a lot of Asian food in our city] so my bar is high.

Service was equally good for an opening night; usually these don't go well but they nailed it.

We went opening night about 6:00 and had a great experience. Sashimi dinner was terrific. Service was good. Paid what I expect to pay for a dinner out — $80 included two appetizers, one shared entree and premium sake, including tax and tip.