Chino's Closes, Makes Way For Upscale Restaurant

Ten months after opening, Taiwanese/Mexican cantina Chino's will shutter says Capitol Hill Seattle. Husband and wife co-owners Walter and Mari Lee were first-time restaurateurs, who admitted to Crosscut's Hugo Kugiya in March that they were struggling, even with a choice location in the Pike/Pine corridor. In April, Chino's fired bartender Evan Martin, after he posted on Facebook that Chino's would close and invited friends to share a last drink with him.

Booker-turned-club owner Jason Lajeunesse (owner of Neumos, Moe Bar, Big Mario's Pizza, and the recently opened Barboza) tells CHS that he and ?5 Point Café owner Dave Meinert had been negotiating with the Lees to jointly launch a new concept. But, apparently they lost out to a different buyer. CHS says to expect a full remodel and an upscale restaurant to move to the corner spot.

¸ Chino's Finds Buyer, Calls It Quits As New 'Upscale' Restaurant Coming to Pike/Pine [Capitol Hill Seattle]
¸ All Chino's Coverage on Eater Seattle [-ESEA-]
¸ All Shutter Coverage on Eater Seattle [-ESEA-]