Fremont Cocktail Bar The Helm Ends Its Run

After a little more than a year in business, nautically inspired Fremont bar The Helm has closed its doors, which means no more inventive cocktails, well-designed Northwest bites, or large patio on N 36th St. for people-watching. A tipster shared the unfortunate news, confirmed by a source familiar with the business — the bar’s website said it would be “closed for private events for the remainder of 2017,” but apparently it never reopened.

The Helm’s executive chef, Travis Stewart, spent time at Canlis, and head bartender Kyle Takacs had experience at Bottle and Bull and Lot No. 3. In December 2016, a few months in, The Seattle Times’ Tan Vinh said the cheap bar snacks — plump, buttery seared scallops, ribbons of cured salmon on crostini — were the real draw, outshining the uneven drinks, but the drinks did eventually even out.

At the time of publication, The Helm had not responded to requests for comment. There’s no word yet on what might be next for the key players or for the space.