The International District’s Iconic Cambodian Restaurant Is Closing

Welcome back to Eater News, a semi-regular round-up of mini news bites. Have info to share? Email intel to seattle@eater.com.

• The American Distilling Institute has named Copperworks Distilling its Distillery of the Year, praising not just the downtown Seattle company’s outstanding single malt, gin, and vodka but also its “exemplary” business operation.
• Phnom Penh Noodle House, one of the only Cambodian restaurants in Seattle, is closing after 30 years in the International District. Co-owner Dawn Ung’s son was hit by a car last fall and has been has been in a coma since, severely impacting Ung’s finances and ability to manage the restaurant. Dawn and her sister Darlene Le may someday reopen Phnom Penh in a smaller space, but for now a Szechuan restaurant will take over the location on May 31.
• Dick’s Drive-In has started construction on its Kent burger joint, one year after announcing plans to expand there. The company let fans vote on where it should open next, and Kent won out over West Seattle, Auburn, Renton, Burien, SeaTac, Tukwila, Normandy Park, Des Moines, and Federal Way.
• Pike Place Market is gearing up for its summer season of satellite farmers markets, and this year it will run a new location next to the Amazon Spheres. The market season opens May 29. Also new this year is the Pike Box, a weekly Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) produce subscription box.
• NW Peaks, which has moved operations to the former Spinnaker Bay Brewing in Hillman City, is reopening its Ballard taproom and dropping “The Bergschrund” moniker. The taproom will simply be called NW Peaks Brewery - Ballard.
• In a blog post on his website, restaurateur John Howie discussed how being faced with additional fees while golfing and staying at a hotel finally convinced him to drop the three-percent surcharge at John Howie Steak, instead raising menu prices to build in the costs of doing business.