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Welcome back to Eater News, a semi-regular round-up of mini news bites. Have info to share? Email intel to seattle@eater.com.
Ballard neighborhood favorite is staying put
Take a deep breath, Ballard denizens. The future of the popular dive bar Waterwheel Lounge — known for its old school vibe, rowdy karaoke nights, games, and from-scratch fried chicken — seemed to be up in the air after a recent real estate listing showed the property on the market for under $1 million. But it’s sticking around for the foreseeable future. “I have two years left on the lease with a five-year option,” the owner tells Eater Seattle. “The bar is not for sale.” So order another round.
Food truck driver who tried to foil robbery needs help
The food truck community is rallying around one of their own, who recently fell upon hard times. On April 24, Martha Lopez — who operates the southern Mexican food truck El Cabrito — broke both legs while attempting to stop a man trying to steal the generators powering her truck in South Lake Union. The thief got away after bumping Lopez with his car, and now fellow food truck owners have started a GoFundMe campaign in Lopez’s name to offset the costs of the stolen equipment and her medical bills. The suspect is still at large.
Power move in the Seattle coffee scene
According to Puget Sound Business Journal (subscription required), Fonte Coffee Roaster is consolidating its mini empire in Seattle, officially acquiring the entire Uptown Espresso chain. Since December, Fonte had been running all six Seattle locations of the popular coffee shop — which has been around since 1984 — after Uptown Espresso’s owner, Dow Lucurell, passed away. Now, the merging of the two brands will be complete. Fonte has two coffee shops in addition to its roastery in Georgetown, so adding Uptown’s shops will greatly expand its imprint in the city. Fonte owner Paul Odom told the Journal that he would make only “minimal changes” to Uptown Espresso, focusing on expanding its bakery.
