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Dust off that turntable. After months of anticipation, Life on Mars — the throwback vinyl record-themed bar co-owned by Seattle music industry veterans — is putting the finishing touches on its spot inside Capitol Hill’s Pike Flats building. Among the highlights will be a wall covered in more than 5,800 records (in addition to a rotating selection for sale), deep booths for patrons to chill, a special Life on Mars Imperial IPA from the critically-acclaimed Reuben’s Brews (one of Eater Seattle’s Essential Craft Breweries), and a vegan-friendly menu that features a fried artichoke waffle sandwich. Bar hoppers can expect a grand opening sometime in early June, according to a Life on Mars rep.
As revealed when the project was announed in February, there’s a heavy-hitting lineup of Seattle music veterans working behind the scenes. The new spot is a collaboration among John Richards (the host of KEXP’s popular program “John in the Morning”), his partner Amy Richards (from Pair Music Collective), Leigh Sims (from Wake Up Productions, a music and arts events company), and Steven Severin (who co-owns the well-known Seattle music venues Neumos, Barboza, and The Runaway).
Retro rock vibes are certainly not unusual for a city that was the birthplace of so many iconic acts over the years, but Life on Mars hopes to carve out its own niche, creating an environment where patrons can share their taste in music, sip a beer or cocktail (such as the Death by Juniper with gin, juniper berries, and rosemary), and even take an album down off the wall to give it a spin. Stay tuned.
