Seattle Street Food Icon Skillet Closes Its Food Truck and Catering Operations Permanently

It’s unfortunately time to say goodbye to a Seattle food truck mainstay. After 13 years serving up hugely popular burgers, poutine, chicken sandwiches, and other delightfully greasy snacks out of a vintage Airstream trailer, Skillet is shutting down the food truck and catering aspects of the business. But all is not lost for Skillet fans: the restaurants on Capitol Hill, downtown, and at Sea-Tac airport will remain open, and the counter in the Armory is only temporarily closed.

“Despite our best efforts, Skillet Catering could not survive the duration of the COVID-19 pandemic,” read a statement on the official website. “We simply could not outlast the situation of no clear timeline for reopening our operation to feed large groups. Skillet was born on the streets of Seattle ... so with this closure we lose a bit of our living history. And a bit of our heart and soul as well. It is truly a sad day for us.”

Chef Josh Henderson launched Skillet in 2007 after purchasing a 1962 Airstream for $5,000, and many credit the operation for being among the early pioneers of the food truck scene in the city, before the tech boom really took hold downtown and in South Lake Union. Known for its plump burgers, as well as other comfort food specialities such as pork belly and waffles, the mobile street food operation gained a following (and published a cookbook), while growing into a mini chain of upscale diners. Henderson sold the business in 2013, but it has maintained a steady presence in Seattle since then.

Both the Skillet diner on Capitol Hill and the Regrade location on Sixth Avenue are open for dine-in, takeout, and delivery. The location at Sea-Tac airport will reopen Friday, while the counter in the Armory must wait until Seattle enters phase three of the state’s “Safe Start” plan to reopen, since it resides in a government building.

• Skillet [Official]
• All coverage of Skillet [ESEA]