Popular Beermaker Stoup Plans New Kenmore Taproom with a Star Chef

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Popular Beermaker Stoup Plans New Kenmore Taproom with a Star Chef

Big news for area beer fans. Stoup Brewing — known for award-winning porters and other popular offerings — is planning to open a second taproom in Kenmore soon, partnering with chef Jason Stoneburner, as well as restaurateurs Deming Maclise and James Weimann. The new outpost will take over the Seaplane Kitchen and Bar location, which Stoneburner opened three years ago as an eye-catching, aviation-themed restaurant with pizzas and bar bites (it has been closed since November). When the taproom debuts in about six weeks, Stoup Brewing Kenmore will feature a menu by the acclaimed chef geared toward a more casual, counter service setting: burgers, fries, and Stoneburner’s famed thin-crust pies, most likely. Though the initial tap list is still coming into focus, there’s an opportunity for Stoup to not only bring its drafts to an audience outside Seattle proper, but also develop a more robust food operation, including the possibility of offering milkshakes made with malted barley. “After a very difficult year of just trying to stay afloat as a business, collaborating on a creative project with talented and enthusiastic new partners is a huge breath of fresh air,” says Stoup co-owner Robyn Schumacher.

Looks Like There’s an Amazon Fresh Location on Its Way to Ballard

The Amazon grocery empire continues to expand. According to Geekwire, permits for the former New Seasons grocery store location in Ballard indicate that an Amazon Fresh is moving in eventually (though the company had no comment). The supermarket — which officially made its debut in August 2020 in Woodland Hills, California — is a brick-and-mortar counterpart to Amazon’s online grocery shopping storefront that goes by the same name, featuring aisles filled with national name brands, produce, meat, seafood, and prepared items. (Not to be confused with Amazon Go Grocery, a completely cashless supermarket, which has locations on Capitol Hill and in Redmond.) This would be the third Amazon Fresh store planned for Seattle, following confirmed locations in the works for the Central District and Bellevue.

Gather Kitchen and Bar Will Soon Be a Fast-Casual Grain Bowl Restaurant

After three years, Gather Kitchen & Bar — an upscale bistro in Ballard — will close, shifting to a fast-casual restaurant called Harmony & Grain. The new spot from Gather’s veteran chef Ryan Donaldson will start off as a takeout-centric pop-up in March and, based on the response, will either stay in that location or look to move elsewhere. The initial menu highlights a variety of grain bowls, including one focused on Pacific Northwest ingredients (smoked salmon, shaved apples, dried cherries, and hazelnuts) and a Mediterranean tabbouleh option. All can be customized with a choice of a base, and there will be some selections of coffee, beer, and wine available to start.