The tenants of the tony downtown Martin Apartments will sigh a smoke-free

The tenants of the tony downtown Martin Apartments will sigh a smoke-free breath of relief at the news that Tom Douglas has officially closed down his brand new Mexican restaurant, Cantina Lena after opening earlier this month.

According to Brittany Pollard, Tom Douglas’s assistant, the restaurant’s 16-foot, state-of-the-art roasting pit’s exhaust system wasn’t ventilating properly, causing serious complaints from the tenants who live in the building above it. Though no lawsuit was pressed, the tenants, she said, were “complaining loudly” and felt like “there was a fire going on all the time.” As a result,“We chose to shut down now because we have no interest in making anyone’s home uncomfortable or making anyone sick, especially at the holiday.”

When asked about the faulty ventilaton, Pollard said that they spent weeks trying to improve it, but ultimately could not. She also said the project was well-researched, citing a pizza place in lower Queen Anne that uses a similar system, as well as Miller’s Guild restaurant.

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So what will become of Cantina Lena and the current space it occupies? Pollard said they are planning to relocate the Mexican restaurant to a non-residential space and rethink the concept in The Martin, with a plan to open a new restaurant there in the spring. Considering that millions of dollars have gone into Cantina Lena, let’s hope it finds a proper home.