The Sunset Tavern is a piece of Ballard history. In its current location since 1976, the live-music venue is one of just a handful of Ballard Avenue drinking establishments to have predated the area’s recent gentrification. Co-owner Max Genereaux, who also has a stake in that street’s Hattie’s Hat and Wallingford’s Al’s Tavern, recently renovated the space—its first major overhaul in 15 years—and he’s hoping the place will retain a sense of its history. Here’s a look at what to expect when it reopens this week:
As at the old Crocodile or the now-defunct Sit & Spin, the remodel will divide the Sunset into two rooms: a bar up front and a band room in back, providing non-showgoing patrons a place to drink and hang out without paying a cover.
The new front bar will be called Betty’s Room, named for a family friend of Genereaux whose husband built her a bar in the basement of their home after returning from World War II. The space will have Hawaiian and Pacific Rim motifs and will include artifacts from Betty’s actual basement bar, which existed from the late 1940s until the early ’90s.
The performance space, known as The Dragon Room, will see changes as well. Though the capacity will remain the same, the overall footprint will change as new walls go up and some come down. The space that once housed the green room will be transformed into a corner bar. The room’s stage will also get an upgrade and be slightly expanded.
Other modifications to the rear part of the space involve removing the venue’s kitchen, which means no more Flying Squirrel Pizza. Food will still be served, however, with Genereaux promising “old-school-Ballard cheap, cheap, cheap happy-hour appetizers”—like $1 hot dogs, tacos, and pot stickers. The Sunset Tavern 5433 Ballard Ave. N.W., 784-4880, sunsettavern.com.
UPDATE: The following grand re-opening shows have been canceled, according to the following message via the Sunset’s Facebook page: “We are sorry to announce out remodel has hit some unexpected delays and we will have to push back our opening until Oct 3rd. All tickets can be refunded at point of purchase. We are just as bummed as you are… sorry.”
• Thurs., Sept. 25: the Maldives, The Dutchess and the Duke. 9 p.m. $10. • Fri., Sept. 26: Grizzled Mighty, Gazebos, Legendary Oaks. 9 p.m. $10. • Sat., Sept. 27: Katie Kate, Jarv Dee. 9 p.m. $10.
music@seattleweekly.com
