It was way back in March, 2009 that we first noted the ongoing problems Babalu has been having with the liquor control board (What did you do, Babalu?). You may remember that they ran afoul of the WSLCB by violating the spirit, if not the letter of the law requiring food be served alongside alcohol by serving $99 TV dinners.
It seems Johnny Law has finally caught up with the star-crossed Mambo Room. The SeattleCrime blog reports that WLSCB records state that in September, Babalu “agreed to let the state revoke their license after the bar was busted for circumventing the state’s requirements on food sales in bars by selling TV dinners at $99 a pop.” On April 30th of this year, the license was revoked but a month later, investigators noticed it was still open and serving.
About a week later, on May 25th, WSLCB officials delivered a letter to Bablu’s owner noting that liquor agents had visited the bar on May 14th,15th and 21st, and caught the club operating without a license. Consequently, the WSLCB told Babalu’s owners they could shut down, or hand over their hooch.
“You are hereby notified that as of the date of delivery of this letter, you have 24 hours to remove all liquor from the premises of Babalu [.] If this is not done by you the Enforcement Division will enter the premises and lawfully remove and confiscate all liquor.”
It appears Babalu shut down after receiving the WSLCB’s letter, although sign outside the business says they are closed for “HVAC renovations.”
So, now shuttered, what comes next? The SeattleCrime blog goes on to note that they believe the bar is re-applying for a new license that won’t require food be served, but past behavior could undermine their chances of that being granted.
What would the neighborhood be with Babalu? Historically, Wallyhood commenters have predominantly turned their noses up at the clientele Babalu commands, classing them in with feminine hygiene devices. However, some staunch supporters have applauded the live music and life Babalu brings to the neighborhood.
And that beautiful old Rolls Royce that Michael Prineas (center right) parks on the corner of Wallingford Ave and 45th. It’s an icon!
I’d be happy if they disapeared.
Oh, lets talk about the elephant in the room. Babalu attracted a black crowd and that was too much for the lilly white residents of Wallingford
I’d be sad to see them go – they brought a bit of diversity to the ‘hood. I was thinking about all the other bars in Seattle that sell only high priced tv dinners, and how they stay in business…I wonder what brought the attention down on them? Granted, a lot of the bars who go that route limit themselves to $30 TV dinners ($99 seems high), but, still.
The word is “lily-white”, and douchebaggery knows no color.
It’s my impression/opinion that most people’s objections to the clientele were due to noise, drunkenness, and oh, things like SUVs rolling over on Wallingford (connection assumed for journalistic sensationalism). Not that those things were solely restricted to Babalu, but being on the corner of the major intersection and having the only building covered in flashing multicolored lights, you’re going to get more attention. Plus, they seem to have intentionally flouted laws designed to help keep people from getting way too blitzed. Which demonstrates a lack of respect for the community.
And my “neighbors of color” might take issue with your blanket classification.
Um, actually it was too much for Babalu itself. We didn’t force them to close. How hard is it to follow WSLCB instructions? I was actually down with some funky, groovy tunes, especially live – as in when my friends played jazz within walking distance of my home! (though that may have been the previous incarnation, it has been awhile…)
I’m not too sad to see them go, but perhaps this is the perfect opportunity for me to achieve my mission, which would be to see a Vietnamese restaurant in this neighborhood! It’s a great location, and how cool would it be to be able to get pho, banh mi and the like right here in the hood?
Good riddance. I wish Seattle’s Best Coffee would re-open in their former location.
This article/thread cracks me up, except for the black & white thing which does not.
I spied the sign myself on the way home tonight.
I have a friend who, when we drive past Babalu together once a week, is always excited to see the fancy “cadillac” she loves so much at 45th & Wallingford. It was there this afternoon and I smiled to think of her.
Oh yes PHO in Wallinford!
Pho that serves egg rolls.
Than Bros does not have eggs rolls so they force me to go the 5 seasons grill on 98th and aurora.
Anyway my point is this, theres Thai and Indian food on every block. Which is super hip and trendy and all, but I’m sick of it. After the silly decision to have Indian food hungover one day, I no longer have an appeite for curry.
But PHO cures the hang-over!
I <3 VIETNAMESE FOOD
How about an Ezell’s Chicken? The did recently open one on Lake City Way. I’m sure they would do well on 45th.
seattle’s best…really??
i agree. to claim that wallingfordians avoided this establishment because of racial issues is asinine. i think most of us steered clear of babalu simply because but because it’s CHEESY AS HELL. the loud underage partiers, annoying flashing lights, terrible décor and awful drinks have definitely deterred me from partronizing this place. i’m not sorry to see them go.
i would LOVE to see a decent cocktail bar in this space. i have yet to find a good spot for craft cocktails in the ‘hood. something along the lines of a tavern law or bathtub gin. vietnamese restaurant would also be cool…
“Oh, lets talk about the elephant in the room. Babalu attracted a black crowd and that was too much for the lilly white residents of Wallingford”
That is complete BS. They were a bane to the neighborhood because of the business, not the clientele. They regularly overserved. I was standing in front of Al’s one night when a girl stumbled up to the three of us who were smoking and proceded to mumble several things that were completely incoherent, and then she started to say over and over, “Bah–buhLOOOOOO.” She was beyond trashed, and any responsible bar would of cut her off long before that point. Then there is the cheesy decor, the obnoxious flashing LED lights surrounding their building, and the fact that it was sooooooo over priced for what it was.
I’d love if there was an actual cool bar in that spot, and not some sleazy wannabe Belltown nightspot.
I’m with peachy – bring on a craft cocktail bar! I remember when they opened as Wonderbar – I was so excited that I went in during their build-out to see if I could suss out what kind of place it was going to be. I was so disappointed to hear they would not have a decent cocktail program. Hmmmm, I’m going to have to pass this info on to some friends. Maybe they can take over the space.
For me it was all about color!!! The color of LED lights that is!! Everytime I walked by those annoying flashing lights, I wished I had my daisy red rider BB gun!
See ya Bah–buhLOOOOO!!
Vietnamese, Ezell’s, cocktail bar. I’m so torn! Any chance we can get a hybrid? You know, like that place in Fremont that does pho and fro-yo?
Ooh, wait, I could also go for a fro-yo bar. Add that into the mix. Not that I want to live in California, but they did get that one right.
For me, the most unpleasant aspect of Babaloo/Wonderbar was noise pollution.
Note the music itself, but the volume; in the summer, they’d open the front doors and crank up the sound to well above the levels set by the city. It would get called in, a squad car would (occasionally) go by, the volume would drop for 15 minutes, and then head back to its previous levels.
I like variety, but I also like to sleep after midnight. For families with kids in the surrounding area, I imagine this has been a much more significant problem.
Only problem I had with that place were the trashy flashing lights on the outside that didn’t fit with the rest of the neighborhood vibe. Gotta feel for them though, our LCB (or more accurately, our liquor laws) is antiquated and ridiculous.
Aw, man. I always wanted to go in there… it’s SO beautiful inside and who doesn’t love Latin and Jazz music. 🙁 I’ll be sorry it’s curtains for them.
I’ve only lived in the neighborhood for 6 months and I don’t understand, there are other bars on 45th, why so many objections to this one, really? Is it that Babalu was popular and busy every night of the week? The gay karoake bar (not sure of the name) seems pretty hoppin’, too. I’ve been meaning to check that out, too. Sounds like it would be a fun crowd. I don’t believe that my fellow Wallyites are racist or anything else like that. No, surely not.
Maddie, I want pho in Wallingford too but that corner is just a little too prime for just a Vietnamese joint. I love the concept of Babalu. Their website has a menu on it, is that new? [hopeful]
I thought it was a pretty place, and I like the idea of it (minus those lame lights), but it was the clientele it attracted that bugged me. I always thought of it as Bellevue-esque, but Belltown wannabe is fitting too. Basically I found the clientele to be rude to the people who actually lived around here. Speeding down streets cats usually cross, and even kids at night. It’s a neighborhood, but they treat it like their personal parking lot.
I wouldn’t mind something like a McMenamins type place. Or a place like Babalu with cool music, atmosphere, but nicer clientele.
Shanna, read the comments above you again & check out the previous stories on the club – the dislike for the place has everything to do with the arrogant, inconsiderate owner & his patrons who clearly don’t live in the neighborhood. None of them care about their impact on the people who live here, and I have no sympathy for a guy who blasted music at his club so loud it could be heard clearly in homes a full block away. He has no interest in cultivating a local clientele, or apparently obeying basic liquor laws.
Many bars in Wallingford are both popular and busy, but they don’t make a point of sharing their popularity with the world at 1am.
That owner is a douche bag. I was in the laundry mat on 45th one day listening to him yell at the guy working behind the counter because he didn’t like how his velvet jumpsuit came out. He was a rude asshole.
Not a Babalu fan, but that laundry should use a softer touch with velvet jumpsuits. I hand-sewed those sequins for a reason.
Maybe the CD should organize against the hipster bars on Cherry and 25th, they probably wouldn’t be so pretentious as to argue it had nothing to do with race though… You guys been there?
I like velvet… hey wait, what is pretentious about giving people the benefit of the doubt about being racist? Anyway, Babalu sent out an email to people on their list (which I am now) stating that they would re-open starting this week. I have only lived in Wallingford for 8 months and since I have not observed any of the things others are complaining about I wonder, have any residents who have legitimate complaints made any efforts or attempts to contact and communicate with the owner? Most bar owners I have ever dealt with want to get along with their neighbors… because otherwise what neighbors do (where I come from) is organize, contact and communicate with their city council members and police and when it’s time for a new liquor license… the owners find themselves in possession of a worthless asset: a bar with no liquor license.
Anyway, welcome back, Babalu. I look forward to meeting you and your owner! 🙂
For what it’s worth, I communicated with the owner of Babalu. He threatened to sue me for quoting, verbatim, another newspaper. I told him if he wanted to send me his side of the story, I would print whatever he sent and he said he would. He never did.
Believe me Wallingford is a betterr place without Babalu!