In business atop Queen Anne Hill for two decades, Pasta & Co. called it quits on Sept. 11, citing the economy and lackluster sales.
The pasta retailer formerly at the popular corner of Queen Anne Avenue North and West Crockett Street, where the Queen Anne Farmers Market now roosts, has been at that location for more than two years. The company leased the corner space after its former place further north along the avenue near where Jet City Pizza was, had been redeveloped into what is now the Sweetbriar apartments and retail space. Store personnel said that location was actually better largely because it offered more parking.
Crews were busy Monday morning removing signage outside the brick façade while inside, staff were boxing bread, pasta and non-perishables to take to the company’s two remaining stores in Bellevue and in University Village. Store equipment might be stored or used at the other locations, too.
However, Pasta & Co., which is owned by parent company Sugar Mountain Co., is trying to sublease the space to fulfill its current lease agreement. A Seattle-based restaurant company toured the space Monday.
Meanwhile, a new restaurant down the block at 2123 Queen Anne Ave. N. is opening. Mezcaleria Oaxaca, pronounced “wah-HAH-cah” and which is owned by the popular La Carta De Oaxaca restaurant in Ballard, has black-papered the windows and is finishing up tenant improvements to the space that formerly housed the Flame restaurant between The Paragon Bar & Grill and the Queen Anne Café. No word yet on when the new restaurant will open, but several Queen Anners including staff at COOP 15 Architecture anticipate its opening. More details coming….