Godspeed Roanoke, the Best Bar Ever

The Roanoke Park Place Tavern is one of the brightest rays of sunshine in the Seattle small business world. Sitting at the top of 10th Ave E it's not super close to anything, but not far from everything. Its unassuming nature is bear hugged in ivy and it emits a low but strong come-on-in-and-get-your-ass-smiling vibe. Capitol Hill can be a polarizing place; it's pretentious and cavalier and frankly, often pompous. But it's warm and familial too - both despite these things and because of them. Perched in its own little universe, The Roanoke always seemed to symbolize and embody the very best of the heart of Seattle: it's natural, simple, intimate...it's real! It's splashed with stories of the people who own and run it, and the people who frequent it...all of whom are people that love it. That's why it was with THE BIGGEST HEARTBREAK EVER that we learned earlier this week that it will be no more.

Apparently, perfection has a 15 year expiration date. After having owned the bar since 1995, Chris and Jeff Price have been informed the building has been bought and the new owner wants them out by July 31st. In this business minded dog eat dog world, we guess this stuff happens, right? BUT...WHHHHHHHHYYYY?

Every patron we know is overly in love with the bar. It's a meeting place for locals, slightly less locals, sports enthusiasts, college kids, seasoned regulars and pong players alike. This Seattlest writer first spent many hours there when working in an office on Eastlake, and even more hours after. We've met countless people who came of age in the neighborhood and celebrated monumental life occasions, 21 runs and birthdays there. In short, it's the last place anyone would ever want to close.

Chris and Jeff are hoping to relocate, but need a suitable location that isn't too expensive, telling us, "Ideally we'd like to be in an area with some pedestrian traffic but not on the main drag - 15th maybe, or outskirts of Ballard or Green Lake". Fingers and toes are double crossed that they find a new home, of course. But are we still crying ourselves to sleep? Yes. Forever. And for the following reasons:

• They have cider on tap.
• Dennis is the best bartender ever.
• The patio on a nice day is the essence of relaxation. Its Ivy makes you feel like you're drinking in a tree fort, thus a beautiful amalgamation of childhood wonder and adult reality.
• The bathrooms never have a line.
• There's a good rotating beer selection.
• NACHOS!!!!

We suggest you get in there at every opportunity from now until July 31st and give them your money and your love. Chris says, "In the last 15 years we've met some of the greatest people, both customers and our staff. It breaks my heart to be in this mess." AMEN.