Contact: Jen Gonyer
Phone: 206-547-0997
Email: jen@thecollegeinnpub.com
SEATTLE, WA, August 18, 2021— The infamous College Inn Pub reopened its doors on July 15 after a 16- month hiatus. The pub has served as an important watering hole and gathering place for UW faculty, staff, grad students, and U District community members since the early 1970s (or maybe the late 60s? No one can really remember).
When the former owners announced they had closed the College Inn Pub permanently during summer 2020, longtime friends and 30+ year pub regulars Seth Howard (owner of The Collins Pub, Last Drop Bottle Shop), Al Donohue, and Jen Gonyer leapt at the chance to lease the vacant space and save the pub from an uncertain future. With a strategy of retaining the heritage and original feel of the pub, the team spent 10 months giving the space a much needed deep clean and updating systems and fixtures, including modernized electrical and plumbing, functional kitchen and bar equipment, and the woodwork refinished. “Regulars keep asking why it seems so much brighter down here,” Gonyer said. “The lights aren’t any brighter than before, but the walls are no longer orange.” The new owners took great pains to restore and revitalize the physical space and systems while maintaining the historical character of the pub. Construction has begun on a large outdoor deck just outside the pub’s front door. “We are thrilled to be able to offer open air seating soon, which seems more important than ever in this pandemic,” added Howard.
The food and beverage menu has been gently updated; while keeping popular classics like nachos and grinders, guests can also enjoy new items like the house made meatball grinders and pizza bread with house made marinara. “The only menu item that has not returned is the bagel dog – partly due to sourcing issues and partly due to our desire to take the microwave out of the kitchen and shove it in a closet. No microwaved food anymore,” said Howard. A new "even-more-local" craft beer list includes great drafts from breweries like Cloudburst, Ravenna, and Maritime – and yes, you can still get a PBR. In addition, the pub offers a full menu of innovative and classic cocktails and quite a few good non-alcoholic choices (such as Rachel’s Ginger Beer and fresh squeezed lemonade).
“We look forward to welcoming everyone in the neighborhood and UW community back for a pint and nachos,” said Donohue.” The College Inn Pub has risen from the COVID ashes, but still remains in the basement.
The College Inn Pub is located at 4006 University Way NE, Seattle, in the basement of the historic College Inn building, a Tudor Revival-style building erected for the 1909 Alaska Yukon Pacific Exhibition that was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1982.
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For more information, please contact Jen Gonyer at 206-547-0997 or jen@thecollegeinnpub.com.
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