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Seattle enterprise leaders welcome the information that Palace Kitchen is reopening. The longtime, late-night downtown Seattle spot has been on hiatus for 3 years. Its return, leaders hope, will mark a turning level in downtown’s revitalization.

Pre-pandemic, individuals went to Palace Kitchen for a nightcap after a live performance or a late present. Proprietor Tom Douglas says when it reopens this week, count on some slight adjustments.

“We’ll be open until midnight for dinner,” Douglas stated. “We’re solely going to open 5 nights every week. At this level to see what occurs.”

Douglas was the primary to close down all 12 of his eating places throughout the pandemic. Like many downtown companies they relied on tourism. Today, Douglas says, foot site visitors is coming again.

James Sido, spokesperson with the Downtown Seattle Affiliation hopes different companies will take observe. He provides that Palace Kitchen’s return will create momentum.

“That basically does kind of put a marker within the floor to say, ‘Hey, downtown is on the upswing,’” Sido stated.

Based on DSA numbers, almost two million guests got here to downtown in February. That’s a 7% enhance in comparison with February 2022.

Sido expects a busy summer season forward beginning with cruise season that’s anticipated to usher in greater than 1,000,000 passengers to the town.

Whereas a few of Douglas’s companies have slowly returned two years in the past, he says the time wasn’t proper for Palace Kitchen till they may discover the proper crew for the reopening. Douglas says he’s excited to welcome individuals again.

“Individuals actually missed the socialization, they missed not having somebody do their dishes, they missed assembly buddies and the power that eating places convey to life.”