Legendary Seattle restaurateur to open Kraken Bar & Grill in Northgate for NHL fans

Seattle's National Hockey League (NHL) fans will have an official watering hole for Kraken games when the inaugural season starts as one of the city's esteemed restaurateur will open a bar and grill at the team's Northgate training facility.

Restaurateur Mick McHugh is looking to ring in a new era of Seattle sports with his Kraken Bar & Grill, expected to open this fall.

McHugh has opened a total of 16 restaurants and bars in Seattle, including F.X. McRory's Steak Chop and Oyster House in Pioneer Square which was located near the Kingdome. The beloved bar — which featured over 1,600 brands of whiskey and was one of the first on the West Coast to serve Guinness on draught — left its historic Pioneer Square location in 2017 after 40 years in business.

"I count myself first as a loyal Seattle sports fan from the early days of the Sonics, through the Mariners, Seahawks and Sounders," said McHugh in an NHL news release. "It's only right that now I can help welcome the Kraken to the city."

With the capacity to host 300 people, the new restaurant will feature glass walls overlooking two of the Kraken's practice rinks, giving fans a behind-the-scenes view of training all while noshing on locally-sourced food and drinks inspired by F.X. McRory.

The space will also feature 17 televisions, intending to showcase all Seattle sports teams and franchises in a lively atmosphere.

"Win or lose, we want everyone to feel on board," McHugh said. "It will be a joyous place. Seattle fans know we are lucky to have our sports teams. From watching practices to just being in the home of the Kraken, this is going to be a great place for everyone to gather and share their love for the city and its teams."

In addition to training camp, the new NHL facility will also host figure skating programs, public skating, learn-to-skate clinics and classes, and more to get Seattleites on the ice.

The Northgate expansion of the light rail is also expected to open in time for the NHL's season, giving fans easier transit access to the Seattle Ice Centre in the neighborhood.

The Kraken Bar & Grill will join other hockey-centric bars in the city, including Greenwood's The Angry Beaver.

For McHugh, the return to feeding Seattle's sports fans is a natural fit.

"The timing of the Kraken Bar & Grill is so perfect," McHugh said. "In a city that has introduced so many prosperous industries to the world, with such a rich history of bringing people together through sports, we get to do it again in the hockey industry."