The latest in a string of historic restaurant closures in Seattle, longtime Madison Park watering hole The Attic Alehouse and Eatery shuttered its doors unexpectedly after closing on Feb. 2.
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A sign posted on the door of the business about the closure was the only alert customers received. The note read: "As many of you know, Mark Long, former owner of The Attic, passed away over a year ago. Since that time his family has been operating the business. They abruptly and permanently closed on Monday 2/3. This came as a surprise to all -- including their employees. Future plans are unknown. The Attic has been around for decades and was a neighborhood institution." A photo of the note was posted to Yelp. It's unclear who wrote and posted the note.
The Madison Park Times reported that Long passed away from a massive heart attack on July 27, 2018. He owned and ran the The Attic Alehouse for over three decades, and their website indicates that he met his wife at the popular eatery.
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The business had a long history of serving those in the Madison Park neighborhood, first opening in 1907 as a bowling alley and shooting range. According to The Attic's website, it officially became a bar in 1937 and evolved into a tavern sometime before the Korean War.
The eatery was known for it's laid-back, hole-in-the-wall vibe and friendly service, with weekly trivia nights and karaoke. Zagat wrote that "There's 'less hooking up' and more 'hanging out with friends' at this longtime Madison Park [restaurant] that's 'exactly what you'd expect' from such a 'casual divelike bar.'"
Former Seattle City Councilmember Mike O'Brien worked at The Attic from 1989 to 1991.
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A GoFundMe to support employees was create by a community member, and has raised over $12,000.