‘The Station Bistro’ to become ‘Shelter’

Geeky Swedes Ballard

Kevin Carlson loves Ballard. He was born and raised here and has always dreamed of opening a place. Now his dream is coming true.

Carlson bought The Station Bistro on Leary, which closed in December of last year, and he’s transforming it into a new bar called Shelter. He’s doubling the square footage by adding a giant outdoor area that he hopes will be a year-round gathering space. There will be heating lamps during the colder months, and he’s working with the city to get a fireplace outside. With the garage doors opening out to the new patio, Carlson says it will be a one-of-a-kind bar. “It’s gonna be super unique,” he says, “I don’t know about another indoor/outoor bar.”

The design of the new construction has a “mid-century modern vibe” inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright. Carlson wants to create something that people can’t miss. Along with the new patio, he’s planning to line the perimeter of the property with trees and green. Shelter will have “really good bar food,” Carlson tells us. He’s thinking Latin-infused foods like Cuban sandwiches, good salads and some vegetarian dishes. He’s hoping to open by the end of July, but it all depends on permits from the city.

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

59 thoughts to “‘The Station Bistro’ to become ‘Shelter’”

  1. Outdoor areas are always a good thing, and I like veggie options on a bar menu. But the whole 'Frank Lloyd Wright' era design theme makes me think 'martini bar.' I'd be interested to find out if it's going to be yet another place that does specialty martinis. Or will they have some decent beer taps too?

  2. This place has location. With the new aesthetic, they are going to become a real money making machine. Mirobrews only please! (Can't stand anything brewed in stadiums to meet the needs of the people therein)

  6. I'm sure it's not necessarily a brand new concept.
    looks pretty cool though.

    the big worry I have is the name. now we'll have busses dropping off even more homeless people at 'the shelter'

  8. “…has a “mid-century modern vibe” inspired by Frank Lloyd Wright”

    Huh?? That's sort of like saying you'd like a piece of music in the country-western vibe inspired by Miles Davis!

    Frank Lloyd Wright wasn't a mid-century modern architect. He died in 1959 and most of his major buildings were built before WW2 with the notable exception of the Guggenheim which was started in 1943 but took over 15 years to complete.

  9. I think by invoking Wright they are trying to say the roof will leak, the chairs will be uncomfortable, and that the entire structure will slide off of its foundation.

  11. This sounds fairly ambitious, I hope it goes well. It would be cool to have a new landmark heading into Ballard. I think the 'unique' part of the establishment is that Carlson is planning on having one serving bar be both indoors and outdoors. Nectar has an indoor bar and an outdoor bar that are separate. The Loft has a nice patio but doesn't have an outdoor bar. Whether or not that qualifies as 'super unique' is up to you. I'm certainly looking forward to trying it out.

  13. Look, I don't think I'm speaking out of turn when I say most of us will give the place a fair shot. But we have concerns. This thread allows us to voice them.
    Maybe the owner will read the thread and hear the concerns. It's happened before.

  18. i live really close to this place so hope it rocks as it would be nice to have another place to go since JolleyRoger is so small and packed all the time

  19. This sounds like a great way to utilize the space. Glad to see someone is coming in to make the best of that corner. I love the indoor/outdoor concept and am looking forward to a bit of green breaking up all of that concrete.

    I'll keep my eyes peeled for an opening date…

  22. Good luck Kev…..although I don’t think you are going to need any luck. This place is going to be incredible and the whole neighborhood is behind you.

    KJ

  28. Really? I didn't know that — never pegged you guys for a beer bar. I'll have to stop in and check 'em out.

    Wow, this whole community blog thing really makes for some surreal experiences — such as an informative, pleasant, completely appropriate experience with targeted advertising! :)

  29. Always been curious about The Bit but I never see any women in there when I go by. That's really the only thing that stops me from going in any bar or tavern. Is that a wrong impression? Or is it more of a guys place, like the old Copper Gate used to be?
    Ever looking for places to have a cold beer in, though.

  31. I only ate there once (that was enough to find out it was not a good value) but they had good cocktails and they allowed dogs on the patio, so it was a good place for a pit stop when walking the dog if you just wanted drinks.

    I can see why they didn't make it.

  32. Woman account for over 50% of our business especially when we have live music. I must say the old Bit never had any woman that I saw but I think that was because of the old clientele. In the first 2 weeks that my wife and I owned it I 86'd over 50% of the “regulars” .

  34. Oh, dear. I'm a girl and met my husband and best girlfriend at the Copper Gate. That was in the early 80's. We went back there a couple weeks ago and what a change!

  36. Oh, yeah. The new Copper Gate is a lot worse I have to say. I only went into the old version of the Copper Gate a couple of times and, aside from the very sweet bartender, I was the only girl in there every time.
    But I still was more comfortable there than I am in the new Copper Gate. Yikes!

  40. I think it sounds great. Looking forward to celebrating an ambitious (and tasty) new business created by a Ballard 'lifer'! Best of luck Kevin and the Shelter crew.

  43. did you miss the words “inspired by” ???

    and the music in the country-western vibe inspired by miles davis could perhaps be some cool blue grass… you know…country music “inspired” by jazz, the blues, and funk…

    its all about inspiration! we could all use a little~

  44. its pretty cool that carlson has family history here. from fishermen to jones brothers meats to ballard HS. its nice to know that this guy has a real investment in the community and its folks. and by the looks of the new construction, some artistic style.

    ~ love that he's going to add good vegetarian food!

  45. 86 I'ng HALF the tried & true regulars obviously accounts for your grossly late and out of contract weekly fulfillment of payments your sales agreement calls 4 with the previous owner who has a contractual agreement and has been especially understanding to your underperforming ability to fulfill the agreements you have signed. Get Busy before I get a hired marshmellow ED

  51. There are lots of indoor/outdoor bars, technically….if he only means ones that have big rolling garage doors, then there are still a few just not in Ballard. I hope he makes it in that location. I've seen at least two places open and shut down quickly in that location, as well as it being completely empty, over the four years I've lived close by there. Parking isn't great, the Bit already takes up a lot of that parking but maybe some of the Bit customers will try out Shelter, I know I will! (wonder if he is hiring??)
    Good luck to him!

  54. Ward didn't shut down he sold it to Kevin, the station was doing quite well. As for sharing patrons I hope so as well we shared quite a few patrons with the the station and had a recipricating '86 policy which was one of the ways I was able to clean up the bit so quickly.

  55. understanding goes both ways and this isn't the place for it. But if you want we can discuss what was going on on the 3rd floor.

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