Lots of business moves in Ballard

Geeky Swedes Ballard

While some shops are preparing to close in Ballard, others are getting ready to open – or have already opened.

Pho Big Bowl (2248 NW Market) has replaced Olsen’s Scandinavian Foods, which closed last summer. The new Vietnamese restaurant is open 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. seven days a week, and it offers free soda with each meal purchased. Supercuts has also moved into their new location at 2318 NW Market Street, just down the way from Pho Big Bowl.

On Ballard Ave, Jhan Jay Vegetarian Thai restaurant is open at 5313 B, next door to Fresh Flours. The new Thai restaurant is open 11 a.m. to 10 p.m. during the week and noon to 10 p.m. on the weekends.

Across the street, a bright orange liquor license has been posted on the door of at 5316 Ballard Ave NW. “Noble Fir” has applied for a permit to sell beer and wine and off-premises alcohol. The definition off the off-premises license is, “To sell beer and/or wine for off-premises consumption in original, unopened containers. Tap beer may also be sold for off- premises consumption in kegs not less than four gallons and in other sanitary containers.”

This coming Sunday will be the last day for Market Street Traders. After two years at 2016 NW Market St., they are closing up their retail location. The cafe will be open until the last day, Valentine’s Day. “We’d like to thank our wonderful customers, neighbors and suppliers for their support,” they write on their website. They are currently having a closing sale, but if you miss the sale you can find some of their fair-trade goods online in the retail section of Ye Olde Curiosity Shop (which they also own.)

Last week: Tableau on Market Street is closing

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

10 thoughts to “Lots of business moves in Ballard”

  2. Meghan, I had the same thought… I actually tried Pho Big Bowl and it was pretty tasty (albiet they didn't give cream puffs!)… but we already have lots of pho places! And what about all the fancy new burger places popping up!?

    I wish someone would open a gyro hut in downtown Ballard!

  4. Pho Big Bowl is delicious! Tasty, beefy (non-oily) broth, perfectly cooked noodles and beef… it's my new favorite Pho restaurant. And $4.85 (with a free drink!) for a bowl of Pho? That's a crazy good deal.

  7. Rents up, sales down for interesting retailers in Ballard. Out they go.

    We're turning into The Ave in UDist – nothing but Asian eateries and coffeeshops. I would have said 'ethnic' but Olsen's Scandinavian Foods was replaced by Pho, and most of the new businesses are eateries.

    Momentum in this direction will only increase when Denney's and Sunset Bowl become concrete monoliths bent on extracting last nickel from the property.

    Poor lil' ole Ballard.

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