Exit133

June 9, 2015 · Exit133

German Beer Hall Coming to Stadium District

"There's no shortage of great old buildings in Tacoma ... it feels like Tacoma is ready to blow up and when you see the beautiful bones of those old buildings in downtown Tacoma, it just seems ready. The more time I spend down there, the more I find to like about it.”

That's from a Seattle restaurant owner quoted in The News Tribune talking about the new German-style beer hall he plans to open in the 13,000 square-foot, wedge-shaped space in a building in the Stadium District.

Historically, from 1884 to 1924, the location was home to the large wood-frame American Gothic styled original Annie Wright Seminary. The building that replaced that structure has been home to Titus Will automobile service center for years, with Stadium Thriftway in the other half, and Premier Collision downstairs. The auto-related businesses have been transitioning out of the building, making room for more foot-traffic-friendly uses - like a beer hall.

It's part of a larger vision for the Stadium neighborhood that includes a multi-story project on what are now a couple of parking lots across the street from the Thriftway building. Last we heard those open were being shopped around for mixed-use and/or retail development. Documents we saw last year showed the space now leased to be the Rhein Haus with a patio in a prominent location on the corner facing Wright Park and the intersection where 1st and Division split (see image at left). 

The plans may have changed a little since then, but at that point they said that leasing the building was phase one, to be followed by the development of those parking lots.

The Rhein Haus Tacoma beer hall will mirror the Seattle location by the same name - the TNT refers to it as a "Bavarian-themed restaurant and bocce emporium" - making sausages, buns, and pretzels, and brewing beer on-site.

Those Rhein Haus beers will be primarily lagers and pilsners, but the owners plan to feature other local brewers, as well as some German and Austrian beers on tap. They also plan to offer patrons five bocce courts, two bars, and a full menu - and a large patio facing the park.

Like the North 26th and Alder restaurant also in the works, also from a Seattle developer we wrote about yesterday, the beer hall space will require substantial remodeling, and won't be open before 2016 - probably sometime next summer.

It sounds like the Rhein Haus will be making our dreams for more outdoor dining space in the Stadium neighborhood come true - plus bocce and beer? We can't wait.

Read more from the TNT here.

Filed under: Tacoma Business, Neighborhoods, Stadium, Eating Local, Restaurants & Bars, Beer, Wine, Spirits

16 comments

  • Jerry June 9, 2015

    A Tacoma Special Olympics no-profit corporation needs a large, high ceiling space for practice and athletic games for around 160 participants. Shared space is OK, and low cost is essential. Any ideas?

    • Sid June 9, 2015

      Armory on Tacoma Ave.

  • Paul White June 9, 2015

    the dome?

  • Sid June 9, 2015

    I think it's great that private money is being spent in Tacoma, but do we really need more beer and burgers. I wish them luck and thank them for coming to Tacoma, but it would be great to have more variety.

    • Rory June 11, 2015

      You might do yourself a favor and actually READ THE ARTICLE before you start whining about "more beer and burgers." Your comment is the ONLY mention of burgers I can find. The article is about a German Restaurant that makes their own sausages and beers. I'll be there with bells on!

  • Sean June 9, 2015

    A pilsner *is* a lager.

  • Ellen June 10, 2015

    Right. more beer and burgers. Some two cents: It would be great if we (Tacoma, Tacomans) could start to recruit some talented Seattle chefs to bring more innovative culinary offerings to town. Then perhaps some restaurants could be owned by local entrepreneurs (instead of Seattle restaurant groups), while filling the gap in the market for consistently fresh and awesome food.

  • Tom June 10, 2015

    I didn't see anything in the article about burgers, so I don't know where issue that is coming from. The foods mentioned are German, not American; we'll see how they do. I am *seriously* hoping for some actual German food, but we'll have to see. Maybe they'll have some quality German beers on tap, too.

  • Altered Chords June 10, 2015

    pull up their menu. It's not burgers...it's authentic great looking interesting German food. (i think they do have 1 burger on their menu) RE: pilner/lager - all Pilsners are lagers but all lagers are not pilsners. There are a host of delicious lagers that are not pilsners. I'm looking forward to this place opening.

  • Jim C June 11, 2015

    The menu looks amazing, although I consider Bock to be "The King Of Beers" over a Pils any day. I'll be there for spaetzle and pretzels for sure.

  • paolo June 12, 2015

    Hope the Rhein Haus can channel some of the charm of the classic Bavarian Restaurant once located at the corner of Division and No. K. but now demolished and replaced by medical offices. Countless high school students in past decades who studied German likely dined there. Let there at least be some good German-style wieners and red cabbage on the menu at the new Rhein Haus--and maybe a few strong drinks, too to go with the beer. The Rhein Haus will be new to Tacoma but recalling aspects of the well-known Bavarian would bring a taste of old Tacoma cuisine back to the Stadium-area. Success there should mean more than burgers with brews. Remembering there the Bavarian in both menu offerings and photographs would not be the same as how Anthony's preserved the name Harbor Lights on Ruston Way but such would honor the memory of a one-time Tacoma classic in the Stadium-area.

  • Jesse June 12, 2015

    No fondue and bread on the menu? Nothin gets me off my butt like a bowl of cheese. Why no fondue??

    • Rory June 15, 2015

      Because fondue isn't German.

      • Jesse June 16, 2015

        As an ex-Portlander, I am used to Gustav's Pub. They're famous for their fondue. Didn't think about it not being German... Huh... Next time you're in Portland, give it a try! http://gustavs.net/food-drink

  • RHTCCComedyfan June 12, 2015

    How about name that German Bavarian Beer Hall the Hofbrauhauskeller and hold Nationalist Geman Political debates there. Just kidding.

  • TCCAllday February 10, 2016

    Please no imports from Seattle. Let's build up the the businesses and aspiring business folks here in our community! I've been to Rein Haus in Seattle, not a good look for Tacoma, believe me. Next thing you know they'll be an Amazon building in Tacoma too, ew.