One Last Day for Stadium Bistro

Erik Hanberg April 5, 2008

This is sad news. My family had a great dinner there last Friday. Good wine, good people, good food all around.

grubedoo April 5, 2008

Bummer.

Crenshaw Sepulveda April 5, 2008

This is very sad news. Sad for Tacoma, sad for the neighborhood, sad for all those that love great food. Tacoma needs more fine dining, not less. It is a tough business, Tacoma is a tough town, these are tough times.

I wish those that worked so hard to bring us the Stadium Bistro well and thank them for taking a chance on Tacoma. They did their part, Tacoma just needs to become worthy of a place like the SB in the future.

Marguerite April 5, 2008

I will miss the pot pie and Sunday brunch. I will REALLY miss them. And washing my hands in the fancy sinks in the bathroom.

:(

morgan April 5, 2008

Noooo! Say it ain’t so!

They have some of the best food around! I just hope they don’t end up in Vegas. That would be sadder still.

Pete: is it too late or is there time for triage?

Sugar April 5, 2008

This is sooo sad!!! I’ve only been there three times, but, that’s because I saved them for special occasions… because their food is breathtakingly good! I will miss them… :(

michael buchanan April 5, 2008

I am so glad I was prompted to eat at the bar Friday night. The food was great as usual. This is a loss to our city. I wish them all well. We will miss you.

Jake April 5, 2008

Do we get a reason why?

While I always thought the food was fantastic there was something missing in the dining room. It did not feel comfy. Then add in the constant smell of gas and that might have turned some off. One time on almost freezing day they the ownership insisted on the doors being left open for the customer to freeze, “because the chef wants them open”.

While I am sad to see them go because of the great food, I wish the ownership would have listened to the customers more.

Good luck in the future.

lotac April 5, 2008

I’m sorry to hear this. I went for the first time last week and made reservations for dinner. When we showed up they told us they hadn’t had any business all night. We said, “oh, really?” and waited awkwardly in the foyer. Then we were told they were thinking of closing but they seated us… it was very odd. We felt like an inconvenience and a few minutes later they turned away a couple that wanted to come for dinner. It made no sense at all at the time, but hearing this it makes a bit more sense. I didn’t understand why they would want to turn away business and was very turned off. I wish them all well.

NSHDscott April 5, 2008

I just had a great experience taking my wife there for her birthday. I just wonder if it was a few years too early … seems like with all the condos and apartments nearing the end of their construction (and then needing some time to fill up) they would have had more of a shot.

I’d suggest that whatever restaurant takes over that space should consider aiming at a lower price point, but then what would distinguish it from The Hub? Hmmm …

Christine April 5, 2008

Great food, but always missing something. Atmosphere? Personality? Consistency? I don’t know, but all of questions I just posed have been posed on the above previous posts. I loved the food and found the prices resonable for the quality and product but the whole package didn’t quite come together.

Pete is a great chef and this is a blow, but he’s young and he’ll survive this and become better.

Erik B. April 6, 2008

A sad development.

Like Vin Grotto, it came very close to making it with a lot friends and a great location.

Chief Pete took cooking to a new level which may have been a bit too high for Tacoma at this time.

rich April 6, 2008

I know people hate to hear this, but in all the cries for affordable housing, condos, etc…you forget, that one of the benefits of attracting a more affluient home owner, you also gain their income……you can’t have great places to eat, that are little more than the typical bar, without having additional high income earnings living locally to support these places on a regular basis, not just on birthdays or special occassions…………just a few thoughts……….

crenshaw sepulveda April 6, 2008

What you say is true, rich, but you also need people to work in such establishments and they don’t make the big bucks, A workforce needs housing within their means. Affordable housing benefits the businesses in our community. Sure the high end restaurants need wealthy people to patronize them. Seems that there is a shortage of wealthy people to patronize the fine dining establishments or buy the fancy condos that are within walking distance of these places. We many end up needing even more affordable housing just to keep of with the demands of the many that will fall from middle class in the coming months and years. The Dollar Menu at McDonalds is going to start looking real good to a good many that once thought of themselves as comfortably middle class.

Pegsterdtown April 6, 2008

I think that you are wrong crenshaw sepulveda. El Gaucho always has a nice dinner crowd. How about Pacific Grill. I think that Chef Pete is an amazing chef, But I do not think that Tacoma is ready for a french resturant just yet. I had patronized them in the begining and found Both Petes and Catherine to be gracious hosts. The food spoke for itself. But Tacoma is very fickel…
I wish the best to chef Pete. I tost my snifter of Hennessy XO to you. Cheers
Pegsterdtown

EDC April 6, 2008

C’mon Peg, I seem to remember you were in SB quite often until you got 86’d. Cren is right on with the workforce housing. Hence the name workforce not low income. Couldn’t have been the extra $1.00 we are paying for gas this year as opposed to last that has alot to do with it. Food prices have risen about 10-15%. Can’t really ask your customers to pay that and expect business to continue. Why go broke personally just to make Tacoma eat and feel good. Hey Sassy, ya think the sky is falln yet?

Cure Finders April 6, 2008

This is very sad news:(
Thank you Stadium Bistro for giving Tacoma a chance. It was a wonderful year! I especially would like to thank SB for being avid an supporter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
Chef Pete, keep us posted. You have fans that will follow you. You are Tacoma’s Star Chef don’t be a stranger.
Luv Ya

Pegsterdtown April 6, 2008

EDC I think that you are confusing me with Steeno 253. Yes I was in there there quite often until election night. I was sitting at the bar enjoying my Hennessy, when Steeno 253 came up and said we need to leave NOW! Seems she had a scuffle in the ladies room. Not gonna go into detail. But she was the one 86d. And actually I had already moved out of the the area at that time. These are just the facts.

Squid April 6, 2008

The fact that a place like Stadium Bistro can make it only a year in Tacoma scares me even more than TAG turning out the stage lights. Not sure I am buying the recession argument – SB was not THAT expensive, especially sitting at the bar.

Crenshaw Sepulveda April 6, 2008

Thank you, Pegsterdtown, I’ll have to rethink things. It could very well be that Tacoma needs more high end restaurants right now. If the crowds at the El Gaucho and Pacific Grill are any indicators then there is still a lot of room for growth. This town is just overflowing with people with lots of money that are itching to get out to even more fine dining estabishments. I don’t know why this isn’t happening. According to Pegsterdtown the market is there, why are the restaurateurs not seeing the unlimited potential of Tacoma, particularly downtown?

Neighborhoodie April 6, 2008

I’m sad to see them go. Just this morning I was telling my friends about the great meal I had there on Friday and recommending it to people who had never been there.

I wasn’t surprised at this news, however. Stadium Bistro seemed to struggle for business from the beginning, and I don’t think it had anything to do with the economy, the housing market in Tacoma, the style of food they served, or their prices.

Stadium Bistro was in a difficult location to make work: no foot traffic, low visibility, problematic parking, and in a neigbhorhood with very little else bringing people to the area. Top that off with some quirky choices for the restaurant itself and you have a fight on your hands to keep it busy.

I wished from the beginning that they had consolidated the menus (no separate bar/tapas menu) and that they served the whole menu everywhere in the restaurant. The prices on tapas were very reasonable for the quality of what you got, and I would have tolerated an extra dollar or two added to the price of the higher-end tapas.

I also always wondered about the size and location of the bar. Putting it in the front of the restaurant and making it bigger would have created more appeal from the window, and probably would have made the place look more full — two things that might have drawn people in.

Then again, I’m not in the restaurant business and don’t know what the situation was exactly. I do know that the food was fantastic, though. It would be too bad if business at the Hub causes that little corner to pick up just months too late to help Pete.

tressie April 6, 2008

well, I used to be in the restaurant business….and our area can support higher end dining. and did so for years before condo-plosion. I am very sad to see the SBistro close. Met D & L there on accident… met the family and had lots of fun. Mark loved it and he’s a harsh harsh judge.
But, maybe too much competition right now? Dunno. Tacoma has always been a town of expense account lunches and dinners, and special nights out !! but not so much a town where folks go out to eat every night. Maybe that will come …
Remember the coffee-plosion a few years ago? Then many closed. Now, there’s a coffee cart/stand/shop on every corner. It’s time came.
The Pete’s will be missed.

Old Timer April 6, 2008

Now where are us rich old timers gonna go look at the hot YOUNG tail that came in to see Chef Pete.

Squid April 6, 2008

Old Timer@23, you can just cruise on downtown to the Matador for that!

michael g. April 6, 2008

I liked the food at SB, but prefer restaurants that are more on the cozy, informal side, even if they’re pretty high end. The Swingside Cafe in Fremont or Cafe Juanita in Kirkland are good examples of excellent restaurants that are also unpretentious and inviting. I always got the feeling that SB was trying too hard. That’s not the feeling you want from a restaurant, no matter the type of food or its cost.

sophiegm April 7, 2008

I am sorry they are no longer an option too. They did not lack in heart and in talent but they never seemed to smooth out the edges. We ate there at least 10 times during it’s run. The food was spot-on and we would have gladly spent the greater part of our entertainment budget there had the whole experience worked. It didn’t. They made strange choices in how they used the space and decor which seemed to sadly reflect a genuine lack of ability to make people feel comfortable. We have no problem spending money for great food but if we are going to spend money, we want the space and the staff to be gracious. The last cold Dec. day we visited, I asked one of the owners if there was a place to hang my bulky wool coat — without hesitation she said “No.” Clunk. So, I crammed it onto the back of my sad little plastic chair. After that we decided the great food did not outweigh rest of the dining experience. Hope Chef Pete stays in Tacoma. He’s a treasure.

Steph April 7, 2008

A restaurant is more than just food. I don’t want to sound heartless but there was a lot missing from Stadium Bistro: it was too big, it lacked a consistent aesthetic, the service was shakey. Think about your favorite dining experiences…i’m sure they included the right mix of background music and a comfortable and warm space in addition to great food. tacoma IS ready for great dining experiences—stadium bistro just wasn’t it.

altered chords April 7, 2008

I can barely express how dissapointing this is to me.

Great food, perfect price point, classy appearance.

I generally spend my days meeting business owners/managers. I always mentioned Stadium Bistro to people if the topic came up and was amazed at the number of people that had never heard of it. Even more amazed at the number of people who repeatedly went to very run of the mill places instead of S.B.

Let’s turn a minute to the Russell topic. Please don’t ask why the city wants to keep Russell’s 1100 educated, well paid employees. If they go, so do many other restaurants and businesses in Tacoma.

MsNarcissist April 7, 2008

I’m sorry to hear SB has closed. Wish I could have had a chance for one last meal. My husband and I really enjoyed dining there, however I have not always heard positive things from others. Several people have stated the chef would only cook meat rare. Requests for medium or medium-well meat were met with “no. the chef thinks it ruins the taste”.

Cabo April 8, 2008

That’s too bad, but I can’t say I’m surprised. I live down the street from SB and walk by every few days, but never once have I felt the desire to eat there. For one, the smell of rotting fish from the dumpsters outside wasn’t very appetizing. Then there is the fact that it always looked so uncomfortable and cold in there. It didn’t look like the kind of place I could take friends to laugh and have a great, enjoyable meal. It also didn’t help that the few times I did see people in there (it was usually empty), they looked like yuppie zombies. Was it the lighting? The uncomfortable looking furniture? I don’t know. That internet cafe that closed had the same problem.

It would be nice to have a really casual cafe where SB was, open late so you could get a sandwich and some tea while you’re trying to sober up from Doyle’s. Have lots of open mic. Sort of like a Mandolin/Antique Sandwich Co fusion?

Until they actually start selling these condos (I hear they’re renting most of them), the audience for a high-end restaurant is not on St. Helens. This street, even if parts of it have turned into condo land, still mostly consists of old grimy buildings where people fix cars and stuff. Seems like most of the people I see walking around here are young low/mid-income workers and students. So Doyle’s works. Not SB. Better luck next time.

Squid April 8, 2008

Cabo: I just got back from NY and some of the best restaurants I had the pleasure of eating in were in gritty sections of town like the Meatpacking district. My experience has been the same elsewhere, good restaurants seem to flourish in marginal neighborhoods in many other towns. Why is Tacoma different?

altered chords April 8, 2008

Squid: Great point. I firmly beleive that all it needed was more time for the word to spread.

Cabo: Couple things.
Yuppie Zombie?
Young Urban Proffessional Zomie?
I resent being called that.
I’m not really young and if I look like a zombie it’s because it’s always raining outside and I can’t get in the sun.

Open Mic: I like the idea. I would add that I’d like to see a “good” piano there.

I am hopeful that SB will resurect itself in some form in the near future. The folks that were bold enough to actually stop in and eat have been blown away by the experience.

Sassy McButterpants April 8, 2008

Old Timer @23

Now where are us rich old timers gonna go look at the hot YOUNG tail that came in to see Chef Pete.

You are mistaken, sir. We (The Hot Young Tail) were there for the Ginger Upside Down Cake. You can find us at Pacific Grill until we get our bearings.

Mermaidt April 8, 2008

Sadly- I had a wedding reception planned there in May and only found out of the closing by a chance encounter. Not only was my deposit not returned but I have yet to get a return phone call from owner Pete and I’m sure my money is long gone. I understand they couldn’t make it- but there comes a point where you call people and explain if anything. I saved for months to put that deposit down and wasn’t even notified of the place closing, much less of my event being canceled. For that, there is simply no excuse.

drizell April 8, 2008

Too bad. I had two really great experiences there. One was the night of November 16, 2006, which was the Three Mo Tenors concert and restaurant late night organized by Exit 133.

The second was an early Valentine’s Day dinner a couple months ago that set me back $200.

Both were good experiences, but I will continue to preach to the restaurant people out there that starting small is the way to go. Stadium Bistro was just too big. It looked empty most nights—not too inviting.

Jake April 9, 2008

I just saw a news story the other week about some restaurant’s business booming.

Just dug up an email exchange from a year ago:

I wrote 04/14/07:

“We both thought the atmosphere was weird. The front table arrangement didn’t feel right. Really needs to be darker and more intimate in there. Maybe dark paint on the walls or more art on the walls? Greenery? Adding a taller table along the wall might help it look more cozy. The music must go as well. It was 80’s & 90’s top 40. Not what you would expect when paying $30 a plate.”

SB said:
“Regarding the atmosphere, I have discussed your comments with my wife, who is our “decorator.” We are truly a work in progress, and continue to evolve, all suggestions are much appreciated. Music selections have been an interesting topic, and I would welcome your thoughts in more detail.

I am very pleased that you, and your companion, enjoyed the food preparations, the food is the thing here, and we strive for nothing less than perfection. I look forward to seeing you in the future.”

Of course I gave them great praise for their food but after eating there again a few times over the past year it didn’t seem like much changed in the dining area.

Old Timer April 9, 2008

Sassy,
Oh yeah PG, Thats the place where all of Tacoma’s Cougar Realtors go huh? They scare me

Sassy McButterpants April 9, 2008

That’s funny, Old Timer. I thought the Hardworking Cougar Realtors of Tacoma preferred spending their commissions at the Emerald Queen…but I’m not usually watching the ladies.

tom waits April 9, 2008

this is an interesting discussion, but i have to agree that there 1) should be enough $$ and people to support restaurants in tacoma, and 2) economic factors aside, i agree that other issues are at play.

i ate there once and was the only patron, and felt a little uncomfortable. it felt like my business was needed, not wanted.

as a relatively recent transplant, some observations that i have about tacoma. first, tacoma doesn’t seem to be a restaurant town (yet). by this i mean that it is not a town of urbane folks who eat out 75% of the time. i don’t know which is the chicken and which the egg, but the nightlife lacks and it appears that being “out on the town” is, aside from the readership of this website, somewhat the exception and not the norm here. i don’t think you need rich people for this to work economically—and anyway, in some cases bars tend to do better in economically uncertain times regardless of how much disposable income there is lying around. when i was younger i used to make half what i do now and spend twice as much going out.

what you need is some sort of critical mass that shifts perception and develops a market. and maybe more young apartment dwellers with small living spaces and substandard kitchens.

second, and not specifically directed at SB, but service quality here on the whole is lacking (with some notable exceptions). good food is nice, but there are plenty of places with mediocre food and high prices that manage to succeed for other reasons. and don’t flame me, but i also don’t really think that tacoma’s offerings in terms of good food are much to write home about (again, there are some truly good places here, and more coming each year, but in general, the bar is a bit low). there’s room for improvement in this marketplace, for sure.

little bothersome things, like the aforementioned woolly coat, seem all too common. i think a previous commentor hit it on the head: it’s about making people feel comfortable. i am shocked at how often i have had to struggle to get another glass of water, or another menu for a late arrival to our table, or even a second drink. restaurant business is a social art form, and takes a lot of skill.

tacoma is also relatively expensive for whatever reason. relatively in comparison to towns like seattle, where it is still easy to find a good lunch for $6, and waaay expensive considering the per capita income etc of this area. you’d expect more low-key offerings of good food for a town with so many mid $20k incomes.

what i’d like to see is the development of some restaurant-entertainment districts. with one or two more adjacent restaurants, SB probably would have fared better. the st helens strip, with its old auto-related buildings, is sort of like phinney in seattle south of greenwood. one difference i see is that phinney had a long term, slow growth and not the boom cycle we’ve seen in tacoma in the past years that has compressed developmental timelines and drastically altered both financial practices and timeline expectations. drizell hit on this with the “starting small” comment.

old city hall district is a good start for this kind of symbiotic growth as is UWT. i truly believe the stronger these areas become, the more spillover we’ll see elsewhere. upper tacoma and MLK seem to have a good urban form for this sort of thing, and are within striking distance to other areas.

i think things are on the upswing, but it is still hard to guess how long it will take. each new restaurant in the tacoma “restaurant family” will help us all out.

so that’s my 102 cents.

Christy April 9, 2008

Well shoot, I just figured out where the place was located on St. Patrick’s Day. Thought I might like to check it out while I was standing in line for Doyle’s. It’s just not my neighborhood and never really on my radar for dinners out. Sorry I never got the chance to try it.

Steeno253 April 9, 2008

Well… I can say that I have had some interesting memories at SB. Some good, others not so much. Either way it was an experience that I will never forget. From half price wine Tuesdays to Hells kitchen night, to the ever so popular Election night. Sure, I was 86’d but to this day I have no shame. It is what it is. I did however make it to their final shin dig. I had a waver for that night.
I’ve known a lot of the workers there for a couple of years now. I worked with Chad, Becka and Kristen at Primo Grill back in the day… It really blows that there is all of this controversy after their closing… Damn shame.
Au revoir SB. See ya at Doyles.

41 comments