Welcoming Cork! and Changes at Ida's
Our friends that keep an eye on the liquor licenses sent us a few things recently that may interest you. First up…
A new liquor application was submitted on 4/1 for CORK! A WINE BAR at 3012 6th Ave. So, just a few months after losing a wine bar in the Sixth Ave. neighborhood, it appears we’ll be gaining a wine bar. Welcome to the neighborhood.
Then there’s this one…
Ida’s Pub at 635 St. Helens is becoming “Mix”. Ms. Ida Crow appears to be selling the business to Mix LLC who will assume the permit. Somehow I don’t think Ida’s will be… well, like Ida’s, for much longer.
Filed under: tacoma-business
15 comments
K kris April 7, 2008
I believe Cork! is the former Pairings gang. Good luck Mike and friends!
J jamie from thriceallamerican April 7, 2008
I was under the impression (via an email from Pairings) that Mike, et al, were moving to a “100% owned” location. And if I’m not mistaken, 3012 6th Ave is their previous address. If they bought the building, why close in the first place? Or did the move fall through? And is the name change indicative of a change in focus from wine store to wine bar? Inquiring minds want to know!
K kris April 7, 2008
It is tough to make ends meet as just a retail wine shop. Selling wines by the glass is the way to go. However there are hurdles to jump through with the health department and liquor board. The former Pairings space could be transformed into a fully functioning wine bar quite easily. I have a call into a wine rep. friend for more information on who is taking over the space. Or maybe someone can get Mike in on this conversation?
M morgan April 7, 2008
Well I’ll be…
The building did just sell:
$1,200,000 03/04/2008 to MG COASTAL GROUP LLC which is registered to MARSHA GLAZIERE.
S Sassy McButterpants April 7, 2008
I loves me some Ida’s, but I think those of us who love it know it’s been rough going and not quite the same for the past 9 months or so. I have heard through the rumor mill that the fellows that are taking Ida’s over have the purest of intentions as far as returning it to it’s previous Ida-Tastic glory! I’m really stoked to see what they do with it…
M Mike April 7, 2008
Just to clear the air, Corks! is not affiliated with Pairings. Pairings left the space at 3012 6th Ave after trying unsuccessfully to get the prior owner to fulfill his contract and complete building upgrades per the health department’s requirements. Ironically, the building sold to a new owner just days from when Pairings moved out. The good news is, Pairings is re-opening in a fantastic new space on 6th Avenue. Details of the new location and business plan are still underway, and we expect to hold a Grand Re-opening later this year. Stay tuned!
J jamie from thriceallamerican April 7, 2008
Thanks for chiming in, Mike. I’m excited to hear details about Pairings as they move forward, and am pleased to hear you’ll still be on Sixth Ave.
A Andrew Campbell April 7, 2008
Sorry Sassy… but good riddance to Ida’s :/ My only hope is that the new establishment might entice a few more like Sassy and a few less like the rest. We’ve had some pretty rough experiences with a few of the normals coming home (Sassy, you know who I’m talking about). The place seems like it could be so cool but for now it just attracts this weird combination of crazy-cool hipster and chi-mo sex offender…
We’re definitely open to a little change on St Helen’s.
S Stacy April 7, 2008
Pairings is moving to a 100% owned building, they’re not out of business, are not going out of business, didn’t have trouble ‘making ends meet’… The ownership change of the building created an opportunity for Pairings to look towards the future – and the future is bright! They found an awesome building that will be the perfect setting for Pairings, and being owners of said building will enable them 100% control over the structure and space. They are planning a full redesign and build-out over the next few months, followed by a Huge Grand Reopening…better, stronger, faster than before! ;) Check on their website at www.pairings.org for any updates as they move forward, and sign up for their newsletter to be on the ‘first to know’ list!
M morgan April 8, 2008
Wow! Sixth Ave is going to be wine central! Two wine bars plus the Urban Gourmet is stepping up their wine offerings too!
Re: Ida’s –
previous Ida-Tastic glory
What does this mean?
M michael buchanan April 8, 2008
I wish Ida well. I met her when I first moved back to Tacoma and lived briefly at the Webster. A great character. I lived directly above Puget Sound Pizza. I thought I was a bad singer until I heard some of the Karioke through my floor!
T Tacoma (A)roma April 8, 2008
I wonder where the sex offenders will go drink now that Ida’s is closing…City Lights? (or whatever its called now)
J Jim @ PSP April 8, 2008
We can’t wait for something cool and badass to go into the Ida’s space.
Sassy’s right. About 9 months ago the 7th and St. Helens corner was starting to really blow up on Thursdays thru Saturday nights.
People were able to go back and forth between the two spots all night. Karaoke here, karaoke there. Shots here, shots there. People were totally diggin it. Then, one Saturday without warning, a decision was made to pull the plug on karaoke at Ida’s with Danny Ray … and, man, people love Danny Ray. And it was never the same after that.
We hope that the new peeps who are moving into Ida’s space don’t have a business model that allows them for the closing of their bar at or before 10pm, ever.
I personally wanna wish Ida and Buck all the best in retirement; but at PSP we’re very very excited at the prospect of having new, younger owners of the bar next door. Really.
I’m telling you that once the new peeps get in Ida’s and remodel it and somebody decides to lease the available restaurant space in The Roberson building … the 7th and St. Helens corner will rock even more. crazy.
B beerBoy April 8, 2008
First Cans, now Cork, what is it with the Tacoma fetish for containers?
And, inquiring minds want to know, will Cork refuse to carry high-end wines that are eschewing cork for the synthetic corks or, “gasp”, screw tops?
S Sassy McButterpants April 8, 2008
I heart Danny Ray. I don’t think they pulled the plug on him though, did they? He has a big beautiful karaoke room over at Malarkey’s now with an awesome sound system… I think he was seduced…