Bastille Cafe and Bar, a new French restaurant at 5307 Ballard Ave., is on track for their June 29th opening. This morning, restaurant owners Deming Maclise and James Weimann along with architect Mike Skidmore won approval from the Ballard Avenue Landmark District Board for outdoor lighting, signage, rain barrels and a refuse enclosure. The sign out front will be a key, shown to the right, “which represents the key from the Bastille,” Skidmore explained.
There will be outdoor seating for 76 people along the side of the building, although some of the seats will be reserved for those 21 and over. The front will have lights that shine up and down showing off the architecture of the building, giving it a nice glow, the three told the board.
They’ll have four rain barrels that are “old oak barrels that used to hold some other valuable liquid,” Skidmore joked. Maclise and Weimann plan to reclaim the rainwater for the rooftop gardens (shown below.) They plan to grow lettuces, herbs and other foods that grow nicely in Seattle.
Stay tuned for “Free Frites Day” coming on the Sunday before they open. They’re also looking for servers who live in Ballard. If you’re interested and have restaurant experience, send your resume to Peter@BastilleSeattle.com.
what a classy job! this looks so thought out and well planned. i am very excited to add this establishment to Ballard. Best of luck to the new owners. It is gorgeous. the gardens on top are so rad.