Ballard is losing another business.
Brown paper lines the windows and there’s a red glowing “closed” sign above the door at Belle Pastry. The pastry shop opened in Canal Station on Leary just last November. The sign on the door says you can still visit the Bellevue location. (Thanks Scott for the tip!)
Pastry shop closes after seven months
Apparently the new business model in Ballard is pasties, not pastries.
Sorry to see any small business fail, but have to admit that I only patronized them the one time because I prefer the treats from Besalu…
I didn't even know they were there and I lived within a few blocks of there until March. I think Ballard has enough great pastry shops: Besalu and Honore are hard to compete with.
Seems like the Canal Station shops will have a tough time competing with the Ballard mainstays. This is one example, and I can't imagine 'Za lasting long when you can pay the same for a delish pizza from Veraci that's bigger AND cooked.
It's hard to sell bread when you have a gigantic city bus parked right in front of your storefront.
Ha! Touche!
The shop seemed a bit cold. I prefer the warmth and atmosphere of Honore.
One of these days I'll visit Besalu. If the line isn't too long. ;-)
Ouch, I never knew this place existed!
I'm not surprised! Whenever I passed by, there was never anyone in there. It's survival of the fittest out there. Only the strong business models will last.
Darn! I actually liked their pastries and their baguettes, and I never had to wait (which was the problem apparently). It WAS kind of a cold space unfortunately, even some color on the walls could have warmed things up, made it a little more inviting. Ah well, best of luck!
Ditto! Sorry I missed it!
I used to work in Bellevue and LOVED the Bellevue shop, so I was excited when I heard they were opening here, but definitely disappointed when I saw that the space was so cold and sterile looking. I think they could've done much better with a more appealing space, but I also agree that it's hard to compete with Besalu and Honore. I bet they could do great in some other neighborhoods though, they do have the best Ham & Gruyere Croissants, among other goodies!
I've walked by the place everyday since it was under construction.
I checked it out, pricey for no apparent reason, there are better options already in town.
So, it was empty everyday that I went by.
They'll do better in Bellevue…perhaps.
And yes, pasties seem to be better, especially the super cheap ones. (sigh)
Wow. I didn't know this place existed either. I don't go by the Canal Station shops very often, though.
Oh, well. My pastry needs will soon be met by Three Girls. Wish they'd hurry with the remodel over there.
NEVER even knew it was there.
Ballard 1, fancy pants pastries, 0
Place was very expensive, but what do expect when the units above you are expensive as well?
I went there once and it was ok but yes, cold and sterile…and then it was never open whenever I passed it again. Of course being across the street from the gym isn't too handy either. Plenty of good eats in Ballard for something that isn't really happening to stick around too long.
i never knew it was there – honore and besalu *are* hard to compete with.
I would have loved to get bread there cuz tall grass is kinda meh IMO
columbia city is far to go for bread – we need another bread bakery up in these parts!
Never knew it was there either, but I never walk down that street. They need really good anchor tentants there to create more pedestrian traffic…not sure what that would be. Can anyone think of a retail biz with enough capital to be able to occupy those spaces that would create any kind of buzz? Same goes for all of that empty retail space at Leva. Even if people don't like the developments/condos, surely we want business to thrive in our hood. Otherwise we'll be an urban ghetto…
eM –
Sunset Hill Green Market on 32nd, not too far to go, has Columbia City bakery bread after about 10AM every morning. Yummm !!!
Canal station has done a horrible job with their storefronts. none of the businesses in that building look the least bit appealing. My guess is they're only patronized by the building's residents out of convenience.
Veraci doesn't deliver. Zaw does.
Great Harvest? Between TG and GH, I'm pretty happy with the bread selection in Ballard. TG is better for bread-to-dip-in-olive-oil, and GH is better for sandwich bread.
It's true, those tenants are shoehorned into a monolithic condo building. But I'm impressed with what Zaw has done with their wall-of-plants. They, at least, stand out a bit from their condo shell.
Macrina, just up QA hill!
Great Harvest is wonderful. The rolls are melt worthy.
Yeah, plenty of places here to get bread and pastries. Thank goodness.
I go by this place twice every day (assuming it's in Canal Station) and have never seen it much less heard of it. Is it the business that always has an out-of-use 75 in front of it?
I can't see that place being a success if there's an ugly bus parked in front of it at all hours. Buses need to find better places to sit. I feel bad for the residents who have 17s and 15s in front of their homes constantly. Can't they just go back to the bus base?
That's the end of the line for the 75. It starts the route at that spot. Where else can it wait to start the route? Buses can't always wait at a 'base.'
Something tells me the Bums of Bergen weren't lining up for $3 croissants.
Very sorry to see them go but it was hard to miss the lack of customers and ignore the increasingly empty display cases so I figured their days were numbered. At least I went twice a week since I discovered them in January. And it was fun to practice my French with the staff.
Besalu and Honoré are indeed great but so was Belle Pastry. For me, its croissants were on a par with those I've enjoyed in France and BP had a much broader selection of yummy goods than either Besalu or Honoré – it's a shame the store's atmosphere couldn't have lightened up a bit. And those idle Metro busses didn't help.
Agreed–this was more like a real French patisserie, whereas both Besalu and Honore, though they do have some good pastry, mostly have American style baked goods. The owner is a very nice guy and was really excited to have a Ballard location, so this is a shame.
Belle Pastry is THE pastry shop in Bellevue (Get it: Belle Pastry). Cozy, in Old Bellevue, it is always packed and gets great reviews.
All the businesses in Canal Place will fail until they 1) get the buses off the street and repair the pavement; and 2) have much more visible signing, and 3) vastly increase the lighting inside the places or replace the glass so you can see they are open. In that regard, Belle Pastry is a good warning to the owners and the other businesses. They need to confront the owner about the signing anf the lighting, and they need to confront the city about those buses.
It's too bad about Belle Pastry. Excellent pastries and by far the best baguettes, and at a reasonable price. I don't care for Tall Grass or Essential for baguettes: they are not French baguettes. As for eveything else, I agree it is hard to compete with Besalu and Honore.