Hattie’s Hat changing hands

Geeky Swedes Ballard

The management at Hattie’s Hat is changing hands.

According to the Seattle Weekly, the current manager Erin West, local musician Jeff Taylor and Max Genereaux, owner of Al’s Tavern and the Sunset will be taking over majority ownership next month. “Changes to look forward to will be the departure of the dining room fish tank and the return of Hattie’s Hoot live music nights,” the Weekly writes. A “new management” party will be early July.

Geeky Swedes

The founders of My Ballard

51 thoughts to “Hattie’s Hat changing hands”

  1. My wife and I used to be regulars there…even had some of our wedding pictures taken in front of the place. But I really haven't been in there much since their old manager Larry left 4 or 5 years ago. He was the BEST! And that fish tank pisses me off.

  2. While I'm glad the fish tank is outta there (I hope the fish get nice homes) I cringe at Hattie's becoming like the Sunset. Hattie's is my salvation away from 'club' girls and frat boys.

  3. Now, this, to me is sad, sad news as I love Hatties! (except for the fishtank…) I love being able to go there and, like Trix said, hide from the frat gals & boys playing the dating game in Ballard. I love it and will be excited to see what happens next! I am looking forward to live music nights but I really want it to stay as it is and truly hope, for my sanity, that it does!

    Keep the jagermeister please! :)

  5. you're going to the Sunset on the wrong nights, because I rarely run into club girls and frat boys there. Now Matador or BalMar, on the other hand…

    I never quite understood the “family friendly” part of hatties. Drag your kids through the bar to the fish tank in back. It still smelled like a party in there.

  6. Are you kidding? There's not *enough* kid friendly places. We have tons of bars, a 21+ PIZZA PLACE for gods sakes, and only a couple of kid friendly places in that area.

    You must not have kids. Lots of people in Ballard do, and we'd hate to lose a place we can go. Try Cap Hill for some edge. Ballard is family friendly, and we like it that way.

  8. OK, this is EXACTLY why I don't like a “family friendly” Ballard Avenue.

    Because it's more like “family bullying”. A few weeks ago I saw a couple with a baby try to bully the hostess at Madame K's into violating their liquor licence. She stayed firm, but this dad was getting abusive. I'm real glad he's “…never coming back and telling all his friends…”.

    AND… here's my other gripe:
    Newbies move in and suddenly they want Ballard to be just like whatever other white-collar 'burb they came from. Ballard has always been family-friendly where families live and plan. But blue-collar friendly and then blue-collar edgy down on Ballard Avenue.

    And yeah, I have kids. We always liked Azteca, which really is family-friendly.

  10. I have yet to try BalMar, but yeah, I agree about the Matador. The nights I go out (really go out) are Friday and Saturday. You get a wilder crowd in any bar on those nights. The crowd at Hattie's is just more easy going (IMO) than the crowd at the Sunset. And the kids don't bother me because of that nice, big wall separating the bar.

  11. I agree. Less kid-friendly places would be a real plus for those of us who don't want to spend decent money dining near toddlers. There are plenty of places in Seattle (Magnolia, Queen Anne, Laurelhurst, Green Lake & Ravenna) that cater to families. Please leave a couple of neighborhood locations for those of us without children. We don't hate children, families or parents. We simply want to spend our hard-earned money away from children when we go out. It's the same reason parents occasionally choose to hire a babysitter and go to an adult-oriented restaurant.

  12. You're certainly right, I didn't really notice until our nephews were in town and we wandered around a while until we settled on Lombardi's. I didn't even think of Hattie's Hat as being “kid friendly” but that would have been an awesome choice….

    Unfortunately for families the money is in cocktails and gourmet food, not grilled cheese and Shirley Temples. It's not a conspiracy against people with kids, its just the famous “free market” that republicans always talk about.

    BTW, I used to live on Cap Hill but I prefer Ballard, and no crying baby is going to drive me away!

  13. I agree with “edge”. There are plenty of kid friendly places. What about Snoose? There are always lots of kids in there. What about the Loft? Plenty of kids in there too. You want breakfast? Go to Salmon Bay.

    I wish Hattie's the best in their transition. Please just leave the chicken fried chicken alone.

  14. I always found the aquarium odd. This past saturday morning our waitress was in a foul mood. I heard another customer even tell her “you don't have to be so rude”–my thoughts, exactly.

    “Family bullying”, very well put.

    Since when does being a family entitle that family to wreck everyone else's experience at the restaurant. If a kid can't sit down through the meal, the family should finish up quickly and leave. Order pizza at home next time.

    And I cringe and have to hold my tongue when I look at the mess some families leave, cheerios and food on the table, the booths and in a 5 foot radius around the highchair. Plus a million pop refills, a spilled drink or two. And the frazzled waitress probably gets left with a meager tip and a filthy booth that takes longer turn around time, again impacting her income.

    Less kid friendly establishments until the parents act like parents.

    This goes for movies, too. Don't bring your 1 year old to a rated R movie because you're too cheap for a babysitter.

    Kid friendly: Wendy's, McDonald's, Ballard Brothers, and Renton or Kent.

  15. Hattie's has more kid friendly food than Lombardis. And they'll even happily mix a Shirley Temple. It's where I take the nephew after a movie at The Bay.
    However, the bar feels completely separate so it's good for non kid friendly eating too.
    I really hope they don't mess about with the place too much.

  16. The Smokeshop (restaurant not the bar of course) is also family friendly… or at least allows minors in and nothing like the looks on the faces of those youngsters as they enjoy a slice of the past in diner form.

  17. Longtime patron, former employee (waaay back when).

    I trust Max & Jeff. If Hatties has to be sold I'm glad it's being put in those guys hands. Max tended bar there when Hatties was at its best (imo). Both these guys understand what makes it great.

    If it was another Seattle bar/club owner I might worry, but not these two.

  19. Your comment is full of cliche assumptions about families. Lumping everyone together is the easy route. Try the road less traveled next time.

  22. What to say? The hacks and cranks who don't have anything better to do have already griped and groused enough. So I'll keep it positive.

    I for one enjoy Hatties Hat as it has been for the last several years. In this day in age, I'm sure all restaurants need all the clientele that they can get. The fish tank is a plus … for me and my kids. The chicken fingers are excellent and the rest of the menu is outstanding.

    My vote is keep it the way it is. Nothing wrong with all sorts of people mixing it up.

  23. I agree, JD you haven't a clue. Let's turn the tables and talk about some of the behavior of the so-called grown-ups:
    1) Talking on a cell phone loudly so everyone in a 10 table radius can hear you.
    2) Being a dick to the wait staff to impress your date.
    3) Getting drunk and puking on the floor or sidewalk.
    4) Sitting at a table for a half hour chatting after your meal even though there are people waiting for a table.

    Sorry pal but adults are just as bad kids. I've had more meals ruined by adults than kids by a wide margin.

  25. You must be a Seattle native!! Azteca? Are you kidding me?? Clearly you know nothing about good Mexican food!

    I think there are plenty of places both kid friendly and adults only. If you can't find or the other you're not trying very hard.

    BTW, cracks me up when people whine about Ballard not being edgy enough but then also whine about crime. The two tend to go hand in hand. The more bars and clubs you have, the more crime you'll have.

  26. Seaspider,
    Now I get to chide you for being judgmental and high handed. There's no reason to answer JD's remarks with something just as stereotypical. Isn't that a lesson that people teach their children?

    It's this type of flaming between a very small group of regular bloggers that turns people away from contributing to MyBallard. We'd have more participation and productive discussion if people would just write in the same manner they'd speak to their neighbors in the real world.

  28. I'm going to keep this simple:
    Erin, Max and Jeff are extremely outstanding people who know how to run a business. Instead of jumping to conclusions about how this change is going to effect whatever current perception(s) you have of the bar, let's just give it a chance and see what happens.

  30. Take the fish, but please let me keep taking my well-behaved there if the kitchen stays decent. Hatties is a one of way too few places where a Dad can take his kids, have a beer in an environment that is friendly to both adult males and kids. I don't mind the smell of last night's parties, it makes me nostalgic, it's an American smell and I like it. Don't tell me that there are tons of kid friendly places in Ballard where you sit down, relax, and get a decent meal (not pizza, a meal) that we'll all enjoy. OK, I can take them to to sushi and Mexican food, but a place like Hatties is just, well, a lot better. I can promise to have my kids outa there by 8 or 7:30 if I must, but don't, do not, please do not bar kids from Hatties. Why don't more places serve collard greens, sweet potato fries, and good old homestyle meals? we could use 4 or 5 more of these.

  31. You all know that Azteca originated in Ballard, right? I used to eat there in the 70's before is was a chain. Mexican? Perhaps not. Ballard? You Betcha!

  32. I've been turned off by responses in MyBallard, but not by what SeaSpider is saying or by how he/she expresses what is clearly just their opinion with examples helpfully listed. Allons-y, he gave specific and clear reasons for his views, and made no personal slight. That's not flaming — please try not to be so eager to take insult. Allons-y said in a post “less family friendly places would be a plus” and SeaSpider disagrees with you, and so do I and maybe lots of other people do too. We do have a problem on My Ballard with the loudest, brashest voices being way over-represented at times imo. And it's easy for people to feel like someone disagreeing with you is a personal insult. I agree with your standard of speaking as if to a neighbor, and as such, I respect you. I also know that at a block party, the people i know in Ballard would be fine with what SeaSpider has said so far on this thread.

  33. Nobody is knocking them personally or otherwise. You have to admit, though, that there are certain things about Hattie's that people love. Of course, we're going to worry about any change. It doesn't mean we're not going to give them a chance. But we have every right to worry. Bar management changes usually don't end well.

  34. Whoa, kid haters! I don't have kids, but when I WAS a kid in Ballard we used to eat at the Wharf, Mannings, the Vasa Sea Grill , (now the People's Pub) and Louie's to name a few.

    I'll take kids and families over drunken frat rats any day.

    PS I don't have kids. Don't the kid-haters remember being kids? Or perhaps their parents never took them out to dinner?

  35. I, for one am very happy that Hattie's will have new ownership. It used to be one of my fav places to go, great everything!
    But, the past year everything has sucked. You were hard pressed to even get waited on and when it finally happened the servers are put out about the fact that they have to serve you and are rude. The food is ok but not enough to make up for the attitudes.
    Best of luck to the new owners!!

  36. Yeah, I got a huge helping of attitude last weekend when I asked what was on tap… (didn't see the sign on the mirror, like I'd remembered last time)

    I was curtly told to refer to the menu and our server walked away before I could order (which was within 2 seconds of looking at the menu)

    Like, you want my money, right?

  37. Outerballard —

    Alright!! This is the discussion I wanted to see. No flamers, just a germ of an idea. And a decent compromise — restaurants take notice.

    How ABOUT allowing kids under 12 to stay until 7:30, and then they must leave. I could live with that.

    Haven't we all seen some poor overtired toddler hauled out to dinner at 9pm, screaming all the way? No fun for the toddler and no fun for the other patrons. And if parents will be honest about this… it isn't all that fun for the them either.

  38. I love Hatties. I have been a customer for at least 12 years. I remember when the only food available was hot dogs and the only clients were hard core drunks and fishermen (pre Tractor, Lock and Keel days). I hope it stays pretty much the same as it is, but I guess we'll find out. I personally like the fish tank and so does my daughter. I love taking her there and she loves it too. Any of you childless snobs have anything to say about it, come on over to my table.

  39. As a long-time customer, I'm glad to see the fish tank gone. And while they're at it, get rid of the “new” booths in back and go back to the tables and chairs. It used to be a good place to take a larger group, say 8 people, and push the tables together when you needed to. It was more comfortable, and a bit quieter back there than the front. Good atmosphere for conversation with buddies over creamed corn and sweet potato fries.

    The fish tank and booths meant the end of the Hattie's Hoots. There were some great shows back there; Ryan Adams showing up drunk and playing a quick set with Whiskeytown… Kevn Kinney from Drivin' & Cryin' doing two nights acoustic, and the place was packed.

    The booths and fish tank killed the space. Bring it back.

  40. Sorry “trix” those are hipsters over there; you probably mean Kings – of Linda's fame – or the other two bars down the street (I forget the names, one irish one not) that draw in some of the freemont crowd. Usually the Sunset is the only place that has indie music, or metal on occaision, or experimental, alot of indie bands, and even some alt-country or bluegrass. Saw a CD release show there recently for a band and not a frat boy/girl in site. Meat markets usually only exsist in environements where meat is welcome; no meat at the Sunset!

  41. One hopes that the new owners will be aware of the new-fangled technology known as “light bulbs”. Perhaps a few of those could be added to change the atmosphere from “The Inside Of A Closet” to “Hey, I can actually see the menu now!”

  42. Kids are only allowed in the restaurant until 8:30 ish/8:45 (9pm Bar time). I know this because I have a friend who is a single mother and a bunch of us girls can hang out there with her really rad kid. It's not “kid friendly” all day, and I'll bet most do their drinking there after 9pm anyway.

  43. As I stated above, Hattie's insists the kiddos be out by 8:30-8:45ish (9pm bar time)…we have weekly girl time there and one of my friends is a single Mom and brings her kid. He's a rad kid, but he doesn't need to be in there any later, agreed.

  45. Oh, it'll stay dark in there, it's sort of the defining characteristic of the space, y'know? But if all goes well, we'll keep lettin' the little snot-nosed cuties in til 9 or so (as long as their parents are well-behaved…) and we'll have music and we'll keep the vibe the same and improve service standards and all of this that you guys are thinking about! Unless I convince the boys that we can really make a “Miami Vice” theme work.*

    *jk

  47. You must not get to the Sunset much. Never seen a “club” girl in there and rarely a frat boy. But if a frat boy is into music he can't be that bad.

  48. Trix
    Have you been to Al's Tavern? Max took that place over 15 years ago. The old timer's still hang out side by side w/ the neighborhood kids. The same NW scenic mural is in tact. Max worked at Hattie's when it changed hands to the current owners. He knows it past and won't F*** it up. Now you'd really cringe if those Ballroom fuckers got a hold of it. Then you would realize your nightmare of “club” girls and frat boys.

  49. The more I read about him the better I feel. And, no, never been in Al's Tavern. I was just having a bad reaction spawned by many other times my fave bars have changed hands.
    Yeah, the Ballroom f****rs would have been a nightmare.

  50. Max G. will most assuredly be an asset to Hattie's. I am always impressed with the lengths he goes to in keeping the character of a place, while simultaneously improving it, and making all feel welcome. He loves this neighborhood, and will preserve what everyone loves about Hattie's. I've been a Sunset devotee for at least 10 years, and cannot ever recall a frat boy or club girl in the joint…maybe for a few seconds until they realized The Balmar was next door. Hattie's is in more than capable hands, ya'll! I can't wait for the changes!

  51. Oh my GOD!

    Have you met Max's dog Bella? Both she and Max have awesome hair. I'm not joking, it's f*cking incredible. When Max walks down Ballard Ave the entire world comes alive for me. Thank the heavens I have a nesting perch to watch Max do all those things he does so well like walking, driving, and even sauntering up and down Ballard Ave like a tiny bird floating across the sky. If you haven't seen Max and Bella do Ballard Ave you're missing out, BIG TIME.

    Sometimes late at night Joe Howe carries Max up and down Ballard Ave in a napsack with Bella in a tiny dog bag that Max carries in his tiny hands. It's adorable because A) they shine with adorability and B) the three of them always look so happy. You know who else it makes happy? EVERYONE especially me.

    I forget where I got them but I have matching locks of hair from Max and Bella. I get them mixed up sometimes which can be frustrating. Someday I hope to have an expert weave me a mustache out of them that I plan to wear OFTEN and with incredible pride.

    Considering how tiny Max is he leaves a big footprint, you know?

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