Halfseas Wine and Bottle Shop set to open April 1

Meghan Walker Ballard

After six months of planning, the owner of Brimmer & Heeltap is getting ready to open Half Seas Wine and Bottle shop at 5413 6th Ave NW.

Owner Jen Doak tells My Ballard that she expects Halfseas to be open April 1.

Before the idea for Halfseas was born, Doak hosted a wine club at Brimmer & Heeltap (425 NW Market St). Doak wanted the wine club to become its own entity in the form of wine bar, which is conveniently located across the 6th Street from Brimmer & Heeltap.

The Halfseas wine club will meet monthly with two subscription options. There’s also a cheese club, also with two membership options.

Alongside “absurdly delicious wines from real farmers and small producers”, Doak will have small dishes such as dips and veggies.

The space has had a long history of mostly hosting coffee shops. Most recently it was home to Slate, which closed in 2019 after six years following an employee protest over poor working conditions. Before Slate, it was Sun Cafe, which moved into the spot in 2008.

Halfseas is one of several of Doak’s ventures: Along with Brimmer & Heeltap, Doak also owns the Red Arrow coffee shop located just next to the restaurant.

“Together, we will open a space where you can explore so many incredible wines from so many passionate producers from all walks of life and corners of the world!” Doak wrote in an Instagram post. “Our new space will bring you all this deliciousness, from wines that deserve to be discovered, shared, and loved.”

Photo: Halfseas