Cookie’s Country Chicken (1744 NW Market St) announced it will be closing its current location due to development.
Owner Brian Chandler opened Cookie’s in 2021. The space has been occupied by a number of different restaurants over the years, from Kitchen Istanbul to Tropicos Breezes and the Young American Ale House. Chandler opened a second location in Pioneer Square at 314 2nd Ave S in 2024.
“We really had no idea what we were doing or getting ourselves into,” Chandler wrote in a letter to customers announcing the closure. “It was the tail end of the pandemic; the space had been abandoned and we really didn’t have any money. Our lease was for two years and there was a clause written in that the landlord could cancel our lease with 30 days’ notice at any time. We invested cautiously in the space knowing that at any time it could be pulled out from under us.”
The letter continued:
I lost a lot of sleepwondering what would happen if I got that dreaded email that the building was getting torn down- not for myself but for the staff that rely on us and the neighbors we feed. We made a few passes at some different locations, but nothing felt right…. Until a made a random call about to inquire about a spot I had seen closed on google. This location felt different. It was in close proximity to our original location, with great amenities and it was a long-term solution to feed our “north of the cut” neighbors.
We like to say this all started with an a-board outside of a donut shop in White Center during the pandemic. But in reality, it started on a boat in the Oil Fields in Louisiana where that Sunday meal was a chance to bring everyone to the table. We are really excited that we have an opportunity to continue this mission, and we can’t wait to take you with us.
Lucky for us, Cookie’s has found a new Ballard location less than a mile from their current spot. According to the announcement, the new space will include parking, ample outdoor seating, draft beer, large group seating, and multiple TVs for sports. Chandler said the new location provides a long-term solution to continue serving its “north of the cut” neighbors.
Cookie’s current Ballard location sits adjacent to Sip & Ship, which after 23 years in Ballard is scheduled to close on December 24 because of the same upcoming development.
No news yet on the exact location of their new spot and when they’ll move, but we’ll keep you in the loop.
Photo: Cookie’s on Instagram