A new country-themed bar is planned for the former Shingletown Saloon space in Ballard.
Bradley Howe, owner of Kangaroo & Kiwi, plans to open Country Roads at 2016 NW Market St, the space previously occupied by Shingletown Saloon. The new bar—just a couple of doors down from Kangaroo & Kiwi—is expected to open in October.
Shingletown Saloon closed in April after 11 years in Ballard. Owner Dan Murphy said rising rent under a new lease, increasing operating costs, an unstable economy, and changing late-night hospitality trends made it no longer financially sustainable to continue operating.
Howe has owned Kangaroo & Kiwi for 25 years. He moved the bar from Aurora Ave to its current location in Ballard (2026 NW Market St) in 2012.
Howe told My Ballard that the opportunity came about after the building owners approached him about the vacant space following Shingletown Saloon’s closure. Because the building is next to Kangaroo & Kiwi, he said it made sense to expand there rather than open a second business elsewhere in Seattle.
“It was just sitting there empty,” Howe said. “I’ve always wanted to open another bar, but I didn’t want to run all over town. This one ended up in my lap.”
Howe said renovations will focus on creating more open space by moving the bar toward the back of the room, allowing for line dancing, live music and other events. He also plans to update the bathrooms before opening.
Country Roads will serve a limited menu of bar snacks and small bites, but he said patrons can bring in food from other restaurants. Howe said he also hopes to establish a regular schedule of line dancing and live music, including performances by local musicians and eventually a house band, to encourage more weeknight activity.
There’s also a 1,938-square-foot suite above the bar available for lease. While his immediate focus is opening the bar, Howe said he may eventually explore using the upstairs space for additional programming, including line dancing, if the opportunity arises. He said he hopes longtime Kangaroo & Kiwi customers and the Ballard community will support the new venture.
Photo: Google Image Capture