Dear Lea,
Downtown Bellevue has a pool hall, bowling alley, nightclub, and movie theater. It’s soon to have a music venue, comedy club, ultra lounge, and Jimmy Choo store. What’s next for Bellevue; what else could we possibly need or want here!?
– Dreaming Big
Dear Dreaming Big,
I get what you’re saying. There’s so much here, it’s hard to think of what the next developer or investor could possibly dream up for this place! I hardly ever make it out to Seattle anymore, unless it’s for a special occasion, because I have everything I want here on the Eastside. I can have dinner at restaurants, cocktails at a lounge, dance at a club, go bowling with friends, shop trunk shows, meet for happy hour, and the best part is – all of these things are in walking distance of where I live. Downtown Bellevue has become quite the amazing place!
But what’s next? What else do we need? Or better yet, what else do we want? I think w
e need a dessert bar. I’m not talking about another frozen yogurt place, with more toppings, I’m talking about a real dessert bar with pies, cakes, Gelato, port wine, and Irish coffee. I also think we need a theater dinner. Something like Teatro Zinzanni, with burlesque dancers, dream girls swinging from trapezes, magicians table side, and a mysterious murder mystery to solve while enjoying your 5-course meal.
I think we need an adult arcade. Not only will it have a bar, but Wii stations you can rent by the hour, laser tag, and virtual sniper missions. Last, but not least, we need a late night coffee shop. We need a place we can go at midnight, after we’ve had a few drinks, for an espresso pick-me-up before the car ride home. Who says no one would want a cheese danish rather than a Breakfast Jack at 2am?
So, here’s my question for you: what else do you think Bellevue should have? What do you think of my ideas? I want to hear from you!
Write me at lea@downtownbellevue.com.
i think a dilettante chocolate cafe would do well in bellevue, especially if it was open late
also a michael kors “lifestyle” store is opening in bellevue square next july
Vertigo is a start but Bellevue definitely needs more options. I’d like to see an “entertainment” district in the mold of Belltown or Pioneer Square (minus the shootings). Some more late night dining options and maybe an after hours spot would be a welcome addition. Finally, what city is complete without a red light district?
Is Daniel’s the only “SKY BAR” in dt bellevue?
I would like to see a sky cafe/bar.
I’d love to see:
Some independent non-chain coffee shops
More independent non-chain restaurants. That’s where downtown Bellevue really suffers. There are few smaller/cheaper spaces where chef/owners can really open. These some on Main St, but that’s about it.
Arthouse cinema
Live theater (not my thing) but recognize its missing.
Gay bar/club – that’s when we’ll know Bellevue is all grown up
More nightlife would be good but I’m still not convinced there are enough people to support clubs. Vertigo seems to have been taken over by what appear to be (pretend?) Russian mafia, and the last time I was there I just wasn’t comfortable. Hailing from London too, let me get all Euro snobby and say that more clubs don’t mean good clubs. Seattle/Bellevue wouldn’t know a good club if it got hit up the arse with it.
And finally (we’ll get it) lower rents in the downtown so those apartments fill up. Only by having more people will it get more vibrant.
Bellevue actually used to have a pretty decent arcade in the Garage at the Bellevue Galleria, although it wasn’t an “adult” arcade (they had a Taco Del Mar inside back when those were still pretty good, but no bar.) Unfortunately, the place only lasted about eighteen months or so (approximately 1999-2000) before closing, and the space it occupied has been vacant ever since. The whole thing seemed to be copying Gameworks in some ways, but had some decent pinball tables. Unfortunately, arcades are all but dead these days (I particualrly miss the one that used to be at Factoria Mall) and I seriously doubt that such a place would even really be viable, especially in a high-rent area such as downtown Bellevue.
Quick takeout lunch places with reasonable prices. Something a bit better than Subway and Taco Bell. Perhaps an ethnic takeout food store.
given the economy, w’ll be lucky if all the aformentioned businesses don’t go belly up by this time next year. did i mention that there won’t be any christmas this year.
I was just told by a Bellevue Collection tenant that the Bellevue Collection as a whole in September was 8% comp to last year
September was one of the worst retail months in recent years. This means they are doing VERY well, and the Downtown spending has not declined!
I’d like to see a Dave N Buster’s up here to fill that “adult arcade” niche. They’re a nationwide chain of arcade/bars(and we know Bellevue loves chains) that is similar to Jillian’s but with less emphasis on pool and more on games. The Galleria would’ve been a good spot but they’ve already decided to turn all that vacant retail space into office.
I’d love to see a multistory Target like Northgate has. Target and REI are the only places I need on a regular basis that we don’t have.
Have any of you checked out The Spot Off Main Neighborhood Bar & Billiards in Old Bellevue? http://www.thespotoffmain.com. It has a few Retro video games like MS Pac Man & Gallega. They have Karaoke on Sunday night and Open Mic Night on Tuesday. (not this week however) They have darts, 5 pool tables, full bar, two large projector tv's and a few smaller ones. And a typical bar menu.
This week is there one year anniversary with $5 pool and happy hour prices until this FRiday night!
Hot Dog stand on the weekends from 11 PM – 2 AM and a Taco stand during weekdays lunch hours. Ideal place will be right outside Lincoln Center where there is much foot traffic.
YES! absolutely. I’d love to see a Hot Dog stand on the weekends outside of Lincoln Square. It would be a very successful business.