(Image: CHS)
(Image: Mezcaleria Oaxaca)
Mezcaleria Oaxaca has announced it closing after a decade on E Pine — the second major Mexican restaurant to shutter on Capitol Hill in recent weeks.
“We have collaborated with the Mexican government and consulate to organize exclusive dinners with many of Mexico’s greatest chefs, wine makers and agave distillers. All of these experiences and influences have been a part of the creation of our authentic, chef driven menus,” the closing announcement reads. “Over the years we have evolved through multiple reinventions of identity and interior – responding to a changing city and neighborhood. The collision of the changing nature of Seattle and changing State, County and City regulations has made it untenable to continue to operate our effort.”
The restaurant’s cousins La Carta de Oaxaca in Ballard and El Mezcalito in Queen Anne that have been operated as a separate business from the Capitol Hill mezcaleria will continue on.
Mezcaleria Oaxaca’s final day of service is planned for October 1st.
The closure follows an unsuccessful attempt to transform the E Pine restaurant into a complex of Mexican food and drink coming out of the pandemic. CHS reported on the formation of the Mercado Luna family of businesses at E Pine and Summit which included the restaurant, a taco window walk-up, and Choncho’s Churros. Above it all, sat rooftop bar Patio Cielo.
The transition did not pay off.
(Image: Mercado Luna)
Mezcaleria Oaxaca debuted in 2014 as the ambitious project from the Dominguez-Perez family and business owner Graham Graham as the sibling to the La Carta De Oaxaca original took shape out of a former Capitol Hill auto garage property.
Mezcaleria Oaxaca eventually split from the La Carta siblings and continued operating under the ownership of Graham. Graham purchased the property in 2022 for $2.3 million from an investment company registered to former Microsoft executive Jon Shirley, according to King County records. What will come next for the redeveloped restaurant and bar complex remains to be seen.
The closure of Mezcaleria Oaxaca will mark the second major Mexican restaurant with a long run on Capitol Hill to shutter in recent weeks. CHS reported here on the August closure of 12th Ave’s Barrio from the Heavy Restaurant Group family of businesses.
Somebody, please check on Poquitos.
Fortunately, Pine has other strong Mexican-flavored contenders. Just down the Hill from Mezcaleria Oaxaca, La Cocina Oaxaquena opened in 2013 and has been recently working on a nearby sister restaurant spin-off. Meanwhile, up the Hill on E Pine, Fogon has continued to thrive, marking 10 years of business in 2022 with the opening of its El Lugar market and eatery sibling next door and sister bar Josie’s on E Pike.
Mezcaleria Oaxaca and Mercado Luna will close October 1st at 422 E Pine. Learn more at mercadoluna.com.
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Oh well? Recently went on a Saturday afternoon to have a margarita on The roof and the drink was served in a tiny plastic cup and was $15 (before tax and tip) Insane! Fogan has great margs for $12 and comes in a glass. The food here was always average as well.
oh my…That sounds like a “Bar Rescue” eppie.
Where’s Taffer when ya need him?
Oh noo! I really enjoyed this place, they have a great brunch and incredible churros. Sad to see them go. ):
This is such a shame, their new brunch offerings were fantastic as were their taco tuesday deals.
That being said, I only found out about either of these things because I happened to walk in on the correct day/time. I think they suffered from spreading themselves out over too many concepts and names, and their website really needed online menus and more details on their specials.
Bummed about this closure though. I hope something goes in soon that can utilize the space, it’s a great spot.
That was my sum. Too many irons in the fire. Times change and not everyone is great at keeping things afloat running a business.
I thought only tourist ate there? Let me tell you, and the only Mexican food on the hill is Fogon, who also carries non-alcoholic beers too!
Fogon’s good, but D’La Santa and Koko’s are even better.
I never was able to go but wanted to try but it sounds like I didn’t miss much.
However, it’s more blight for the area with a closed space and new target for the graffiti losers so hope something else comes in there soon.
too many irons in the fire
No wonder they want to make the $3 an hour per employee tax. They are poorly run. Mexican is great when it is good. Bad food and service usually kill a business. Sometimes it’s greed or mismanagement.
Saturate a market and you get closures. There’s always another in line thinking they can run a restaurant.
#doubtful
They stated the reason that they are closing, albeit in code so that they could remain politically correct. For whatever reason, people want to make it about something else.