Capitol Hill tasting room to close after 10 years, citing public safety concerns

The owners of Aluel Cellars, a Capitol Hill tasting room, are closing the business after 10 years in Seattle, citing public safety concerns, rising costs, and a decline in foot traffic as reasons for the closure.

Located at 801 E. Thomas Street, the Aluel Cellars’ Capitol Hill location will be open for regular service on Friday, with another opening on July 10 before its last-day party on Aug. 16, according to The Puget Sound Business Journal.

Owners point to declining tourist traffic amid rising crime, drug use in Capitol Hill

Co-owners Alex Oh and Samuel Hilbert opened the Capitol Hill tasting room in 2016, and later went on to expand in Ballard in 2022, and finally opened up shop in Queen Anne in 2023.

Hilbert cited struggles at the Capitol Hill location since 2021, back when the company renewed a five-year lease.

“I kept hoping things would turn around, that things would surprise me and change my mind,” Hilbert told The Puget Sound Business Journal. “But we knew there was no way we could keep this going.”

In the years following, Hilbert noted foot traffic from tourists had substantially decreased in response to heightened crime and drug use in the area.

As a GSBA board member, Hilbert said that he had several conversations with Seattle City Council members about the issues in the neighborhood.

“It’s been well-documented that it’s a tough time to run a business [in Seattle], and really the state, and it keeps getting harder as you get to more hyper-local areas,” he told The Puget Sound Business Journal. “I don’t want to be all negative, I’ve seen some positives. I’m very much a fan of Councilmember [Joy] Hollingsworth. I really think she’s trying to improve things, but she’s also facing some of the same headwinds we’re all facing.”

Owners will now focus on their Queen Anne, Ballard locations

As for Aluel Cellars’ other locations, Hilbert noted they have seen their fair share of “ups and downs,” leading to a name change of its Ballard location to Après by Aluel, which Hilbert said has helped increase foot traffic.

Hilbert and Oh will now prioritize their remaining locations in Queen Anne and Ballard, while continuing to sell its wine out of neighborhood locations such as La Cha-Bliss Wines, Nomadic Wine Dispensary, and Chandelier Lounge, according to The Puget Sound Business Journal.

Hilbert also said the company has plans to open pop-up shops around Capitol Hill after the closure.

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