Historic bar survived prohibition, COVID-19 only to close over rent squabble
Apr 14, 2025, 12:00 PM | Updated: 3:30 pm
Historic Virginia Inn Seattle (Photo Credit: Pike Place Market, City of Seattle)
(Photo Credit: Pike Place Market, City of Seattle)
Since 1903, the Virginia Inn has been a historic staple of the downtown Seattle waterfront. Now its owner said the bar will close permanently on April 27.
Craig Perez told KOMO News the closure was caused by unaffordable lease terms, with the restaurant operating on a monthly basis after rejecting what he called a costly five-year extension.
The Pike Place Market Preservation and Development Authority (PDA) was the one to terminate the lease, according to Perez.
“First and foremost, the PDA has worked diligently with Virginia Inn over the past several months in hopes of finding a path forward—we did not want them to leave the Market. The Pike Place Market PDA never wants to see a business leave.” City officials told KOMO in a statement, “As a public agency, we must ensure leases are consistent across tenants and cannot offer significantly lower terms to one business over others.”
Historic Virginia Inn will close over rent dispute
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Known to regulars as The V.I., the inn has been a key piece of the city’s culture, surviving prohibition and the COVID-19 pandemic. In the 1980s, the Virginia Inn helped shape Seattle’s art bar scene and gained notable fame for its appearance in the 1992 grunge film Singles.
The Inn has urged supporters to share their concerns with the chairs of Pike Place Market and Seattle Mayor Bruce Harrell. It highlighted that the closure impacts more than 20 staff members, many of whom have devoted years to the business.
