The community favorite served its last cup of coffee this weekend on August 3, after losing its lease. North Seattle woke up without the Ravenna Varsity Restaurant, after more than six decades of pancakes, stories, and cups of filtered coffee. Last Sunday, it closed its doors for good, ending a journey that began in 1963.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The owner, Sandy Pelkey, who started waiting tables here in the 1970s, ran the business with her son, Bryan. Together, they remember customers by name, and in most cases, they took their orders before they even sat down. \u201cShe knows everyone,\u201d Bryan says of his mother, the unofficial matriarch of the diner.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Regulars insist that the Varsity was more than just a place to eat; it was where college freshmen got their first jobs, where Lou Piniella asked for directions to the Kingdome in 1993, and where three generations of Pelkeys learned the value of a hot griddle. Can you imagine starting your day anywhere else?<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Five things loyal customers say they’ll miss most:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n The story of The Varsity isn’t ending because of a lack of customers\u2014breakfast traffic remains steady\u2014but because the landlord has refused to renew the lease. With no new location secured, the family has turned to crowdfunding to cover closing costs. The bittersweet twist? The building was completely rebuilt in 2002, only to outlive the business it was designed for. Below is a brief timeline of the key moments that shaped this iconic Seattle landmark:itself was completely rebuilt in 2002, only to outlast the business it was designed to protect. Below is a quick timeline of key moments that shaped this Seattle landmark:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n
The non-renewal of the lease and rising costs are forcing the Pelkey family and their veteran waitstaff to say a difficult goodbye<\/h2>\n\n\n\n