Another Heat Wave Disrupts Seattle Restaurants, Bakeries and Bars

As the mercury rises and smoke pervades the sky, Seattle hospitality is once again faced with disruption. Excessive heat warnings are still in place for most of the area after a scorching Thursday, with temperatures expected to hit the mid-1990s on Friday, August 13, and possibly even breaking a city record for the month. These conditions, along with potentially dangerous air quality from incoming forest fire smoke, have forced many restaurants and bars to close out of caution, just as they did during the stifling June heat wave.

So far, the number of closings is not quite as high as it was earlier this summer, when temperatures were in the triple digits and dozen of places have closed. But there have been some notable closings, including the Dick’s Drive-in Broadway location, the popular Deep Sea Sugar and Salt bakery in Georgetown, the Capitol Hill Crpe-Café La Rue, and the Cambodian bar-restaurant Phinney Ridge Oliver’s Twist. Some places also choose to close things early, including Bakery Nouveau, Oddfellows, and Lowrider Cookie Company. And citing the poor air quality, Molly Moon closed its walk-in windows in Madrona, Columbia City and Bellevue on Friday.

“High temperatures add a whole new level to the operation of a room where airflow and circulation are optimal,” says Karuna Long, owner of Oliver’s Twist. “To combine that with various kitchen appliances that generate a lot of heat, it’s really almost impossible to work in a kitchen, let alone in a small facility like ours where the square footage is minimal and you can even cut the air with a knife could with our operable garage doors. “

Reports of the previous Pacific Northwest heat wave that literally boiled shellfish on the shores of Washington’s beaches point to the millennium event that experts attribute to the effects of climate change. In a city where air conditioning is not a given in residential or commercial buildings, the public health risk was extremely high. In fact, a recent New York Times report on mortality data in Washington and Oregon concluded that 600 more people died during that June heat wave than would have been typical for the time of year, combined more than three times the original estimates.

Hopefully this weekend with above average temperatures won’t take such a devastating toll. But even in milder weather, restaurant kitchens can easily suffocate, and places that may be understaffed during the pandemic could work extra hard to cover more ground. Coupled with the smoke entering the area from British Columbia forest fires, it means many operators are likely to be closely monitoring local weather reports throughout the weekend. Last September, quite a few outdoor restaurants had to close when the air quality deteriorated rapidly.

“It’s really difficult to find your way around the Seattle countryside in the summer,” says Long. “As sad as it is, it is almost as if I have become deaf from the domino effects since the closure of COVID due to the various ebb and flow of floods. The answer is almost always: ‘Of course we have to deal with it!’ “

The good news is that the faint smoke should clear the area by Saturday, and temperatures are expected to drop back into the ’70s by early next week, with even a chance of showers on Sunday night.

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