Inside Seattle’s Splintered Wand: Like magic, unique pub is set to open, inviting patrons to sit for a spell

A few days before the official spell begins at The Splintered Wand in Seattle’s historic Ballard neighborhood, it’s clear that the owners of the new restaurant, bar, and wand shop have done wonders on the 125-year-old building where the store will open.

Geoffrey Thaddeus Constantine Balch and partner Andrea Ravnholm have met the masonry, the colors, the tiles, the design, the decoration and the planning of the menu and drinks cards with a lot of love.

But in the dwindling days leading up to a Halloween weekend and the grand opening on November 2nd, Balch, a self-proclaimed wizard and wand maker, is ready to cast its spell on 21st century software.

“When it came to upgrading the building, the technology was the biggest nightmare,” said Balch, grumbling about the digital reservation and checkout system that was giving him a headache. “To be honest, we don’t like technology. Magic is better. “

The Splintered Wall has found a home in the Flatiron Building, which was originally built in 1896. (GeekWire Photo / Kurt Schlosser)

Balch and Ravnholm remain in wizarding characters, as they did during a GeekWire 2019 visit, walking the line between the modern technology they have to use to get things done and the theatrical experience they get at The Splintered Wand want to offer.

“There are a lot of things that are very, very cool, but I don’t think it saves a lot,” said Balch of technology in general when speaking to a designer working on models of bar coaster designs on her laptop , gave her consent.

The Splintered Wand took a few years to make as the geeky brother and sister-in-law team at Balch and Ravnholm turned Ballard’s 1890s Flatiron Building, which they bought in 2018, into an intriguing three-story home.

The store is on three floors with a bar, magic wand shop and additional meeting rooms. (GeekWire photo / Kurt Schlosser)
A dragon watches over the guests. (GeekWire photo / Kurt Schlosser)

While restaurants and bars in Seattle and across the country are struggling to regain their pre-pandemic staffing levels, Balch said they have their selections of waiters, chefs, bartenders, managers and more drawn to the chance to join The Splintered Wand work. The current workforce is around 20, he said.

Chef Tessa Roberts previously worked at Trattoria Cuoco, a Tom Douglas restaurant near Amazon in South Lake Union that closed during the pandemic. She also spent nine years at the Naked City Brewery in Greenwood.

The small kitchen will offer a menu that sounds English or maybe medieval. Balch described the dish “Toad in a Hole” as tiny Yorkshire puddings with fried beef in it, served with dollop of mashed potatoes and gravy – “Sunday roast as a starter,” he said.

There are sausages, devilish eggs, a selection of salads and changing soups. And pies are stuffed with mushrooms, leeks, sausage, cabbage and potatoes. The Slovenly Sloan is a magical capture of the Sloppy Joe.

Behind the bright, amber-colored top of the bar, absinthe will be a special spirit. The state liquor control board was not interested in emptying bottles into unlabeled jars, so modern liquor labels can still be seen. Twelve taps stick out of the keg lids to give the bar an old-fashioned look, and well-known local beers are part of the mix with some special plans for mead and butterbeer.

Bartender Tayvia Seme Serendipity serves absinthe, various beers and more. (GeekWire photo / Kurt Schlosser)
Absinthe fountain. (GeekWire photo / Kurt Schlosser)

Bartender Tayvia Seme Serendipity previously worked at Queen Anne Beer Hall, among others, and met Balch and Ravnholm for the first time four and a half years ago, heard about their plans and waited for the job.

“We get lateral thinkers, we get really creative people,” said Balch about his employees. “You are literally leaving jobs to come here.”

While finding staff wasn’t a problem, The Splintered Wand is still grappling with the pandemic and the new public health mandate for the Seattle area that requires proof of COVID vaccination for those who run businesses such as bars and restaurants enter. In an Instagram post this week, owners stressed that a negative test within 72 hours is not enough and visitors need to be vaccinated. “We’re not going to change that attitude,” they said.

On a street full of more traditional forms of retail, dining, and nightlife ranging from Irish, Scottish, sports, live music, and dive bars, the focus at The Splintered Wand is on providing an escape.

Splintered wall owners Geoffrey Thaddeus Constantine Balch and Andrea Ravnholm. (Instagram photo via @ the.splintered.wand)

A huge skeleton of a sea creature that hangs in the main dining room reflects the fun, as does the large dragon head that towers above it or Sir Charles, the armor at the top of the stairs. On the second level, Balch and his apprentices will be offering wands that are endowed with special powers and will be offered to budding wizards and Harry Potter fans at a price of $ 50. There are quirky and fantastic design elements and all kinds of wizard-friendly bells and whistles throughout the room.

Even the required signage for the Liquor Control Board, which is almost always made of paper in other establishments, has been cast in metal in The Splintered Wall. And a sign marking a toilet as wheelchair accessible shows a person in a witch hat holding a magic wand.

“We started out to have fun,” added Ravnholm. “So if we’re not having fun and everyone is not having fun, it’s stupid. Everyone should be happy and have fun, because that’s what we’re here for. “

The Splintered Wall at 5135 Ballard Ave. opens on Tuesday and reservations are quickly booked out. There will be a non-reservable seat in the bar every day. Scheduled opening times are Tuesday to Sunday, 4:30 p.m. to midnight.

Keep scrolling for more photos:

The magic wand shop with illuminated glasses with magical elements. (GeekWire Photos / Kurt Schlosser)
Hugo, the house dog, is watching Ballard Avenue below.
Balch is holding an unscrolled cover letter written by a prospect.
An armor under the roof window of the building.
A dragon door handle.
A wheelchair sign shows a witch with a magic wand.
Hugo reappears … magically.

https://www.geekwire.com/2021/inside-seattles-splintered-wand-like-magic-unique-pub-set-open-inviting-patrons-sit-spell/
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