Purr Cocktail Lounge is is leaving 11th Avenue on Capitol Hill after nearly 12 years to a new home on 24th Avenue East in the quiet Montlake neighborhood.
Image: Google Map

After nearly a 12 year run on Capitol Hill’s 11th Avenue between Pike and Pine Streets, Purr Cocktail Lounge will be packing up the video screens and vodka bottles for a new location in…Seattle’s Montlake neighborhood.

That was the surprise announcement at Wednesday night’s “Purr Going Away Party” where owner Barbie Roberts thanked her regulars and staff for a great run at the 11th Avenue location but then made the announcement that everyone had been waiting to hear…where was Purr moving to? While most expected that the new location would be either on Capitol Hill, Seattle’s primary LGBTQ neighborhood or at least adjacent to the ‘hood, no one expected to hear “Montlake” as the new location.

Montlake is the sleepy residential neighborhood at the northeast base of Capitol Hill and while it is bisected by busy main thoroughfare 24th Avenue, it is mostly zoned single family residential; there are few apartment buildings and the commercial strip is only one block long. Purr will be moving into the old Montlake Ale House at 2307 24th Ave E. There is a bicycle shop, an antique store, a small market and the Montlake branch of the Seattle Library in that strip but it’s surrounded by family homes.

The original announcement this spring that Purr was moving after owner Barbie Roberts decided not to sign a new more expensive lease at the 11th Avenue location shocked many and led to much gossip and speculation that Purr would move to any number of unlikely spots on the Hill (the ruins of the old Broadway Grill) and a few that seemed possible like the old Sun Liquor location on Pike Street. No one was thinking that the move would be further away and in an area not known for having much night life or any foot traffic.

Barbie posted the following on Facebook this evening:

As much as I’m sad about tonight, I’m very excited for a great party! What Purr started out as was a safe gathering place for friends and family. A cocktail party in my own living room. Many friendships have blossomed here and lifelong memories. I am excited for our new chapter and look forward to many more cherished moments. CHEERS!

We reached out to her after tonight’s announcement on a timeline for the move and reopening in the new space and she responded:

Tags: Barbie Roberts, Gay Bars Seattle, Gentrification Seattle, Montlake, Neighborhood Gay Bars Seattle, Purr Cocktail Lounge, Purr Relocating