Last May the news here that the venerable Seven Seas Restaurant was turning into a strip club ignited dozens of comments from readers, many predicting an increase in crime and decease in property values.
The Maple Leaf and Wedgwood community councils both appealed the opening, saying Pandora’s Adult Cabaret had been improperly permitted by the city. The appeals were rejected, and Pandora’s opened on July 12 at 8914 Lake City Way N.E., on the line between the two neighborhoods.
Wedgwood View wrote at least a dozen posts on the club last year. This year? We’ve heard nothing. So we thought we’d ask.
We can’t speak to property values, but we can about crime. We ran the entire year on the city crime map and found – nothing.
We asked Terrie Johnson, Seattle Police crime prevention coordinator for the North Precinct.
I talked to Community Police Team Officer Kipp Strong and to our Precinct Prosecutor, Jana Jorgensen, and neither one of them have had any complaints about Pandora’s. I have worked North Precinct now for 12 months, and I have had no complaints about them either.
At the Wedgwood Community Council (you could argue Pandora’s is technically in Wedgwood because it’s on the east side of Lake City Way) Per Johnson said: “I haven’t heard of any crime or complaints from neighbors. In fact, to his word, the owner emailed me a few months back to see if I’ve heard anything. So far, they seem to be a good neighbor.”
When we asked the owner, Joe Walker, he replied in part: “If there are legitimate concerns I would be more than happy to address them as needed. Having been in the business for almost 30 years I was pretty confident that the doom and gloom predictions wouldn’t come to fruition.”
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6 reader comments so far ↓
1 lela wankzy // May 22, 2012 at 6:42 pm
I think they’ve been a good upstanding member of the community and an important asset for the retirement community across the street.
2 Jen // May 22, 2012 at 6:53 pm
Uh-huh. I remember commenting when this came up last year. Big deal. One ugly, run-down business has been replaced with another. The neighborhood did not change and children were not traumatized. Frankly, the Greenside “medical clinic” up the street is more of an annoyance — where are the pearl clutchers when you need ‘em?
3 Howard // May 22, 2012 at 7:20 pm
My 91 yr old mom lives in the Stratford across the street and she is disappointed they are so quiet! She likes to say she looks out her restaurant window at a used car lot in the parking area of the Shanty tavern next to a strip club! She laughs at moving from quiet Wedgwood to southern kentucky.
4 pinehurst scott // May 23, 2012 at 12:23 am
@lela wankzy, lol, funny. Maybe Pandora’s should host an open mike comedy night for you?
5 Tom West Seattle // May 27, 2012 at 8:44 pm
Good to hear. But for those of us sad former Seven Seas patrons, does anyone know whether it has reopened elsewhere?
6 Susan // May 29, 2012 at 10:32 am
I miss Seven Seas and I think Pandoras hurts the overall image of Lake City. It just reinforces the stereotype of guns, girls and cars (and now pot) on Lake City. It just makes the place more trashy overall.
Lake City has pockets of movement in the right direction with Elliot Bay Brewing opening. That place is packed all the time. Bill Pierre will be shutting down and they are working on a plan for the betterment of Lake City.
It wouldn’t be so bad if there was just one club but with 3 from I5 to 145th, it makes it seem seedier.