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Wednesday, December 17, 2008

City North Seattle Pancake House Could Be Replaced By Strip Club

Posted by Jonah Spangenthal-Lee on Wed, Dec 17, 2008 at 3:42 PM

A North Seattle pancake house could soon be replaced with a strip club, and the building's new owners won't even have to change the sign.

After 36 years of running Cyndy's Pancake House owner Gae Bowman, 73, says she's ready to retire and has put her building—near the intersection of Aurora and Northgate Way—up for sale.

So far, Bowman says she's only had one interested buyer: wannabe-strip-club-impresario Bob Davis, who approached Bowman about purchasing the bulding last February. “They’re the only people that have come with any money," Bowman says.

According to city records, Davis—who successfully challenged the city's strip club moratorium in 2005—has received an adult entertainment permit to open Cyndy's Gentleman's Club at the pancake house location.

Davis says he's looking to open a "recession-proof" business and believes a strip club is the way to go. "I was doing some research at a club the other day and I asked these girls if business was down," Davis says. "They said, ‘oh, guys always need us.’"

Davis wants to retain the building's name because of the history of the site. "It’s been Cyndy's since 1972," he says. "Everybody in town knows where Cyndy's is!" Not only does Davis plan to keep the name, but he also says he wants to continue serving food at the club. "My goal is to be the bachelor’s friend," he says.

According to the Department of Planning and Development spokesman Bryan Stevens, Cyndy's is currently zoned to accommodate a strip club. However, Stevens says, the club would still have to go through a process to make sure it's at least 800 feet from any community centers, schools or public parks.

Davis and Bowman are still hammering out the details of the sale, although Bowman says she hasn't heard anything about a strip club. "I thought they were going to open a comedy club," she says.

Davis is hoping to be open for business in spring 2009.

Comments (28) RSS

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Sad, hopefully my girlfriend and I will still be able to walk across the street from her apartment building to get our chicken fried steak fix, even if it does come with a view of some vag.

Posted by vooodooo84 on December 17, 2008 at 3:37 PM

I personally feel that they should keep the whole name if that's the case. "Cyndy's Pancake House" has so much more double entendre appeal.

Posted by j.lee on December 17, 2008 at 3:48 PM

I hope they keep the crepes, that's my neighborhood favorite!

Posted by bobcat on December 17, 2008 at 3:55 PM

Pancakes and titties? Quite the business model...

Posted by Hernandez on December 17, 2008 at 3:56 PM

I know that place! It's right near the "World of Beer" store on 103rd. Considering that the major businesses nearby are a discount golf equipment store, a bunch of by-the-hour motels, a payday loan place, and two or three porn shops, I don't see any problem with a strip club bringing down the neighborhood's reputation. Did I mention that the #5 bus stop is a major drug market?

Posted by Greg on December 17, 2008 at 4:04 PM

On a somewhat related note, what do we have to do to get the law changed so strip clubs can serve alcohol? Because Seattle has hands down the lamest strip clubs in the world.

Posted by Greg on December 17, 2008 at 4:05 PM

I think I ate there once. I think they have thos high backed chairs like 13 Coins. It will make lap dances awkward.

Posted by elswinger on December 17, 2008 at 4:10 PM

Seriously, why can't it be both? Also, waiter, can you go ahead and leave the whole bottle of vanilla extract? I like it on my, er... morning. Did someone say pulltabs?

Posted by Dougsf on December 17, 2008 at 4:12 PM

C'mon, they're not even changing the name to SINdy's? What a missed opportunity.

Posted by Levislade on December 17, 2008 at 4:12 PM

Rooty, Tooty, Fresh & Fruity.

Yea, drip that Strawberry Syrup...

Posted by Old Guy In New Pickup Truck with Duallies on December 17, 2008 at 4:15 PM

God damn it, that's my favorite North End pancake house. I don't want titties, I want pancakes. Now I'll have to take Sound Transit all the way down to the Pancake Chef in Tukwila. Another decent thing about Seattle disappears.

Posted by Fnarf on December 17, 2008 at 4:23 PM

They already closed two of my fave North end pancake houses, so I guess another one can't hurt.

We need more pancake places!

Posted by Will in Seattle on December 17, 2008 at 4:32 PM

The things they do with syrup and bananas there!

Posted by NapoleonXIV on December 17, 2008 at 4:32 PM

I come here every time I come home to visit my folks and have the Holland pancakes. This is really, really depressing. Maybe he can buy Dick's next.

Posted by Al on December 17, 2008 at 4:34 PM

Nat says: "Stacked!"

Posted by Gillian Anderson on December 17, 2008 at 4:44 PM

What about the original pancake house on 15th, in the Ballard areaish. They have some insane omelettes. I would say thats a pretty good replacement for those who still need their pancake fix.

Posted by SARS on December 17, 2008 at 4:55 PM

Will.

What were the other two? Please tell me one of them isn't The Original Pancake House in Ballard? They have "Silver Dollar Pancakes" on the menu and I love those.

Posted by elswinger on December 17, 2008 at 4:55 PM

I'm really charmed that he's so interested in maintaining some of the building's history. How surprising and unusual. I'm not a huge fan of their food but I am a BIG fan of their clip art menus and how it always seems like at any moment, a Pulp-Fiction style robbery might take place. I go at least once a month.

Posted by boojie on December 17, 2008 at 4:58 PM

can we still go there after church?

Posted by pretentious on December 17, 2008 at 5:14 PM

One of them got replaced when they did the UW Tower, @17. But SARS has a good point even if that's really an egg place that does pancakes too.

Posted by Will in Seattle on December 17, 2008 at 5:17 PM

pancakes make me feel ill. but i can eat the fuck out of french toast. it's weird.

oh, and we don't need another titty bar without alcohol. we need portland's rules.

Posted by Max Solomon on December 17, 2008 at 5:22 PM

There's an I.H.O.P. two blocks down, people. Stop freaking out.

Posted by Non on December 17, 2008 at 5:26 PM

I don't care if they replace Cyndy's with a sewage treatment plant, as long as they replace it. What a shithole!!

Posted by samdinista on December 17, 2008 at 5:36 PM

Where are we going to get our Dutch Baby oven baked pancakes now?

Posted by StC on December 17, 2008 at 5:50 PM

pretentious said:
> can we still go there after church?

Whaddya mean 'after'...that would constitute church!

mmmm....knees...praying...yes, sister, hit me with the ruler again!

Posted by Mr. Schpanky on December 17, 2008 at 6:07 PM

I would like to know how to protest this... as someone who lives nearby in a nice family home and neighborhood- I don't understand this little vortex of off businesses right on that part of Aurora. If it was truly a "gentleman's club" and high class I would not mind, but haven't seen anything like that in Seattle.

Posted by T Lynd on December 17, 2008 at 9:21 PM

I'm not necessarily against it, but I mean... strippers are there for the guys... who's gonna be there for the ladies? Am I getting screwed?

Posted by erly on December 18, 2008 at 8:54 AM

Steak and Legs! Steak and Legs! My favorite part of visiting portland is brunch at the Acropolis -- french toast and naked ladies!!!

Posted by jessica on December 18, 2008 at 1:36 PM