Ballard restaurant to close after building owner stops lease [Video]

SEATTLE – The Fish Ladder Lounge, a minority-owned business in Ballard, is being forced to close its doors for the last time in late August.

The co-owners say they were shocked when the business owner gave them a notice, telling them they needed to vacate.

The co-owners say that the block has recently been re-zoned to allow for multi-level buildings and, although they don’t know what’s next for the property, they say it’s a sign of the times for struggling small businesses in Seattle.

“We put a lot of time and energy into the space to turn it into something that we were proud of,” said Alison Soike, co-owner of the Fish Ladder Lounge in Ballard.

“We just got an email that said the owners wanted to claim the space,” said Ryan Faniel, co-owner of the Fish Ladder Lounge.

The co-owners say it marks the end of a dream for the two.

“Feeling really sad, upset,” said Soike.

Since …