Gentrification, interrupted: the Comet Tavern reopens

Berit Anderson

Berit Anderson Jul 17, 2025

Feb 6, 2018

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                <h1>Gentrification, interrupted: the Comet Tavern reopens</h1>
                <h2><p>After holding its own for more than 60 years as one of Seattle's most hallowed dive bars, the Comet Tavern abruptly closed its doors last autumn. Today it reopened. In what is beginning to look like a quest to preserve ruin renew Seattle’s last-surviving dive bars, Dave</p></h2>
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               <p>By <a href="/author/berit-anderson-crosscut-com/">Berit Anderson</a></p> 
              <p><time datetime="2025-02-04T05:00:00-08:00">Feb 6, 2018</time></p>
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            <p>After holding its own for more than 60 years as one of Seattle's most hallowed dive bars, the Comet Tavern abruptly closed its doors last autumn. Today it <a href="http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/2014/03/30/famous-seattle-dive-bar-re-opens-old-seattle-not-dead-yet/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">reopened</a>. In what is beginning to look like a quest to preserve ruin renew Seattle’s last-surviving dive bars, Dave Meinert — who <a href="http://seattletimes.com/html/pacificnw/2012302278_pacificpmeinert18.html?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">purchased the 5 Point Cafe</a> in 2009, and was reportedly in talks about the shuttered Canterbury <a href="http://www.komonews.com/news/around-the-sound/comet-tavern-dave-meinert-231040211.html?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">last winter</a> — joined fellow Capitol Hill music man Jason Lajeunesse to (<a href="http://www.capitolhillseattle.com/2013/11/the-tavern-formerly-known-as-the-comet-has-new-owner/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">reportedly steeply</a>) outbid others and purchase the Comet last November.<a href="http://www.seattlemet.com/arts-and-entertainment/culture-fiend/articles/the-comet-tavern-reopens-and-reintroduces-itself-to-capitol-hill-march-2014?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">At first glance</a>, the new Comet looks both less filthy and brighter than the old one. There’s also a new, lighter music schedule that reduces the number of live shows and adds a Sunday Country Lunch (when barflies can listen to country musicians and djs while eating chili and cornbread). Starting today, the <a href="http://thecomettavern.com/?ref=dev.cascadepbs.org">new Comet</a> is open daily from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. — C.H.</p>
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After holding its own for more than 60 years as one of Seattle's most hallowed dive bars, the Comet Tavern abruptly closed its doors last autumn. Today it reopened. In what is beginning to look like a quest to preserve ruin renew Seattle’s last-surviving dive bars, Dave Meinert — who purchased the 5 Point Cafe in 2009, and was reportedly in talks about the shuttered Canterbury last winter — joined fellow Capitol Hill music man Jason Lajeunesse to (reportedly steeply) outbid others and purchase the Comet last November.At first glance, the new Comet looks both less filthy and brighter than the old one. There’s also a new, lighter music schedule that reduces the number of live shows and adds a Sunday Country Lunch (when barflies can listen to country musicians and djs while eating chili and cornbread). Starting today, the new Comet is open daily from 12 p.m. to 2 a.m. — C.H.

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By Berit Anderson

Berit Anderson was Managing Editor at Crosscut, following tech, culture, media and politics. She founded Crosscut's Community Idea Lab.   Previously community manager of the Tribune Company’