Neighbors Ired Over Possible Bar By Church -- Owner Says Something Else May Actually Go In That Spot

Queen Anne residents, concerned that a restaurant-bar might move into a new building near a church and school on top of the hill, will meet tonight to oppose the project. The meeting will be

at 7:30 p.m. at the Triangle Montessori Center, 550 Mercer St.

David Kolpin said he and his neighbors became concerned when they heard that Harry's Burger Establishment & Good Time Bar was moving into a new apartment-retail building under construction at 1835 Queen Anne Ave. N. Harry's used to operate in the Hansen Baking Co. building at the bottom of the hill but the building recently was demolished.

The new site on top of the hill is just across the street from Bethany Presbyterian Church and a couple blocks from McClure Middle School. "We're trying to raise the community to get the word out," Kolpin said.

The neighbors are worried because the bar attracted a younger, noisier drinking crowd. They contend that clientele would not be suitable in the neighborhood because of the school, church and a major playfield for youth baseball and soccer.

Last week they presented their concerns to the Queen Anne Community Council. The council's land-use committee has scheduled a public meeting on the issue for 7:30 p.m. July 1 at the Queen Anne Anne Community Center, 1901 First Ave. W.

Adam Kariotoglou, owner of the Romio's Pizza chain, who recently purchased Harry's, says he is planning to put a restaurant in the new building on top of the hill. He says the neighbors' fears may be unfounded.

Kariotoglou said he hasn't decided yet whether it will be Harry's, another Romio's Pizza or a pub-restaurant. One option, he said, may be to keep Harry's at the bottom of the hill, locating it in a new retail complex planned for the old Hansen Baking Co. site.

The restaurant owner said he wants to assure the neighborhood that he is planning a restaurant that will attract families. "I want to make people happy, not unhappy . . . not to (attract) a bunch of drunks."

Kariotoglou said he contributes to school and church events in the neighborhoods where his restaurants operate. He said he sponsored 22 youth and adult baseball and soccer teams last year.