Another Longtime Tenant May Leave University Village -- Ram Cafe's Lease Won't Be Renewed

Another longtime tenant at University Village may be on its way out as new owners reshape the 38-year-old shopping center northeast of the University of Washington.

The Ram Cafe and Sports Bar's lease expires in June and won't be renewed.

"We've been here 18 years, and if we don't project the image they want, we can adjust," said Jeff Chandler, regional manager of Ram International, a Tacoma-based chain with three other restaurants, all in Tacoma.

Last year the center's owners, Stuart Sloan and Matt Griffin, refused to renew the lease held by the Bellevue-based Lamonts apparel store. Lamonts left, and the 105,000-square-foot space on two levels was renovated for a new Barnes & Noble book store and Eddie Bauer and The Gap clothing stores.

Griffin confirmed that the center's managers told the Ram that its lease won't be renewed. Although Griffin said they won't absolutely refuse to look at another concept for the cafe, he said the shopping center is interested in something he described as more "family-oriented." He said they have not yet talked with a potential tenant for the 4,000-square-foot space.

Two restaurants have been added to the center this year, Piatti, a Northern California Italian restaurant, and Leann Chinn, which specializes in Asian-American food.

The Ram, at the northeast corner of the shopping center, has operated under several names through the years, including Mulligan's and the Washington Bar & Grill. It became the Ram about eight years ago.

"We'd love to stay in the Village," said Jeff Paradise, the cafe's manager.

Chandler said the Ram, with 45 full-time employees, has the highest sales volume of the 25-year-old chain's four outlets. He declined to give dollar figures.

The restaurant is open for lunch and dinner and enjoys heavy walk-in traffic at the shopping center, Chandler said.

The Ram's owners said they like the upgrading work going on at the Village and believe they could become a part of its new image.

"We've proven ourselves and are confident they can't get another restaurant that will do better," Chandler said.

Chandler said he still is trying to work something out with University Village management, but in the meantime he also is scouting the neighborhood for another site.