Salvage is an industry of mystery. Even when we are privy to information about the history of a space, we rarely get the full story. “Where did this material originate?”, “who thought it was a good idea to use 78,000 nails to affix this cabinet to the wall?” and “why did a homeowner insist on pink shag carpet in the master bath?” are questions that cross the minds of our crew frequently. On the store side of the operation, there are also a myriad of mysteries. And sometimes, we’re lucky enough to get to the bottom of the most common one: “where is this material going to end up?”
In our new blog series “Salvage in the Wild,” we chase down old inventory and highlight the commercial spaces that have put them to good use.
Our first feature is on Smarty Pants Garage in Burien, sister to Georgetown’s beloved Smarty Pants. There are many reasons to visit the relatively new space– an expansive menu of sandwiches (which I recently discovered can all be made with Field Roast for my fellow vegetarians), refreshing libations (craft beer, fantastic margaritas, and a killer bloody mary to wash down your brunch), and lively events (live music, motorcycle meetups, and more)– but it is the salvage cloaked interior that demanded my visit.
A repurposer’s delight, nearly every detail of the space was designed and crafted by owner Tim Ptak with reclaimed material. As talented of a metal fabricator as he is a restaurateur, he seamlessly blends the iconic elements of a garage with those that make you want to pull up a stool and get comfortable.
Mahogany planks that were once Boeing crates cover the walls and bar, lending warmth, while industrial pendant lights, paired with floor-to-ceiling glass-paned garage doors, provide the perfect balance of light. Draught beers are poured from a custom tap system, fashioned to a massive industrial pipe that sweeps high above the bar and into the wall. And as tribute to Tim’s other passion, motorcycles (that may seem mammoth in any other space,) are delightfully displayed between trophys on a nook above the kitchen.
If you aren’t sold yet, the newly finished patio will surely do so. Complete with a stage for live music, it is spacious, yet cozy and begs a visit on a warm summer night. Oh, and be sure not to miss the fine art in the hall by the bathrooms. This epic naturescape was left behind by the previous tenants and repurposed to, you know, reflect the Smarty Pants aesthetic.
More information about Smarty Pants Garage, including an event schedule and full menu is available on their site.
And if you know of a particularly salvagey gem for the series, drop us a line at: [email protected]
