Mariners sign long-term lease for old Pyramid Brewery building

The Seattle Mariners have signed a long-term lease for the old Pyramid Brewery building located at 1201 1st Ave. South. Immediate development plans for the property include a restaurant and boutique brew pub, as well as flexible interior event space that could accommodate groups as large as 800 people. As development of the property continues, plans may include such things as community space made available to support businesses with women and Black, Indigenous and People of Color (BIPOC) ownership.

“By leasing and renovating the vacant property across from T-Mobile Park, we are investing in our neighborhood’s health and economic vitality. Reactivating this prime property, which has been vacant since spring of 2020, will have long-term benefits for the immediate area and over time, as our plans continue to unfold, we hope to activate the space in ways that will provide economic opportunities and equitable outcomes for the broader community,” said Fred Rivera, Seattle Mariners Executive Vice President and General Counsel.

Andersen Construction is the General Contractor with SHKS Architects providing design and restoration consulting. Contractors have committed to meet goals for significant participation of women- and BIPOC-owned companies in all aspects of the project, including design, construction, and supplies. This commitment is closely aligned with the Mariners aim to increase collaboration with diverse business partners.

Hospitality plans for the property include:

• Steelheads Alley, a boutique brew pub with Resident Brewer Rodney Hines, co-founder and CEO of Métier Brewing, recognized as Washington’s first Black-owned brewery;
• A restaurant with seating for 250 diners;
• Indoor/outdoor event space that would be open for events at T-Mobile Park and Lumen Field and other special events;
• Flexible interior space that could accommodate up to 800 people for events such as weddings, parties, community gatherings to view sports events, etc.

Project Timeline

• Permit applications for the various elements of the project, including site work and use, have been filed with Seattle Department of Construction and Inspections;
• Interior demolition work is underway;
• Targeted opening -- July/August 2022.

Project Details

Steelheads Alley, featuring Métier Brewing Company

• Named for the Seattle Steelheads, the team that played a single season in the West Coast Baseball Association of the Negro Leagues in 1946;
• Located between the main restaurant and event space in the area formerly occupied by Pyramid’s brewing equipment;
• Décor of the boutique pub will pay tribute to the teams and players from the Negro Leagues.

Steelheads Alley will feature Resident Brewery Métier Brewing Company (MBC), a local-award winning brewery led by CEO/co-founder Rodney Hines. Established in 2018, MBC has been recognized as Washington’s first Black-owned brewery with a mission rooted in a deep commitment to foster diversity and create a welcoming gathering space for all.

“When the chance to partner with the Mariners arose, we were incredibly excited by the opportunity to be part of this history and reach even more people with our award-winning beers and mission to inspire bigger dreams for all,” said Hines. “We feel really fortunate to be joining the organization at such an exciting and critical time and look forward to the many ways this space will provide access to fans and community members from all backgrounds.”

Steelheads Alley, along with the new restaurant, event space and indoor/outdoor garden, will offer up to 10 rotating taps, exclusively featuring MBC beers, including some small-batch craft beers brewed onsite.

Sports Bar & Grill

• The restaurant will be an upscale Sports Bar & Grill with seating for 250 diners;
• The menu will feature Pacific Northwest cuisine with locally-sourced ingredients, local craft brews, including Métier Brewing, and Washington wines;
• Décor will be sports and Northwest-themed with wood and other design elements to create a cozy atmosphere;
• It will be open year round.

Indoor/Outdoor Garden

• The south east end of the property will be an entertainment space, which will also have access to the event space to create an indoor/outdoor gathering place;
• Converted shipping containers will provide a selection of craft beers, local wines, specialty cocktails and casual bites from local purveyors including pizza, street tacos, burgers and hot dogs, and local seafood;
• It will be open for events at T-Mobile Park as well as Lumen Field;
• On non-game days, the dog-friendly space will feature interactive games and sports broadcasts as well as activities like movie nights, holiday celebrations and live music.

Event Space

• The 15,000 square foot warehouse space is being renovated into a flexible interior event space with room for up to 800 people;
• It will have state of the art audio/visual systems including large flat screen TVs to host marquee sports and entertainment events;
• The Mariners have had discussions with music promotors about using the space to stage small concerts;
• Food and beverages from the restaurant, Steelheads Alley, and the outdoor street food containers;
• Original brick interior walls will remain exposed to preserve the historic look of the building, which was originally built in 1914. The building’s huge old growth support pillars will be repurposed for other uses inside the property.

Future Plans

In addition to the ground-level, the Mariners lease of the property includes approximately 6,000 square feet on the second and third floors. Currently configured as offices, the space could be programmed for a number of different purposes including hosting, on a pro bono basis, small community nonprofits working to advance social and racial equity goals and programs that support women and BIPOC owned businesses. The offerings could include free, shared workspace, mentorship, business development support, access to investment resources and more.

Consistent with the Mariners Mission, the focus would be on supporting a resilient and equitable economy where all members of the community can thrive.

Building History

The building was constructed in 1914 by the Oregon & Washington Railway as warehouse space for shipping tenants. An early tenant included A.M. Castle Company, a distributor of specialty metals. In the mid-1950s, the building was the site of a truck dealership and garage.

The building was purchased by Hart Brewing in 1995 and operated as Pyramid Brewery and Alehouse until May 2020, when it closed due to the economic impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Partners/Contractors

• Andersen Construction – General Contractor
• SHKS Architects – Design & Restoration
• Métier Brewing Company – Resident Brewery