(Image: CHS)
Location, location, location… A Capitol Hill food and drink family’s reshuffling has its centerpiece restaurant moving into a space on a quieter part of Capitol Hill where its most recently launched concept didn’t work out.
Taurus Ox, just finishing its third year of business on the Hill, is moving to 19th Ave E.
With plans to reopen in October, the chef-centric Laotian eatery from Khampaeng “KP” Panyathong is busy readying the former home of 19th Ave E Greek classic Vios as its new home after a move from the E Madison mixed-use building where it first opened in late 2019.
“The amount of food produced out of our little Lao restaurant this summer was bananas—safe to say we’ve logistically outgrown our space,” the Taurus Ox team posted about the change. “With that said, we gladly announce our very necessary expansion into our new home nearby on 19th Ave.”
“Same food, more room for your friends and family to gin khao,” they write.
The shuffling comes after Money Frog, Panyathong’s partnership with Joe and Lucy Ye of Hangry Panda, punted on its quiet start on 19th Ave E and moved to 15th and Pine with hopes the “Pan-Asian Lounge” would find the foot traffic and nightlife scene needed to get the new venture more solidly off the ground.
Money Frog lasted about seven weeks in the space longtime favorite Vios called home for 17 years.
Money Frog was not give the warmest reception on 19th Ave E — an area amid some of the most expensive homes on Capitol Hill and the city — with a few neighbor complaints expressing concern about a “drinking establishment” in the neighborhood holding up some of the buildout of the new restaurant. The owners said that Thomas and Rebecca Soukakos of Vios helped act as guides and allies to help them through the process and get the needed city permits secured despite the pushback.
Taurus Ox, with its Laotian menu and a customer base already established, should fit in a little more solidly in the 19th Ave E mix where Monsoon marked 20 years in 2019. Zeeks Pizza opened in 2018 in new construction on the northwest corner of 19th and Mercer. Across 19th Ave E, Rocket Taco opened earlier that year in the former Kingfish Cafe. That busy year also brought new life to the corner of 19th and Aloha where Macrina opened its first Capitol Hill location. 19th Ave E also features sweets and treats at Hello Robin and its Molly Moon’s window, coffee at Fuel, and a neighborhood grocery at Cone and Steiner.
If Taurus Ox also can’t stick on 19th, Panyathong might eventually be adding a new concept to his rotation that could take a spin here. Early permit paperwork shows the restaurateur has the former Primo Pizza Parlour on First Hill’s 8th Ave lined up to be home to Shallow Pan Pizza, a project in the works in recent months as he has helped shift Money Frog to its new home at 15th and Pine.
Taurus Ox is set to open soon at 903 19th Ave E. You can keep track of updates and learn more at taurusox.square.site.
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You keep trying to shill the notion that the neighborhood, and it’s expensive homeowners, tried to sink Money Frog from the outset due to concerns about alcohol service. There’s also been suggestions in earlier stories that this was somehow racially motivated. Perhaps a nearby resident was opposed to the idea of what they considered a drinking establishment next door, but most people I spoke to had no idea the restaurant was even opening. Those who knew it was were supportive. Some, like me, who dined at Taurus Ox numerous times previously, were excited at the prospect of Money Frog. Who, after all, wants empty storefronts in our neighborhood?
The problems began with the execution and marketing of the Money Frog concept. The owners did a poor job doing market research and an even poorer job marketing their concept to the neighborhood l. The result, although sooner than I would have thought, was no surprise.
So let’s put aside the narrative embracing perceived neighborhood opposition and get behind the Taurus Ox concept in this location. The food is definitely quite good and should have bo problem expanding it’s following in our restaurant and business friendly neighborhood.
I was excited at first for the prospect of Money Frog – as I think Taurus Ox is truly excellent, but when the menu came out it was simply unappealing to me….
The move puts Taurus Ox in a less convenient spot, for me personally, but the larger space may also mean that eat in will become easier, which makes the slight increase in distance unimportant.
If anyone is opposed to an excellent restaurant with alcohol service in the neighborhood, they should leave. Capitol Hill’s food and drink scene are what makes it so special, the more mixed in with residences the better. I’m sure that Bellevue would be glad to have some more Nimby’s! Can’t wait to support the new Taurus Ox.
I am 100% selfishly sad about this, as Taurus Ox has been my main restaurant for takeout since they opened, and I very rarely go to 19th – but I passed by about a week ago and they were completely full to the gills and I get it.
Thank you Taurus Ox for sustaining me during the hardest months of the pandemic! Best of luck in the new digs.
I worked there for a month and I quit because the owner *keeps the tips* to pay off a loan he took out to lease the space. Super disappointing.