

(WSB photo, February 4th)

When the owners of 6451 California SW, most recently the Feedback Lounge, tore away its facade for remodeling, they told us they didn’t have a confirmed tenant yet.

Now, two weeks later, they do.

The prospective tenants we met while checking out the renovations earlier this month were a West Seattle couple, Colin and Donna Pickering, well-known for The Whisky Bar downtown (2122 2nd Avenue).

And our check of the online liquor-license application files today revealed they’ve leased the space, to become their second location.

We just talked with Donna Pickering, who confirms the name will be The Whisky West, and that the space will be as similar to their downtown space as possible.

They’ve operated the downtown bar – on its second location – for 15 years, and owned a home in Gatewood for more than a decade. So for everyone who wanted to see a local operation take over this space, this is it.

She tells us they’re still working out a lot of details – “We’ve just had (the space) for a week!” – even the decision about whether to be 21 and over or to allow under-21s in for part of the day, perhaps just in the afternoon. Whatever the age limits turn out to be, she says they expect to be open from lunch until 2 am, at least for starters.

Their specialties will remain whisky and craft cocktails – and “good bar food,” probably with a menu somewhat expanded beyond what they offer in their first location; she mentioned sliders and fish and chips, among other things. They’re likely to have at least 20 beers on tap; their current location also offers 60 bottled beers.

While they won’t have regular music, they do plan to have some local bands.

But there’s still a lot of work to do – “it’s going to be beautiful,” Donna promises – so they’re not expecting to be open before June, she says; if you want a taste of what it’ll be like, visit The Whisky Bar downtown, until The Whisky West opens its doors.