Just under four years after reopening with new owners and a major overhaul, 15th Ave E medieval dive bar turned medieval not-so-dive bar the Canterbury Ale House has new ownership.

Business partners Pavit Jagga and Ryan Lewis are taking over the 15th at Mercer watering hole. You might hear Capitol Hill favorite yo, son Macklemore on the sound system but, no, it’s not that Ryan Lewis.

Entrepreneur Jagga tells CHS that this Ryan Lewis is the owner behind Belltown’s Amber and that the two friends will be working together to bring new energy to the “one of a kind” 15th Ave E bar that Jagga has long coveted. Expect a new food menu soon and a wider selection of beer, wine, and booze.

The new owners take over from two big players in Capitol Hill nightlife.

Neumos partner Mike Meckling, and Sam’s Tavern owner James Snyder hooked up to bring the Canterbury into the new era of Capitol Hill’s food and drink boom after Capitol Hill Housing, the owner of the Fredonia Apartments building the Canterbury has called home since 1976, began a search for new ownership of the tavern. At one point, Lost Lake partners Jason Lajeunesse and David Meinert were attached to the project before stepping aside for the Meckling-Snyder partnership. Meckling and Snyder helped former owners Stefanie and David Roberge get a good start on retirement, buying the business outright, including the Canterbury name.

The new Canterbury reopened in 2014 with dark walnut everywhere, a giant new bar, a vintage pool table, a big roll-up door, lots of video screens, and the old suit of armor.

Now, the Canterbury starts another new era. Jagga told CHS last year as the planned takeover was just getting started that his primary hope was simply to keep the bar’s great history alive. With the deal on the bar closing this week, the Canterbury’s new chapters can now begin.

The Canterbury Ale House is located at 534 15th Ave E. You can learn more at facebook.com/pg/CanterburyAleHouse.

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