12/04/2025
Greetings Ferry County and surrounds.
The 18 North Crew wishes you a final farewell as the last day of business for 18 North Kitchen & Bar in beautiful downtown Republic, WA will be Sunday, December 7th with Brunch service from 9-3. We will be open daily from now until then from noon until 8 pm and we would love it if you would drop by to say farewell.
We didn't quite make it to 4 years but when half of all restaurants fail within two, I'm going to count our 46 months as a win.
It's a win to have served so many wonderful folks and to have helped celebrate birthdays and anniversaries and engagements and adoptions and houses closing and first dates and so much more including one proposal! And also to have provided comfort when loved ones have passed or relationships have failed or pipes have burst or cars have broken down or construction is taking months longer than expected.
It's a win to have been the sponsor for Republic High School's Knowledge Bowl team for their first two years, feeding the team every week during their season.
It's a win to have had the privilege of serving our seniors in the Diners' Choice program funded by Rural Resources. I've gotten to know so many lovely folks in our community through this program which promotes socialization as well as nutrition. FYI, we will still provide frozen meals as expected for January, February and March. If you are a member of Diners' Choice and have not yet signed up, please come into the restaurant before the 7th and make your selections or give Lisa a call.
It's a win to have served 4144 Reubens and 6161 burgers, over 1300 benedicts, and countless gallons of soup!
It's a win to have trained and worked with approximately 35 staff over these almost 4 years. We were blessed to work with many good folks. I believe the people that were supposed to be here, were here including:
Ty who was our chef since the beginning and retired in September. Ty took our original menu ideas and made them great including the best Reuben around, amazing chicken strips and sandwiches, the Rainbow Bowl and plant based burgers, housemade EVERYthing, endless soup varieties and dinners and specials PLUS catering!
Harvey who helped us open and invented one of my favorites: the Belgian Bennie.
Fausto who helped us through that first summer as we got our bearings.
Bob who was my confidant and passed away a few months after retiring this past April.
John who began as a person very skeptical about anyone who might have a beer and in the end was one of our better bartenders.
Morgen who came to us with Roxie and Joe from Pine Grove and came back when Bob retired.
Carolyn who is a terrific prep cook and brings fashion flair to the kitchen.
Alex and Liz who, although they have only been with us a few months, have stepped up and feel like they've been with us for years. I met Alex when he was a high school student and captain of the Knowledge Bowl team. He's also besties with our beloved Isabel. As for Liz, I tell the story of offering her a job for the past 3 years as she worked basically all over town. I finally got her and she is just as lovely as I always knew she'd be but alas, our tenure in the restaurant business is going to be short lived.
And then there's Malena, or as everyone in town knows her: MO. Whatever the heartaches and misgivings about running a restaurant, I wouldn't trade it for the world because it gave me the opportunity to know my awesome daughter in a new and unique way. That young woman is amazing and in these last few months of the restaurant I've really seen her shine as she assumed most of the responsibilities of running the kitchen. I couldn't have done these 46 months without her and I'm excited to see what's next in store for her.
To our loyal customers, I thank you for 46 months of memories ... 46 months of awesome conversations and getting to know you.
What the future holds is currently uncertain beyond the fact that we are not selling the building. When I moved here my vision was to open a gallery/makers' space and have time to make stained glass and fused glass and clay and felting and all the other arts I love ... and perhaps that's what I will now be able to pursue. Thank you to those of you who have been a constant source of support over the years. I'm trying to be positive but I'd be lying if I didn't admit that I'm sad and disappointed it didn't last longer.
Take care of yourselves and I will see you around town!
Be well,
Lisa and the 18 North Crew
