Damaged In Fire, Brown Bag Cafe Reopening Planned

KIRKLAND, WA - After a March 18 two-alarm fire, many in Kirkland are wondering when - or if - the popular Brown Bag Cafe will reopen. The family that owns and operates the Brown Bag Cafe says the restaurant will reopen as soon as damage is repaired.

Jordan Palmerton, a Brown Bag manager and daughter of owner Alex Awasthi, said the family is targeting next summer for reopening.

"The fire damage itself was contained to the kitchen, but the smoke and water damage is severe throughout the entire building. We have been told it might have to be brought down to studs," she told Patch.

The fire broke out around 10 p.m. on March 18 and fire crews from Bellevue, Bothell, Redmond, and Woodinville pitched in to help Kirkland firefighters put out the fire.

The restaurant, located at 12217 Northeast 116th St., opened in Kirkland in 1994. The restaurant was originally located in Carnation, and had a Redmond location until 2008.

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