Waitsburg Main Street sees big changes this month

Bar Bacetto and Gaudy Gals on Main are closing, and former city hall sale is moving forward.

WAITSBURG -The last few years have seen significant changes on Waitsburg's Main Street. This June, the city lost two popular businesses, and several empty buildings are finding new owners.

Mike and Erin Easton announced they would not reopen Bar Bacetto in July. The James Beard 2024 nominee for Best New Restaurant opened in October 2022 and offered Easton's signature pasta, cocktails, and excellent service. Bar Bacetto started as an informal, no-reservations, twelve-seat pasta counter reminiscent of Easton's acclaimed Seattle lunch spot Il Corvo. It soon evolved into a full-service restaurant, with almost double the seating and staff, and requiring reservations.

"We really enjoyed it, we love Waitsburg. We created a beautiful thing for a while, but ultimately, it was not sustainable," said Easton.

Bar Bacetto will remain as a venue, and the owners are exploring possible uses, including special events and a visiting chef's pop-up. "Where other chefs from out of town can cruise in and do a couple-day pop-up in the space," said Easton.

At the beginning of the year, Mike and Erin bought and remodeled a small pizza shop at 1619 E. Isaacs Avenue in Walla Walla. Bacetto's Detroit Style will open on June 26, with Erin in charge.

"We are so excited to share our pizza with the valley, and we appreciate everyone's support and enthusiasm for our new project," said Erin.

Bacetto Detroit Style pizzas are built on thick, airy crusts similar to the Waitsburg restaurant's amazing focaccia. The pizzeria will be open Wednesday through Saturday, 5 to 11 p.m., and 2 to 8 p.m. on Sundays. No minors and no reservations; however, takeout will be available.

Angela Potts

One of the pizzas served at Bacetto Detroit Style.

On June 26, Columbia Hospitality announced that Mike would join The Kitchen at Abeja as Executive Chef on July 1. Easton's menu will debut on August 1, after he spends the next month developing menus that will complement Abeja wines.

"I have been in love with Abeja for over ten years, after the first time I cooked a wine dinner there," said Easton. Once this opportunity came his way, Easton said he couldn't pass it up.

The Kitchen at Abeja is located on the 38-acre historic farmstead that hosts the acclaimed winery and The Inn at Abeja, managed by Columbia Hospitality. The unique setting offers guests an immersive wine-country experience, blending exceptional cuisine, award-winning wines, and luxurious accommodations amidst the natural beauty of the Walla Walla Valley.

Courtesy Photo

Abeja Executive Chef Mike Easton with winemakers Dan Wampfler and Amy Alvarez-Wampfler.

Main Street will also say goodbye to Gaudy Gals on Main. On June 25, sisters Lori Davis and Kimi Bruzas announced they were closing after four years in business. They plan to reopen the shop on July 5 to give their patrons a chance to shop 50% off on all inventory until all or most of it has sold

The shop opened inside the Waitsburg Town Hall in 2020, with curated antiques, collectibles, jewelry, furniture, and original art that reflected each sister's style. Lori loves painted furniture and all things '70s. Kimi brings glitz and her quirky collages. Both sisters value uniqueness and quality in everything they selected for the shop.

Their vision extended to community outreach as well. The Gaudy Gal float in the 2022 Waitsburg Christmas Parade was a vision in pink and crystal with a full chandelier.

Times Archive

Kimi Bruzas and Lori Davis brightened up Waitsburg's Main Street with curated gifts, collectables, and original art at Gaudy Gals on Main since 2020.

Town Hall benefited from their presence as renters and on-site managers. They helped schedule events, answer questions, and organize vendor shows.

Bruzas will begin working at "The Times" on July 1. Ten Ton Coffee will offer a selection of Gaudy Gal cards and prints and exhibit original art by Bruzas. Davis will take advantage of her time from the shop to spend more time with family, including her grandchildren and her delightful donkeys.

A new business is planned for the former city hall at 147 Main Street. The city accepted an offer from Padraic Slattery at a special meeting on June 13. In the accepted sales agreement, Slattery said he would renovate the former bank building to be opened as a designer-grade hotel with eight rooms upstairs and an organic wine bar on the ground floor.

Slattery is completing the renovation of the former Weinhard Hotel in Dayton, Wash., retaining the 15 rooms and planning an organic wine bar and specialty coffee shop. Slattery will reopen the business as Hotel Hardware this July.

Last week, there was confusion about whether the deal for the Waitsburg property would go through after Slattery expressed reservations on social media the day after the agreement was accepted. However, Waitsburg City Administrator Randy Hinchliffe confirmed that the sales agreement had been signed by both parties, including receipt of $10,000 earnest money from the buyer, allowing the sale to move forward.

"Building to be tastefully restored to showcase its historic charm and beauty," said Slattery in the proposal's plan summary.

The city vacated the building in August 2021 when the Waitsburg City Hall was moved to 106 Main Street.