The Esmay Building (3714 S Hudson St…right across from the Greenhouse Apartments) has long been a topic for neighborhood business rumors, potential, and hopes. I’ve reported before on some initial buzz about a Scott Staples Uneedaburger project… only to have that one eventually fizzle out and the building to continue to sit empty. 
For the past year or so, with the exception to a recent failure to pay utilities notice clearly posted up on the door (intriguingly addressed to Columbia CIty Brewery…which doesn’t really seem to exist), there’s been zero action on the property.
A few weeks ago however, a new site plan went up–the business owner…Marination. 
Before you get too excited about those beloved Korean-Hawaiin tacos once again being available in Columbia City (the Marination foodtruck once had a residency in the lot where the new PCC is going in) the initial site plan seems to suggest that the plan is solely to convert the space into a new commissary kitchen. We also know that a posted site plan is by no means a guarantee that anything is going to happen with the space…plenty of them never come to fruition.
Who knows though…perhaps there’s a chance Marination will realize the building would be a great option for a Southend Marination Station or Mai Kai Columbia City.
As long as that commissary had a take out window, that would be enough! 🙂
It’d be a shame if they were here and the neighborhood didn’t get any kind of benefit.
I’ve always thought Marination would be a great addition to the business district–loyal following, great food, good people. It’d bring a ton of people in for lunch/dinner. That spot would be great for both a kitchen and a restaurant like their Marination Station on Capitol Hill.
I’d love for that to happen.
The owners, I think, live in the neighborhood or close by. Marinations kitchen used to be behind Vita in Seward Park. Big blue was always parked behind it.
Seems like a waste of potentially great and historic retail or restaurant to just turn it into a kitchen. Essentially just a wharehouse no one can enter or shop or eat at. I am sure it is a good spot for them…but it can’t be cheap. If it was, other businesses would have snatched it up sooner. Really doesn’t do anything for the neighborhood except a few jobs maybe.
Maybe we should lobby them to make it a restaurant as well. Maybe there is a restaurant in the works. ANyone know the owners?
I’ve heard the landlord wants way too much and is kind of difficult to work with. That’s why it has sat for so long. Hope its a restraurant and not just a kitchen.
Maybe they’ll park a truck outside the building to serve people.