When it comes to haute cuisine and carte du jour, Hazel Dell will never be mistaken for Paris. The sparsity of fine-dining establishments in Hazel Dell has become a running joke in Clark County, admittedly perpetuated by this editorial’s introduction.
But we also hasten to make two points: Many people find it easier to insult Hazel Dell than to actually visit the many good restaurants that already are there. Second, even if the running joke is not so fictional, an unfolding trend indicates that solutions are arriving, even during this Great Recession. As Michael Andersen reported in Monday’s Columbian, Five Guys Burgers and Fries has been packin’ in the meal-time, sit-down crowds since opening in December on 78th Street just west of Interstate 5. Across the street, Buffalo Wild Wings is under construction with an opening set for this summer. In West Hazel Dell at Northwest 36th Avenue and Northwest 126th Street, Farrar’s Bistro has been open since 2007, and the same is true at Blind Onion Pizza on Highway 99. Those relatively new eateries form a diverse array of dining choices, combined with established restaurants such as Peachtree, Hazel Dell Brewpub, Sushi Tsunami, Billygan’s Roadhouse in Salmon Creek and more than a dozen other popular spots.
So we say kudos to all the hungry Hazel Delltoids. Go for the grub and chow down!
Of course, this trend still falls far short of the dizzying assortment of restaurants across town on 164th and 192nd avenues, where rapid growth and tighter population densities produce plenty of consumers. Nevertheless, the trend in Hazel Dell should be a source of pride for folks in that area, folks like Betty Sue Morris, the former Clark County commissioner who lives in Felida.
Morris has long championed the drive to draw more restaurants to Hazel Dell. In 2008 she guided the county’s creation of discounts on roads and sewer fees for quality restaurants that would come to Hazel Dell. Only one restaurant — Farrar’s Bistro — has taken advantage of that offer, but we suspect that when the economic recovery kicks in, the Hazel Dell restaurant trend will accelerate, too.
Another factor in Hazel Dell’s relatively low number of restaurants could have something to do with daytime demographics. Compared to east county, the Hazel Dell, Salmon Creek and Felida areas have far fewer office buildings. Those are the places that churn out hungry noontime diners by the hundreds. But if an economic recovery could boost commercial development in Hazel Dell, that particular customer base could start to grow as well.
Another factor in Hazel Dell could be a too-narrow focus among restaurant developers. Andersen quoted Ron Lauser, a retired developer and Realtor who sits on the Three Creeks Advisory Council: “I definitely think a nice restaurant would be economically feasible. What (developers) don’t realize is that Hazel Dell draws from Felida, Salmon Creek. They never see the demographics that they’re looking for, because they don’t look far enough.”
Nine years ago, Morris offered this backhanded boast in a Columbian story: “The four recognized food groups are well represented in Hazel Dell: fast, frozen, home delivered and takeout. But I want a fifth: sit-down with atmosphere.” Well, finally, more of that atmosphere could be arriving, Betty Sue. Perhaps in a few years, all of that hoity toity haute cuisine can really kick in and become as important in Hazel Dell as plate-bustin’ portions and low prices.
