SEATTLE — A Seattle favorite, Ristorante Machiavelli, is closing after more than 35 years in the Capitol Hill neighborhood. The owner announced that its last day will be this Thursday.
"It's really hard, I wanted this to carry on forever, with the hope that maybe my daughters would run it someday," said Suzette Jarding, the owner of Ristorante Machiavelli.
But that hope is fading away after a tough choice no one wanted to make.
"Probably the hardest decision I've ever had to make,” said Jarding. “I know what this place means to people. I've always known that, and that's what makes me so sad, that people will be losing a special part of Seattle."
Jarding is losing a special part of her. The Capitol Hill institution has been dishing up countless memories for 35 years.
"I met my husband here. I have three daughters, and I worked through all their pregnancies here,” said Jarding. “It's a massive part of my life."
The Italian staple is slated to close this week.
"It's been tough since the pandemic for sure,” said Jarding. “The foot traffic in this part of the neighborhood has definitely been down; staffing has been a challenge, a lot of people in the back of the house live in outlying areas, and it's hard to find parking."
Jarding is heartbroken and says she'll miss working with her staff and serving her wonderful customers. “The great moments, of seeing half the room and knowing that you know everybody here, it's like having a party every night," she says.
That party will officially be ending Thursday, Feb. 15.
"Want to thank everyone so much for what they've given us. I mean, I feel like we've given, but you've given so much back,” said Jarding. “We just feel so lucky to have gotten to spend so much of your lives with us."
Machiavelli's second location in Edmonds will remain open. It's located at 316 Main Street.