Aug
15
Dante’s in the University District
This family-owned bar has been a staple of the University District since 1966, and for good reason. “We are very casual, welcoming, and affordable,” explains events manager Rob Johnson. “We know who we are – we’re a college bar. We’re not trying to be an ultra lounge, or anything that we’re not. […] Especially in this economy people know they can come here and eat, and drink, and entertain themselves, affordably.” As for the name, well, it was just something fun, easy to remember, and lends itself to plenty of interesting décor.
Dante’s is not only affordable, they’re charitable. They have worked with a number of local non-profits, and are happy to use their three-level, 5,000-square-foot space to help host fundraisers for student groups raising money for a wide variety of causes over the years. They’ve even lent a hand to charity right down the street, fundraising for Animal Talk Rescue on Roosevelt Ave, a non-profit animal shelter devoted to finding foster care and adoptive homes for kittens and adult cats.
“We try to maintain a good relationship with our neighbors because that’s really important to us,” Rob explains, and those aren’t just words. Dante’s recognizes the hard work of their Roosevelt Avenue neighbors – including many repair service shops – and offers them a half-price deal in return for patronizing their local business. “We know they’re working hard,” he points out, “and probably not in air conditioning.” In addition, they maintain a close relationship with Scarecrow Video to promote movie nights and premieres, and are treated to a regular influx of coed sports teams looking to celebrate (or drown their sorrows) after a game at the nearby University Playfield.
Dante’s has definitely established their social media presence, with a website, Facebook page, Twitter and MySpace accounts, and even a few Meetup.com Groups. “We can get the word out pretty efficiently,” Rob notes. “We don’t take ourselves that seriously. We try not to over-promise and under-deliver – we like to keep it simple and to the point. We don’t have girls dancing in cages, we don’t have foam parties […] We just try to give a good product and good entertainment, consistently, and it’s worked for the last forty years.”
Dante’s
5300 Roosevelt Way NE
Seattle, WA 98105
206-525-1300
www.dantesseattle.com
Facebook: Dante’s Seattle
MySpace: Dante’s Nightclub
Twitter: @DantesSeattle
Story and Photos by Auburn Scallon
