Seattle’s Conor Byrne Pub Could Be Reborn as a Co-op | Eater Seattle

"On March 31 a capacity crowd packed Ballard’s Conor Byrne Pub for what was billed as the venue’s final night — a send-off to its long-running Sunday open mics and one of Seattle’s most historic bars and music venues — but the evening ended with a plan to reopen it as an employee- and community-owned cooperative. Employees, musicians, and advocates announced a co-op model that will let friends and fans invest beyond buying drinks through an initial fundraiser and later membership; in less than a week the effort brought in $46,000 of a $40,000 goal. The nascent co-op is led by president Adria Dukich, who has worked at Conor Byrne for 13 years and most recently served as operating manager, with fellow board members Dan Sodomka (bringing business, marketing, and nonprofit leadership experience) and Maria Rocco (a finance, legal, and trade strategy management expert). Staff pursued the co-op structure after outgoing owner Diarmuid Cullen first offered workers a chance to purchase the bar, hoping a membership-driven model will create a more sustainable space. Customer-facing changes are planned — including “building out our no-alcohol drink menu” — and other shifts will be considered once reopening is complete. The transition is being sponsored by the Northwest Community Development Center and is supported by the building’s landlords (who also have an office in the same building for their firm Heliotrope Architects) and who plan to join when membership opens. The team hopes to reopen before summer, and as Dukich put it, “We hope that Conor Byrne Cooperative can be a positive example of how creative spaces in our city can evolve and thrive.”" - Mark DeJoy