Before Ballard was annexed by the City of Seattle, it was the place to be on Sundays to drink liquor, while Seattle was dry. A trolley ran down the hill from Phinney Ridge along 65th Street over to 8th Avenue NW, bringing thirsty drinkers, who were prone to stumbling on and off the streetcar. Thus the area between 3rd and 8th Avenues NW came to be known as Stumbletown.
STUMBLETOWN is also the new name at Joli (618 NW 65th Street at 7th Avenue), with new hours and a new menu to go along with the change. Founded by neighborhood business owner Janet Eicher (Chocolat Vitale) and her partners, the space has been a mainstay in North Ballard for both special occasions and casual evenings out.
With its evolution to STUMBLETOWN, Janet has migrated the Italian-inspired sandwich menu from her former Stumbletown Ballard location (65th and 3rd Ave NW), which are now served day and night. An evening menu offers Italian flavors in small plates, with specials on the weekends.
STUMBLETOWN opens daily at 11am, serving sandwiches and sides, and transitions to dinner at 5pm daily, with both sandwiches and small plates. A full bar offers cocktails, wine and beer, with alcohol-free options. Dinner hours are until 9pm, until 11pm on Friday and Saturday.
Nightly plates include oysters, burrata with seasonal vegetables, arancini, meatballs, Italian meat plate, artisan cheese plate, caesar salad, and more. Current specials on Thursday, Friday and Saturday are cacio e pepe, cavatelli with Italian sausage and rapini, mussels, and beef tagliata.
The Italian sandwiches of fine cured meats and cheeses are tucked into heated ciabatta from Sea Wolf bakers. Eleven sandwiches range from prosciutto, salami or coppa; to caprese, vegetarian or vegan.
The bar at STUMBLETOWN has a long-standing gin focus for cocktails, and has added draft beers, natural wines, plus zero proof mocktails and sodas.
