Planned Tavern Move Riles Group In/Around: Hillyard

Harvey Schuyler thought moving The Hub tavern to a new address outside Hillyard’s business district was no big deal.

Instead, the tavern owner found himself targeted by Hillyard residents who worry that The Hub’s new location, 5510 N. Market, will put drunk drivers too close to the children who frequent Harmon Park and the Hillyard Pool.

“I thought they wanted taverns out of the main drag in Hillyard,” Schuyler said. “I’m conforming to what they want.”

But Todd Homa, president of the Hillyard Business Association, said he wants nothing of the kind.

“By putting an alcohol establishment within two blocks of Harmon Park we are endangering our children,” Homa said.

“I’m not suggesting that The Hub is in any way irresponsible. But the fact is people go to bars to get intoxicated, and drunk driving is how a lot of people get into accidents.”

Homa’s association has crusaded against having too many taverns in Hillyard. In 1989 it sought and won a moratorium from the Washington State Liquor Control Board on new taverns on Market Street between Wellesley and Rowan.

That means no new taverns can open in Hillyard’s main business district on Market. Only taverns that were open before the moratorium can stay in business.

“We told the Liquor Control Board that we had enough taverns to serve the population of Hillyard,” Joyce Jones said. “We did not want Hillyard to become a destination place for people wanting to go to taverns.”

Schuyler said he didn’t know what difference the proximity of his new tavern to the playfield and pool will make.

“If they’re concerned about a park, a pool and drunk drivers, just four blocks away there are four taverns,” Schuyler said.

All Schuyler has to do is get a city building permit and Liquor Control Board approval to move his tavern to from 5008 N. Market to 5510 N. Market. Schuyler plans to make an addition to a vacant building, which formally housed a restaurant.

He anticipates no problems in getting the needed approvals.