WEST SEATTLE, Washington, December 31, 2009 (WSFB) – Bradi Jones is the General Manager of the Feedback Lounge in Morgan Junction, a new staple in West Seattle. It’s a rock n’ roll bar that is making a name for itself with excellent food, unique specialty drinks, numerous events, and kickassery in general.
Come celebrate New Year’s Eve at the Feedback tonight! Details below provided by one Bradi Jones.
West Seattle Funblog: So Bradi, how long have you been the General Manager of The Feedback Lounge?
Bradi Jones: Since around March 2008, before the guys even had a space for the bar picked out! And I’m very flattered that they asked me!
WSFB: Where else have you worked?
Bradi: Where haven’t I worked! I guess I haven’t worked at the Lusty Lady!
WSFB: We won’t hold that against you. Please go on.
Bradi: Funny thing is, I’ve done everything in the restaurant industry there is to do, except own my own, which I would never do. I started out in a diner in small town MT, as dishwasher, worked my way through the kitchen as cook, to busboy, waitress, pizza delivery girl, hostess/cocktail server/bartender (at age 18) at an upscale fine-dining steakhouse in Billings.
When I made the move to the “Big City” of Seattle, I started out at the Rocksport, and was there for 6 years, while going to the Art Institute. The Rocksport and its owners will always hold a small, dear place in my heart. I had great times there, learned a lot, but the best is that’s where I met my amazing husband of now 10 years, Tim Jones!!!
WSFB: Ahhhhh, hence the Jones name. I was going to ask if you had any Russian heritage. Back to the bar scene….
Bradi: I most recently bartended at DC’s Bar & Grill in Renton for my great friends, Scott, Pete, and Terrance! They ROCK! I also tended at the Maharaja off-and-on before it was remodeled, the Triangle Lounge in Fremont, what used to be Rupert’s downtown on 1st Ave. I barista’d at a cool little space in Boulevard Park called the Frontside Grind, was the Beer Cart Girl at the Jackson Park Golf Course, and my first GM job was for the Village Pub in Magnolia, when we were the ones to make it all “Cougar-y”.
WSFB: Do you have a formal education?
Bradi: My degree is Graphic Design. I contracted around town as a freelance designer beginning in ’97 and have worked for many companies for short stints. My first design job was as Art Director for Jay Jacobs. I also worked for a significant amount of time at Wizards of the Coast. I’ve done work for a lot of local bands, small shops, Seattle Center, etc.
WSFB: Freelancing can be tough due to it being inconsistent.
Bradi: Yeah, times are best described as “feast or famine” and during the “famine” I found I could make a living at chalkboard illustration, doing promotional boards and signs for numerous bars and clubs. My pride and joy though are the boards that have been up for 5 years now at the Showbox at the Market! All made from scratch and drawn with pastels!
WSFB: You’ve done a little bit of everything, haven’t you? What job was the oddest?
Bradi: One of the quirkiest jobs I had was sculpting designs out of Fimo clay and lamp parts for a local “pipe shop” in the Pike Market. I worked out of my basement. That was a long time ago though! Funny to think about!
WSFB: So you’re an artist as well?
Bradi: My love though is for Crafting and Repurposing of vintage treasures. One of my best friends, Nell, and I own our own side-biz, called Version: ChonleJones, aka “Rebel Chic”. We have a space where we sell our wares in Renton, in a cool gift shop called Happy Delusions. I’ve done my damndest to stay away from my personal “hell on earth” – the Corporate World!
WSFB: Tell me about bar’s owners? What about them made this the perfect job for you?
Bradi: Well, Jeff Gilbert is the very first person I waited on here in Seattle, at the Rocksport in’95. We’ve been friends ever since. I’ve admired his work and have followed his advice along my different career paths. He’s mentored me in many ways and inspired me as well, so I was flattered when he thought me able to run this bar that he had in mind.
Matt Johnson, well, he’s a fellow “small town American” and is one of the funniest, most interesting people I know. I was lucky enough to work with him at the Maharaja for a short time, and he’s become a very close and dear friend as well. He teaches me how to deal with people, numbers, and just plain life, every day in a more professional way. I like to think of myself as his right-hand woman.
Paul Larkin I’ve known as long as Jeff, but wasn’t lucky enough to get to “know” him really until becoming his bar’s GM. He’s my “calming effect”, as is Matt, throughout my days, and is inspiring in the ways in which he deals with everything in his success! I have MUCH to learn from him, and have much respect for him as well, beyond words.
These 3 put together, with the significant difference in personalities of each, is what I have found as the perfect equation to a successful bar! I’m glad and feel lucky to be a part of it!
WSFB: What’s your favorite thing about working at the Feedback?
Bradi: The Feedback as a whole! The people I work for, and with everyday! The crew we have is one of the funniest, closest, and top-notch crews I have had the pleasure of working with! The awesome regulars that we have been lucky enough to gain as friends as well! The whole idea behind the bar is what I thrive on every day, though, I must say! It is “upstanding, wholesome ROCK” in every way, and the fact that it is different from anywhere I’ve worked, or patronized for that matter! I especially love how comfortable the place is to every single kind of person, and am proud to have been a part of the creation of such a place!
WSFB: If you could change one thing about the FB, what would that be?
Bradi: I wouldn’t have so many sports on the TVs, oh wait, we don’t, so never mind, there’s nothing I would change!! Oh wait; I would put more West Seattle FunBlog stuff everywhere!
WSFB: Well that would make ANY bar more kickass! Yessssssssssssss! So, you have some very unique drink and menu items. I’m particularly fond of the Honey Bush and the Chicago Dogs. What’s kickass in your book? Can you tell me a little more about the histories of the drink master and chef extraordinaire?
Bradi: My fave drinks are the Honey Bush and the St. Basil, which according to an anonymous source is described as “like a pleasant afternoon of mowing the lawn with your mouth open!” Who would’ve thought mowing your lawn would taste soooo damn good! I’ve been known to inhale both in record times! Matt, the Drink Master, well, he’s spoiled my taste buds as far as me drinking anywhere else.
For food, I love the Bourbon Walnut Chicken, the Cajun Pork Chop, the BBQ Meatballs, and the Mac and Cheese. However, as a burger connoisseur, I must say we have the BEST in town! The ribs are KICK ASS as well, but I don’t expect any less from Southside Tony! He doesn’t F-around when it comes to the “KICK-ASS-NESS” of his creations!
WSFB: Sorry about the drool. You’re making me hungry. Are there any upcoming events that you’re excited about?
Bradi: I’m excited to have it be 2010! New Year’s Eve is going to be a kick ass time at the Feedback Lounge! I’m not sure if you’ve heard, but we are having a “night of opposites”, you might say! It’s our night of “Black Ties & White T-Shirts” optional attire of course. However, wouldn’t it be cool to walk into a bar full of everyone in that exact clothing!? We’re running 2 different specials, each being time specific! 6pm to 10pm, when you buy one entrée, you can get a second entrée at 50% off, and swish them both down with $5 “Vesper Martini’s”! AND THEN from 10pm to Close we’re featuring $3 Manny’s, along with the ringing in of 2K10!!! I’m hoping to spy at least 2 or 13 FunBloggers there that night!???!!!
We have “It’s Only ROCK-N-ROLL Trivia”, as you well know and have yourselves been known to compete at since its beginning, every Tuesday at 8pm! It’s always a great night for fun at the FBL!
WSFB: So, no live music, no big screen TVs for sports. What void do you think The Feedback fills in West Seattle?
Bradi: The lack of sports is the main idea in this sentence! I’ve found in my frequenting of other places there are some of us who want to turn the channel from ESPN.
We’ve tried to create a place where anyone of any age can feel comfortable and maybe a bit nostalgic, with the décor, the music being played, and the flicks being shown, as they socialize with their friends or even meet new ones in the seats next to them. No one needs to know who won what game, or who’s leading in what league, in order to hold conversation. People can entertain themselves with the old school arcade games, the board games we’ll soon be offering, the “people-watching” or with the many exciting new (and, may I include Award Winning!!) drink-styling’s that we offer. With the music, we choose to play many different styles, so you’ll never know what’s coming next, and won’t be bombarded with music you hear every day on the radio. Live music, well we would love to be able to accommodate having bands play at our place, however, state law says we can’t without a certain kind of sprinkler system that isn’t available to us at the time. So we have tried to be clever in the many different events we hold, parties we host, fundraisers we are lucky enough to be a part of, etc. There’s always something new and exciting happening here. We’re lucky in the fact that we can be so ever-changing, yet stay the same place you might like to come and just hang out!
WSFB: How important a role does Ikea play in your duties as GM?
Bradi: As a self-proclaimed frugal person, I pride myself on the amount of cash saved by shopping at places like Ikea. Target, Home Depot, even Big Lots and Goodwill are stores that I frequent to buy many things used in everyday life at the FBL. You would be surprised what you are able to find when you really look through EVERY shelf and bin in search of the best deal. If you ever need a weird type of light bulb, well, you just let me know! I’ll know where to get them. In my next life, I’d like to be a personal shopper!
WSFB: Charlie Beck has become a featured part / fixture of the Feedback with his Rock n’ Roll Trivia hosting duties on Tuesday nights. Describe Chachi in 5 words, English is preferred.
Bradi: He’s – My – Husband’s – Band’s – Singer!
Joni – Loves – Chachi! – Who – Doesn’t?
He’s – A – Funny – MOFO – RIGHT?
Talented – Songwriter – Who – Leads – MRK!
CHA – CHI! – CHA – CHI! – CHACHI!
I’d – Like – To – THANK – Him – For – Great – Tuesday – Nights!
I guess that last one is more than 5 words, but print it or I’m cutting you off!!!!
WSFB: ‘Nuff said.
Pete@westseattlefunblog.com
