New Blackthorne Pub brings English flair to Kennewick + 2nd restaurant opening
Blackthorne Neighbourhood Pub made its long-awaited debut in downtown Kennewick in early December.
Owners Shane Dozhier and Neil Darwen, who are partners in life, as well as business, spent the better part of the year remaking the former David’s Shoes store into a pub that offers a family-friendly place to enjoy imported brews, beverages and healthy fare.
Dozhier grew up in Western Washington and Eastern Oregon and has always worked in hospitality, continuing through college and beyond.
Darwen is from England and came to the Tri-Cities as an engineer. They’ve been together about eight years.
Blackthorne is based on the English pubs Darwen grew up around. Dozhier said she was happy working at White Bluffs Brewing but when the couple began talking about opening a business of their own, she couldn’t resist.
Every bartender wants to open their own bar, she joked.
Drawn to downtown Kennewick and its growing collection of restaurants and food-related businesses, the couple identified a spot they thought might work. But the owner wasn’t interested in selling.
They turned their attention to the David’s Shoes spot at 201 W. Kennewick Ave. after a chance conversation with Elena Gavin and Concetta Gulluni, the sisters who opened Layered Cake Artistry at 117 W. Kennewick Ave. in 2019.
Gavin and Gullun, who bought the David’s building in 2022, invited the couple to consider making it their pub. They signed a lease that September.
Built a pub in a shoe store
Building a pub in a shoe store was a tall order.
The low, brick building was built in the 1920s and was laid out with retail, not restaurants, in mind.
It has ample windows that face both Kennewick Avenue and Benton Street. A long, narrow storage closet accommodated inventory. There was a drop ceiling and minimal plumbing to serve a small bathroom.
The windows remain but the shelves were removed.
Darwen took the planks home and discovered it was high quality wood. He sanded them down and used the material to create furnishings for the pub, including a dramatic “cloud” suspended above the bar.
The drop ceiling was removed and asbestos flooring abated. The plumbing and other systems were modernized to supports a proper kitchen, including coolers.
Dozhier and Darwen designed the look of the pub themselves. Textured wallpaper is washed with green paint, above dark wainscoting.
A bold sofa
A Chesterfield-style sofa painted with a bold Union Jack welcomes guests. Dozhier was looking for a pub-style sofa that would stand up to traffic when the eye-catching sofa appeared in her search.
After a few giggles, the couple decided they didn’t hate the idea of one bold item in the pub.
Dozhier said opening an English pub was “obvious” — there may be British-themed restaurants in the region, but none that are authentic, she said. Blackthorne sidesteps American notions about what an English pub should be.
It does not, for instance, sell fish and chips, or any fried food. In England, she said, fish and chips are sold in by chip shops, not pubs. Too, they didn’t want the hassle and expense of a deep fryer, or a menu packed with unhealthy foods.
Blackthorne serves up lighter fare, such as salads and sandwiches. Dozhier intends to source local ingredients when they’re in season.
The bar program focuses on imported beers and liquors, with some Northwest brands.
White Bluffs created Blackthorne Bitter for the pub. The cocktail menu includes a nod to the late Travis Jordan, founder of Rockabilly Roasting Co. and a personal friend of the couple.
Jordan was a downtown stalwart who embraced the their vision for Blackthorne. Dozhier lamented that he didn’t get a chance to see it, so she created “Sippin’ on Cloud 9” in his honor.
It is already the pub’s most-ordered cocktail and is made with Rockabilly’s Cloud 9 blend, chocolate liqueur, cardamom syrup and bitters.
Hours are noon-9 p.m., Thursday, Friday and Saturday, and noon-8 p.m., Sunday. It’s closed Monday-Wednesday.
Follow Blackthorne at blackthronepub.net.
Hot dog speakeasy now open
The Dogfather has officially opened in downtown Kennewick. Owners Malinda Ralston and her fiance, Troy Collins, moved their truck-based business into a “forgotten” kitchen at 313 W. Kennewick Ave.
The speakeasy-style approach includes a cozy courtyard. The original 30-foot food truck is now Hibachi Explosion, run by Collins’ daughter, but Dogfather has a cart at the Kennewick location.
The Dogfather menu offers creative takes on basic hot dogs.
The Dogfather is topped with mac n cheese and bacon, the Al Capone is made with barbecue, cheddar, bacon, crispy onions and the Boss, a German sausage topped with sauerkraut (fresh or grilled) and mustard. The menu includes chicken sandwiches, milkshakes and tater tot side dishes.
Follow The Dogfather on Facebook at facebook.com/dogfatherhotdogcart
Fat Olives plans cheesy good food truck
Fat Olives Restaurant & Catering, the popular Richland restaurant, is preparing to roll out a mobile kitchen concept.
Real Food Dude, being built by Western Restaurant Supply, is expected to debut in spring 2024. It will offer grilled cheese sandwiches and melts, mac and cheese with a selection of cheese sauce options and tots topped with queso and other offerings.
The truck will be available for bookings as well.
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