Ballard Station Public House

The Ballard Station Public House has been created to welcome those Ballard-ites into the wonderful community that is Ballard. In 1889, the tracks of the Seattle, Lake Shore and Eastern Railroad, now Burlington Northern, ran to the south side of Salmon Bay ending at the footbridge across the bay. The manager of the railroad line, aware of Ballard’s leadership in the Gilman Park development, referred to the stop as “The Ballard Junction” (The Ballard Station). The car would stop at the end of the line on the south side of Salmon Bay and the conductor would call out: “Ballard Station! All out for the Ballard Junction!” And passengers would tumble out and make their way across the creaking bridge to one of the many saloons or bars before heading to their homes in the woods on Salmon Bay. Ballard Station has 10 local and imported beers on tap, as well as wine, cider, and cocktails with names like the Loose Caboose and Spike Driver. They have fancy popcorn, fancy nuts, and a meat and cheese plate to snack on. Exposed brick, raw wood, and railroad crossing signs make up the train-themed décor, and the music comes from a jukebox.