At 800 NE 65th St there's a small, low building that The Infatuation calls the retro "bus stop building." For a while it held Zaina and Bus Stop Espresso. Now it serves manti, the steamed Central Asian dumpling, under a new name: Nomad Manti. Across the street at 805 NE 65th, the former Casa Patron space now belongs to El Cantor, which serves big plates of Mexican food and margaritas in blue-rimmed chalices.
Two storefronts that face each other on the same block both got new tenants within a few months in 2026. A few blocks east, The Westy Roosevelt has kept its address since 2018 and changed its hours instead. Along this stretch of NE 65th, between the Roosevelt light rail station and the Ravenna side of the street, this year's change has happened inside buildings that were already standing.
NE 65th, before and after
| Address | Before | Now | What's known |
|---|---|---|---|
| 800 NE 65th St | Zaina, Bus Stop Espresso | Nomad Manti | Central Asian counter in the retro "bus stop building" |
| 805 NE 65th St | Casa Patron | El Cantor | Mexican restaurant; Casa Patron announced a temporary closure in December 2025 |
| 1215 NE 65th St | The Westy Roosevelt since 2018 | The Westy Roosevelt | New fall menu, weekend brunch at 9 a.m., early opening for some Liverpool matches |
The first two rows are the facing storefronts on the 800 block, both of which changed tenants around the same time. The third is a few blocks east: the business that stayed put and reworked its schedule.
The bus stop building gets a dumpling counter
The Roosevelt Neighborhood Association's August 2026 newsletter was among the first local notices, listing Nomad Manti as a new Central Asian restaurant at 800 NE 65th that replaced Zaina and Bus Stop Espresso. The building is small, and the menu fits it.
In its review of Nomad Manti, The Infatuation lists these dishes:
- Manti, the house's signature steamed dumplings, filled with lamb
- Boso lagman, a hearty noodle dish in tomato sauce
- Two sauces at the table, one with a peppery tang and one creamy
- A free drink with each order
The Infatuation's rolling guide to new Seattle openings adds plov and khoshany to the menu. It also reported that much of the food had sold out on an early visit. The critic's full review, dated September 24, 2026, was mixed, so read it before you go if you want a second opinion. The restaurant is counter-service, takes walk-ins, and posts updates on Instagram.
The building matters as much as the menu. This little structure has now held at least three businesses: Bus Stop Espresso, Zaina, and Nomad Manti. Each new tenant changed what the building served without changing the building.
Across the street, a dark storefront relights
The corner opposite had a quieter year. WhatNow reported in July 2026 that Casa Patron, the previous tenant at 805 NE 65th, had announced a temporary closure for changes in December 2025. It was still closed when that article ran, and a liquor license application had been filed under the El Cantor name.
By September 10, El Cantor was on The Infatuation's list of new openings. The Infatuation's El Cantor writeup described big plates "flanked with melty cheese, refried beans, and orange-tinted rice." It added that this is "a category that the neighborhood could use more of." The Infatuation said it hadn't eaten there yet, so the details so far come from the menu. That includes the margaritas in blue-rimmed chalices. The El Cantor website has current information.
On the map, the two restaurants now face each other across NE 65th, in storefronts that were both turning over during the same stretch of 2026. Last winter one side of the block was dark and the other was between tenants. Both sides are open again this fall, with menus the block didn't have a year ago.
The Westy stayed and changed its hours
A few blocks east at 1215 NE 65th St, The Westy Roosevelt shows the other way a business on this corridor changes. In October, the Roosevelt Neighborhood Association named it Business of the Month. The profile by Katy Merckel says the bar opened in Roosevelt in 2018 as the second location of a business that started in West Seattle in 2014.
According to that profile, co-owners JP Vidican and Paul Ritums chose Roosevelt because it's close to UW and to light rail. That location brings in pre-game crowds riding to the stadiums. Chef Chris Hartfield came to The Westy after more than 20 years in Seattle kitchens, including a stint as executive chef at Paragon in Queen Anne. The same profile says the seared broccoli is one of the best-selling items and that the wings are flash-fried to order, with sauces from Thai basil to a smoky-hot house classic.
Its changes this fall all happen at the start of the day:
- A refreshed menu, with seasonal updates alongside the long-running favorites.
- Weekend brunch starting at 9 a.m., including breakfast poutine.
- The official Seattle home of OLSC, the Liverpool supporters club. Doors open as early as 6 a.m. for some matches.
The Business of the Month profile lists these hours: Monday 2 to 10 p.m., Tuesday through Friday 2 p.m. to midnight, and weekends from 9 a.m. On a regular weekday, The Westy doesn't open until mid-afternoon. On some Saturday and Sunday mornings it will be pouring coffee before sunrise for a Liverpool match. The owners didn't need a new location to reach a new crowd. Opening the same room hours earlier brought in a different group of customers. Match times and brunch details can change, so check The Westy's website before setting an early alarm.
Why this stretch keeps turning over in place
The Westy's owners said plainly why they picked this spot: UW and light rail. The 800 block sits between the station and the Ravenna end of NE 65th, so anyone walking from the train toward 15th Avenue NE passes both new restaurants. Even the 805 storefront, closed from December 2025 through at least July 2026, was relit by a new restaurant rather than redeveloped.
The pattern holds on a street people already know by heart. Third Place Books at 6504 20th Ave NE is still the landmark at the east end. At the west end, the bus stop building at 800 NE 65th now serves lamb manti with a free drink on every order.
Dates on and near NE 65th through December
The calendar for the coming weeks follows the same pattern, with events in places residents already use. All of these are from published listings as of mid-October 2026. Times can change, so confirm with each organizer before you go.
- Sunday, Nov. 8, 12 to 4 p.m.: free clothing swap at Ravenna Refills, 6505 16th Ave NE. The listing asks attendees to bring three to five adult clothing items to trade.
- Sunday, Dec. 13, 12 to 4 p.m.: the next clothing swap at Ravenna Refills. Swaps happen on the second Sunday of each month.
- Wednesday, Nov. 4, 7:30 to 9 p.m.: Roosevelt Neighborhood Association monthly meeting at Cedar Crossing Apartments, 6620 Roosevelt Way NE.
- Saturday, Nov. 7, 9:45 a.m. to noon: Adopt-A-Street cleanup, followed by a coffee hour from noon to 1:30 p.m. at Human People, 6105a Roosevelt Way NE.
- Monday, Nov. 9, 7 to 9 p.m.: trivia at Project 9 Brewing, 1409 NE 80th St.
- Thursday, Nov. 12, 7 to 8 p.m.: Roosevelt Emergency Hub meeting.
The Roosevelt Neighborhood Association calendar is the best place to check for changes. Ravenna Refills posts its swaps on EverOut.
At Mr Magnolia, we follow streets like NE 65th one storefront at a time, because the shop that changed hands down the block is part of what a home here is worth. If you live near this corridor and want to know how this year's changes show up in your own home's value, ask us for a free home valuation.