Vancouver's Elbow Room Bar: James Beard Semifinalist

0:00It's March 31st. Vancouver News today starts now, AI-powered and ready. I'm Cory with the story. Vancouver's Elbow Room Bar made ways back in January as the only spot in Washington State nominated as a James Beard semi-finalist for best new bar. This revamped 1970-style dive connected to Paul's restaurant didn't snag a finalist spot when the list dropped Tuesday morning. Owners, Monique King, Paul Rosenblu and Toby Maloney put out a statement thanking everyone for the nod. They scooped up Paul's in 2025, spruced it up while keeping that classic diner vibe and reopened it last summer with hearty breakfasts. Lunches, dinners, and homemade pies. King tapped her longtime pal Maloney, a two-time James Beard winner from a Chicago days at the violet hour to run the bar. He crafted a low-touch setup using fresh in-house serifs and infusions for quick layered drinks like their famous freezer door martini, made with A. Granita scoop stirred into gin. The place has roots back to 1970 when it started as a neighborhood hangout and that semi-finalist buzz alone drew crowds and put it on the map wider than ever.

1:11Owners say they're pumped to keep building the program and welcoming folks from Vancouver and further out to taste what they've got going.