Gas line Grinch stole the Pub's holiday weekend

What was planned as a fun weekend with the lighted boat parade and a Seattle Seahawks game turned into one of stress and a closure for a local waterfront restaurant.

“La Conner Pub and Eatery” had to close on Friday afternoon, because the owners were worried about safety after they discovered a leak in the natural gas pipes serving the building.

“There were signs: smelling gas and trouble keeping pilot lights lit,” said Sherry Thostenson, co-owner of the restaurant. “We knew there was an issue and called around for help.”

After some investigation, the source of the trouble was identified as a failed pipe beneath the building.

“They were old, corroded, and leaking,” said Thostenson. “Probably a mixture of tides, temperature, time, and vibrations from construction — a lot of different factors.”

With the safety of patrons and the public in mind, the owners closed the restaurant, rather than waiting the whole weekend for repairs. More than 80 reservations, some taken as far back as September 1 this year, were cancelled in order for the emergency repairs to be coordinated and completed.

Contractors finished their work Monday evening, leaving final inspections to be cleared on Tuesday.

In spite of having a big impact on their business, Thostenson remains hopeful that this will be a learning experience for other business owners in town.

“I suggest everyone in town check under their buildings on their old pipes,” said Thostenson. “There are a lot of old pipes in town, and we were lucky enough to catch it quickly.”

The pub’s building dates from 1900, and the damaged pipes were thought to be from a kitchen remodel in the 1990s.