Earlier this week, Nancy Leson of the Seattle Times wrote a what’s-up-with-that? blog post detailing swirling rumors that Brasa, the Belltown behemoth with the most excellent of happy hours, had closed. Tamara Murphy responded with a letter confirming as much.

“Although an end of an era, it is also the beginning of a new one for Tamara and Bryan,” it reads. “There are many exciting opportunities in the works. I look forward to building Terra Plata, the new Elliott Bay Cafe opening on Capitol Hill in a couple of weeks, an event space in Pioneer Square adjacent to my cafe (aka the former Reading Room of the Elliott Bay Book Company) and my first book Tender to be released this summer.”

Brasa will be missed. I, for one, have always admired the urbane interior, it had a sweeping drama that set it apart from the little-restaurant-in-house pack.

And the situation with Belltown is an alarming one. Belltown, Downtown, Pioneer Square: three great city neighborhoods in serious peril. I’ve lived in a city where the downtown area was deserted on evenings and weekends. I’d hate to see that happen here.

Look forward to following what Murphy does next.