Seattle eatery: Parked ship wrecking view

SEATTLE, Dec. 17 (UPI) -- A Seattle restaurant says a ship that has been parked at the Port of Seattle since October is ruining what was once a view attractive to customers.

Bosses at Anthony's Pier 66 and Bell Street Diner said patrons have expressed displeasure with the view since the 720-foot Kauai, which usually transports goods between Hawaii and Seattle, became a more permanent fixture of the port due to the economic downturn, the Seattle Times reported Wednesday.

"They're not too excited about it being there," restaurant general manager David Herrild said of his customers. "It, unfortunately, takes the majority of the view away from a view restaurant."

He said it is difficult to exactly quantify the amount of business the presence of the ship has cost Anthony's, "but when you decide you want to go to a restaurant with a view, if view isn't there ..."

Port spokesman Peter McGraw said the city is working to address the lost-view complaints of Anthony's and the Seattle Marriott Waterfront, but the real problem is a lack of parking spaces for large ships.

"We're going to try and find a place to park it. There's just not a whole lot of options right now," he said.