Foundation Nightclub, the Belltown electronic music venue at 2218 Western Ave, permanently closed in August 2018 after a joint SPD and Homeland Security Investigations raid led to the emergency suspension of its liquor license. The owner, Ian Jurgensen, was arrested on conspiracy charges in January 2019.
Foundation marketed itself as Seattle’s top nightlife destination and ran consistent EDM programming — house, techno, and mainstream electronic — drawing national touring acts to a mid-size Belltown room.
SPD and HSI began an undercover operation inside Foundation in March 2018 following reports of drug trafficking and citywide concerns about overdoses and sexual assaults linked to GHB. Over several months, undercover officers purchased cocaine, methamphetamine, MDMA, GHB, ketamine, DMT, Xanax, and Molly from waitresses, bouncers, and management inside the club. In-house dealers were allowed to bypass security and were given employee apparel and access to VIP areas. One dealer, who claimed a close relationship with the owner, coached undercover officers on how to dose women with GHB based on body weight.
On August 8–9, 2018, SPD and HSI executed warrants at multiple locations, arresting 12 people and seizing 829 grams of cocaine, over 1,000 grams of MDMA, 400 ecstasy pills, 800 Xanax pills, 190 grams of ketamine, 13 grams of DMT, 176 grams of GHB, 1,200 Molly capsules, two handguns, and over $60,000 cash. The WSLCB issued an emergency 180-day liquor license suspension the same day. Foundation announced on Facebook it would close during the investigation. It never reopened.
By January 2019, 16 individuals had been arrested on drug, weapons, and conspiracy charges. Jurgensen was booked into King County Jail on January 11, 2019, with investigators having found evidence he was personally supplying cocaine and other drugs to the in-house dealers.