Another rash of Seattle institutions close to 'relentless' development

The Guild 45 in Wallingford, which was Seattle’s oldest continually operating theatre since 1919. (It was originally called The Paramount before the current Paramount in downtown Seattle was built.)

Louie's Cuisine of China, a Ballard staple for nearly four decades, closed Sunday, June 29, 2014. (Peter Andrijeski photo/seattlebars.org)

Seattle’s Old Spaghetti Factory will close in December 2016. The Seattle location at 2801 Elliott Avenue has been open for the last 46 years. The historic building will be redeveloped into a mix of residential and retail.

The Café Minnie’s building: The building at 101 Denny Way was constructed in 1926. Café Minnie’s, an-night restaurant that was a longtime tenant, closed years ago, and so did the restaurants that replaced it. The building expected to be demolished to make way for a new structure.

The Streamline Tavern, Radio Shack and Spic ‘n Cleaners: The South Korean government spent $2.4 million to buy the property that was home to the Spic ‘n Span Cleaners, the Streamline and the Radio Shack and replace it with a new consulate office. The property on West Mercer Street between First and Second Avenue West was purchased in December 2013. The Streamline property was originally an ice cream shop in the 1940s and ’50, and the Streamline was next to where the Uptown Theatre is now. The tavern moved when the Uptown expanded, and decades later began serving liquor. In early 2015, not long before the demolition, the bar moved to the former Jabu’s Pub site at 174 Roy St. Also in 2015, Radio Shack filed for bankruptcy and other Seattle locations were closed.

Toshi’s Teriyaki and the former Olympic Sports complex: Built in 1966, the complex was home to Olympic Sports for decades. That closed in the mid-2000s and that space eventually became a state liquor story, then a Bev Mo after the state got out of the liquor business. Toshi’s Teriyaki has also been in the complex since the 1980s. The Mr. Former that was in the complex closed in 2015, as did the martial arts business. Toshi’s, Kennelly Keys music store, and the military recruiting offices are expected to be out by December so the space can be home to a multi-story mixed-use building – similar to the ones nearby that replaced the sites that included Video Station and Azteca years ago. The businesses are in the 10700 block of 5th Ave. N.E.

Kidd Valley & Sorry Charlie’s site: The Kidd Valley complex, which also had a cleaners and a check cashing business, was built in 1987 on a site that years before had been home to a gas station. Next to it was the building where Sorry Charlie’s Restaurant and Piano Bar had been for decades. It was best known for Howard Bulson, a piano player who seemed to know almost any tune when he played there four nights a week. Sorry Charlie’s closed in 2003, and the space’s last tenant was home to The Spectator Sports Bar. In the 1960s, the space was home to Siguard's Restaurant. The building, built in 1926, was demolished in May 2015. A CVS is going in the space that Kidd Valley and Sorry Charlie’s once had. The buildings were in the 500 block of Queen Anne Avenue North.

The Streamline Tavern, Radio Shack and Spic ‘n Cleaners: The South Korean government spent $2.4 million to buy the property that was home to the Spic ‘n Span Cleaners, the Streamline and the Radio Shack and replace it with a new consulate office. The property on West Mercer Street between First and Second Avenue West was purchased in December 2013. The Streamline property was originally an ice cream shop in the 1940s and ’50, and the Streamline was next to where the Uptown Theatre is now. The tavern moved when the Uptown expanded, and decades later began serving liquor. In early 2015, not long before the demolition, the bar moved to the former Jabu’s Pub site at 174 Roy St. Also in 2015, Radio Shack filed for bankruptcy and other Seattle locations were closed.

Moon Temple: The Chinese restaurant was in a building that had been part of Wallingford since 1929. Also closed were two neighboring businesses. Similar to the former Sorry Charlie’s and Kidd Valley space on Queen Anne, the Moon Temple was being replaced by a CVS Pharmacy. Some neighbors objected to both developments, though it wasn’t enough to stop the demolition in early 2015. The Moon Temple was at 2104 N 45th St.

Mama’s Mexican Kitchen: Located on the corner of Second Avenue and Bell Street in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood, Mama’s started in 1974 and Seattle’s oldest continuously operating Mexican restaurant. The one-story building was constructed in 1924, and in 1990 was where members of Pearl Jam went for burritos during their first year as a band. (Their rehearsal space was in a nearby metal boundary.) Mama’s owner, Mike McAlpin, is retiring and sold the building to a Chinese firm for $4.5 million. The plan is to replace it with an eight-story 60-unit building (2234 2nd Ave.).

The Ballard Denny’s was demolished, but there was a big fight to keep it back in 2008. The restaurant, which was built in 1964 as a Manning’s restaurant, was declared a historic landmark by Seattle’s Landmarks Preservation Board because of its architecture. Despite that, the building was demolished in June 2008. Two years later, the nearby Sunset Bowl, a hangout since 1957, also was demolished.

The Car Toys building: The former home of Car Toys was built at 307 Broad St in 1957. Car Toys closed in early 2015, and the neighboring Wells Fargo bank building, built in 1951, was next. Both those buildings and the parking area are being turned into a multi-story residence similar to a neighboring building with retail on the bottom.

Moon Temple: The Chinese restaurant was in a building that had been part of Wallingford since 1929. Also closed were two neighboring businesses. Similar to the former Sorry Charlie’s and Kidd Valley space on Queen Anne, the Moon Temple was being replaced by a CVS Pharmacy. Some neighbors objected to both developments, though it wasn’t enough to stop the demolition in early 2015. The Moon Temple was at 2104 N 45th St.

The Streamline Tavern, Radio Shack and Spic ‘n Cleaners: The South Korean government spent $2.4 million to buy the property that was home to the Spic ‘n Span Cleaners, the Streamline and the Radio Shack and replace it with a new consulate office. The property on West Mercer Street between First and Second Avenue West was purchased in December 2013. The Streamline property was originally an ice cream shop in the 1940s and ’50, and the Streamline was next to where the Uptown Theatre is now. The tavern moved when the Uptown expanded, and decades later began serving liquor. In early 2015, not long before the demolition, the bar moved to the former Jabu’s Pub site at 174 Roy St. Also in 2015, Radio Shack filed for bankruptcy and other Seattle locations were closed.

The Kingfish Café: The building wasn’t demolished, thought the beloved café closed its doors Jan. 25, 2015. It opened in 1997. The Kingfish was at 602 19th Ave E.

Toshi’s Teriyaki and the former Olympic Sports complex: Built in 1966, the complex was home to Olympic Sports for decades. That closed in the mid-2000s and that space eventually became a state liquor story, then a Bev Mo after the state got out of the liquor business. Toshi’s Teriyaki has also been in the complex since the 1980s. The Mr. Former that was in the complex closed in 2015, as did the martial arts business. Toshi’s, Kennelly Keys music store, and the military recruiting offices are expected to be out by December so the space can be home to a multi-story mixed-use building – similar to the ones nearby that replaced the sites that included Video Station and Azteca years ago. The businesses are in the 10700 block of 5th Ave. N.E.

Kidd Valley & Sorry Charlie’s site: The Kidd Valley complex, which also had a cleaners and a check cashing business, was built in 1987 on a site that years before had been home to a gas station. Next to it was the building where Sorry Charlie’s Restaurant and Piano Bar had been for decades. It was best known for Howard Bulson, a piano player who seemed to know almost any tune when he played there four nights a week. Sorry Charlie’s closed in 2003, and the space’s last tenant was home to The Spectator Sports Bar. In the 1960s, the space was home to Siguard's Restaurant. The building, built in 1926, was demolished in May 2015. A CVS is going in the space that Kidd Valley and Sorry Charlie’s once had. The buildings were in the 500 block of Queen Anne Avenue North.

The Doghouse and Hurricane Café building: The Hurricane Café, a 24-hour restaurant that was also home to Seattle’s legendary Dog House restaurant, closed on January 1. The plan was to demolish the restaurant for an Amazon building. Amazon paid more than $52 million for that at other property on nearly a full city block between Seventh and Eighth avenues and Bell and Blanchard streets. Also expected to go are a Budget Car Rental site, the Cornish College of the Arts space in a former motel and parking lots. The Hurricane’s closure comes nearly 21 years after the closure of the Dog House, which had its last day on Jan. 31, 1994.

By KIRO 7 News Staff

SEATTLE, Wash. — A new string of closures among Seattle institutions may be another testament in a disappearing aspect of our city.

It’s no secret among Seattle residents -- lifers and transplants alike -- that the city’s growth boom is pushing mom-and-pop businesses out of the city. But that doesn’t make easier for the local owners impacted by high rents and a surge of redevelopment.

The latest round of closures: The People’s Pub in Ballard, Charlie's in Capitol Hill, and The Guild 45 in Wallingford, which was Seattle’s oldest continually operating theater since 1919. It was originally called The Paramount before the current Paramount in downtown Seattle was built.

Also, the iconic Two Bells on a Belltown corner could soon be acquired for a high-rise and mixed-use space. And SPUD Fish & Chips in Green Lake announced its butterfly-roof building would be demolished for apartments, though the restaurant plans to re-open in the first floor.

One Seattle tour guide called the development "relentless," as Seattle tops out as the nation's fastest-growing big city, with population exceeding 700,000 people and tech communities making the city a powerhouse for technology development.

After a rash of closures in 2015 – including Champion Party Supply and the Moon Temple, across the street from the Guild 45th -- KIRO 7 News talked to owners about the homegrown fight to keep business local.

Scroll down to keep reading. 

Management at waterfront staple Highway 99 Blues Club expressed shock when rent was raised $10,000 a month by a new building owner.

"It is an eviction notice,” said Ed Maloney, one of the owners. “You can't sustain it. The business was just hanging in there just as it was with the construction out front even still recovering through the recession. What's being hurt is music art cultural preservation of the city."

Thousands of restaurant-goers and shoppers share the sentiment of Seattle losing part of its soul when these decades-long establishments shut down.

It's why Seattle-native Cynthia Brothers turned to Facebook and Instagram to chronicle the rapid changes in the Emerald City.

Thousands follow Brothers' "Vanishing Seattle" account, which has evolved to something more than documenting lost businesses.

“I think for me the goals are to build awareness and dialogue around issues of development and gentrification and displacement," she told KIRO Radio last year. “I view nostalgia as productive. It reminds people of what formed us, who we were in a specific time and place ... Our historical context.”

Here’s a list of beloved Seattle businesses or business locations that have closed since 2003.

  • Chubby and Tubby (2003)
  • Sorry Charlie's (2003)
  • The Bon Marche (became Macy's in 2005)
  • Waterfront streetcars (2005)
  • Leilani Lanes (2006)
  • Aqua Dive (2006)
  • Sunset Bowl (2008)
  • Washington Mutual (2008)
  • Seattle P-I (2009)
  • Fourth of Jul-Ivar's fireworks over Elliott Bay (2009)
  • Buckaroo Tavern (2010)
  • Lusty Lady (2010)
  • Angie's Tavern (2010)
  • Seattle Center Fun Forest (2010)
  • Elliott Bay Book Company (Pioneer Square location, 2010, moved to Capitol Hill)
  • Red Robin's Eastlake location (the first, closed in 2010)
  • Roy's BBQ (2011)
  • Rimrock Steak House (2011)
  • The Neptune Theatre (closed for movies, stayed open for concerts and events, 2011)
  • Barnes & Noble at University Village (2011)
  • Charlestown Street Café (2011)
  • Zesto's (2012)
  • Easy Street Records Queen Anne location (2013)
  • Silver Fork (2013)
  • Paseo (2014)
  • Azteca in Market Street in Ballard (2014)
  • Harvard Exit (2014)
  • Piecora's Pizza (2014)
  • Louie's (2014)
  • Champion Party Supply's Denny Way location (2015, move from Pike Place Market location in 1994)
  • Car Toys on Denny Way (2015)
  • Kingfish Café (2015)
  • Hurricane Café (2015, The Doghouse in 1994)
  • Old Spaghetti Factory, waterfront location (2016)
  • Icon Grill (2016)
  • Tini Bigs (2016)
  • Toshi's Teriyaki across from Northgate (2016)
  • Café Minnie's building (2016)
  • Mama's Mexican Kitche (transitioned to Mama's Cantina, 2016)
  • Rain City Video (2017)
  • The Wurst Place (2017)
  • Half Price Books in the University District (2017)
  • F.X. McRory's (2017, but moving to a new location)
  • People's Pub (2017)
  • Charlie's (2017)
  • Guild 45th Theatre (2017)

Washington native and longtime Seattle resident Tim Egan, a New York Times journalist, also highlighted the speedy change in Seattle in a column last year.

"I welcome the newcomers who challenge the civic xenophobia of the natives," Egan wrote. "I'm proud to share a hometown with a philanthropy attempting to give away more money than any private entity has ever tried to do. … But I also wonder if there is any way to slow or mitigate the pace of change, to ensure that the city's soul is not swept out by the new. How do you contain the excesses of entrepreneurial capitalism and nurture the things you like — original music, food, businesses and literature, affordable homes for cops and Kramers? Unfettered growth just produces more inequality. So does taxing the middle class to death."

Even the city has waded into the worry. City Councilwoman Lisa Herbold, in response to publicized potential closures in Belltown a couple of years ago, issued a public survey looking for opinions on "Legacy Businesses" in Seattle, intimating that maybe some Seattle shops should preserved from development threat. But as of this March, Herbold was still waiting for a study looking at the recommendations for the size of the program and how it would be funded.

KIRO Radio contributed to this report. 

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