Fife's Poodle Dog restaurant was opened in 1933, added on and renovated in 1939, demolished and rebuilt in 1949 at the same location. The famous restaurant would be rebuilt once more in 1967. Richard's Commercial Photography would be displaying a photo mural at the restaurant. Interior view of the Poodle Dog restaurant in Fife; view of the Dining Room, showing photographs by Richard's Studio and domed jukebox. TPL-9686
The Last Round Cafe was located at 1516 Broadway in Tacoma's downtown district; this building was built in 1889. The restaurant was owned and operated by William M. Hamilton. Exterior view of the Last Round Cafe; restaurant signs and "Open Day & Nite" signs on windows. Photo ordered by the Washington State Liquor Board for the tavern's liquor license.
Restaurants--Tacoma; Business enterprises--Tacoma; Parking meters--Tacoma--1940-1950; Taverns (Inns)--Tacoma; Signs (Notices); Last Round Cafe (Tacoma);
The Poodle Dog had just rebuilt their restaurant at the same site; this work was completed in 1949. Interior view of the Poodle Dog in Fife, from the west inside new building showing double horseshoe counters, kitchen and waitress area, murals by Richards Commercial Photo Service on walls; structure was replaced by the current building in 1967. Photo ordered by Tacoma Fixture Company, Incorporated. TPL-9683
Soda fountains--Fife; Equipment; Restaurant workers--Fife; Waitresses--Fife; Diners (Restaurants)--Fife; Poodle Dog (Fife); Tacoma Fixture Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
K Street Club was owned and operated by John J. Hafsos and Lawrence J. Corvari. K Street Club was located at 1111 South K Street, in Tacoma's Hilltop neighborhood. Interior view of K Street Club, a shuffleboard table is set up in the center, jukebox behind the game table, booths on left side, bar and lunch counter on right side; a cash register behind the bar. Photo was ordered by the Washington State Liquor Board, likely for a renewal of their liquor license.
Taverns (Inns)--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma; Shuffleboard; K Street Club (Tacoma);
Shuffleboard and electric scoreboard at Central Tavern, Champion Sales Distributing Company, Mr. Vern Westby. Two men are trying out the shuffleboard at the Central Tavern. The electric scoring machine is hung on the wall over booths running along one side of the tavern. An edge of the bar and a stool can be seen in the foreground.
Central Tavern (Tacoma); Shuffleboard; Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Interior of new barroom at Mondau's Tug Boat, Andrew's Fixture Company, Andrew Richards. Mondau's, owned by Louie J. Mondau, held a grand opening of the "Wheelhouse Room," an ultra modern cocktail lounge recently completed. Mondau's, having been in business for 25 years, advertised, "A place to bring the Family," with dinners of all kinds, Italian spaghetti, ravioli, famous pizza pie and their new Wheelhouse Room, "the coziest place in town." The remodeled bar has been decorated with a nautical theme. (TNT, 7/20/1949, p.11)
Two waitresses, Jennie Wheeler (right) and Josephine Trumble, in dark dresses and crisply ruffled white aprons pause in setting a homey checked table to smile for the camera at Steve's Gay 90's. Behind them is a large antique mirrored hutch. Steve's was furnished with pieces from some of the finest mansions in South Tacoma, and the walls were decorated with pictures of those homes. (TNT 6/13/1956, pg. C-9- C-11)
One of the original rooms at Steve's Gay '90s. The table for the smorgasbord can be seen to the left. The buffet was served daily at lunch and dinner for a nominal charge. At the back of the room can be seen the stage where Jane McKee and Arnold Leverenz performed nightly; it is surrounded by hand painted signs by Bill Knabel for local South Tacoma businesses. The booths recall surreys with fringe on top, and wagon wheel chandeliers and checkered cloths complete the look. Steve's had grown to include 5 dining areas: Steve's Cafe- serving meals 24 hours a day; the Cable Car room- with cocktails and food; this Gay 90's Smorgasbord- open 7 days a week; the Opera House Coliseum- with its live revue and the Mystery dining and banquet room. TPL-6699 (TNT 6/13/1956, pg. C-9 - C-11)
John E. Barcott, Jr., celebrated the grand opening of his Barcott's Sea Food restaurant in May of 1953. The new restaurant was located at 3832 South Pine Street, in what was dubbed "the center of the city," on Pine just off South 38th St. Mr. Barcott had 15 years experience in restaurants and was a member of a pioneering Tacoma restaurant-operating family. A large rooftop neon sign had an arrow pointing downwards, drawing the eyes to smaller neons of the "chops, seafood, steaks" menu. There was also a whimsical lighted sign of a smiling fish with large bubbles nearby. The water theme continued in the interior of the restaurant with fishing gear and nets decorating the spacious dining room. The structure was built by Walter C. Witte, general contractor, and fixtures supplied by Andrew's Fixture Co. Fifty years later, the location is now occupied by the Pine Street Landing eatery and is across the street from the Evergreen Post Office. (TNT 5-28-53, p. 15) TPL-8122
Barcott's Sea Food (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
The Kit Kat Tavern was celebrating its third anniversary in April, 1954. Overhead view of tavern's interior; all seats seem to be occupied with happy customers. People could enjoy a drink while playing what appears to be a form of bingo. Budweiser, Lucky Lager, and Rainier beers were some of the beers available for purchase. The Kit Kat Tavern was located at 746 Pacific Avenue and owned by Elmer Gardner and Patricia White.
ca. 1957. Employees at the new King's are possibly preparing for a noon rush in 1957 as they are applying relish and pre-wrapping burgers. The drive-in featured Medosweet dairy products including Smitty freeze cones for 5 and 10 cents and hard ice cream. Prawns could be purchased for 65 cents and hot dogs cost a quarter. Signs assured the public that only the finest of meat cuts were served from King's own Sunset Markets. King's #2 on Wakefield Dr. (now South Tacoma Way), just off Pacific Avenue, was designed by owner Werner Schmid to run efficiently and provide excellent customer service. Schmid was the owner of the Smitty Drive-In restaurants; King's #2 was the latest of five in the Tacoma area. Photograph ordered by Smitty's Drive-In. (TNT 9-11-57, D-3)
ca. 1957. A bright neon sign pointed the way to the new Kings drive-in restaurant at 315 Wakefield Dr. (now South Tacoma Way) in late summer, 1957. A delicious burger could be purchased there for only 19 cents. The small brick building had expansive glass windows and fluorescent lighting; the parking area was still unfinished. King's #2 celebrated its grand opening on September 12, 1957, with food specials and orchids for the ladies. Owner Werner Schmid was well-known for his clean restaurants and fine service. In addition to King's #2, Mr. Schmid owned Smitty's Drive-In on Puyallup Ave., King's #1 on Pacific Ave., Smitty's Hilltop and the Burger Bowl. Werner Schmid died in January 1984 at the age of 78. Photograph ordered by Smitty's Drive-In. (TNT 9-11-57, D-3) TPL-8326
Kings (Tacoma); Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960; Electric signs--Tacoma--1950-1960;
A little boy, with some coaching from a woman, perhaps mom, appears to be placing his order at Gil's Hamburgers, a fast food restaurant. They are standing outdoors and speaking to an employee through a small slot in the window. Hamburgers were selling at 19 cents each with cheeseburgers at 24 cents and french fries for only 11 cents. Shakes could be made with the Sweden Shake Maker models, or ice cream cones purchased for 5 to 10 cents. Gil's Hamburgers had three locations in the Seattle area; this particular site was not identified. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.
Drive-in restaurants--Seattle; Fast food restaurants--Seattle; Gil's Hamburgers (Seattle); Signs (Notices);
King Fried Chicken offered delivery service of their chicken, prawns, and fish with only a phone call. Customers calling EVergreen 0010 between 3:30 pm and 3:00 a.m. could enjoy King's tasty meals. View of King Fried Chicken delivery van, back doors open, with driver walking boxes of food to waiting customers. It appears that deliveries may have been made often to workers in industrial areas; van is parked in a two-hour parking zone and warehouses are visible in the background. Photograph ordered by Teleradio Advertisers, Inc., for KTVW.
Customers could dine from 12 noon to 8 p.m. on Sundays and weekdays and until 1 a.m. on weekends at the Branding Iron restaurant. The neon cactus and the restaurant name itself gave some indication of the type of food it served--dishes from the American West, including lots of beef. Parking facilities were available in front and on the side of the brick and wood building. A broad porch would shelter patrons from inclement weather. The Branding Iron restaurant was located at South 84th and Pacific; it was owned by Leo Balistreri and Ernie Zarelli. See A112067-4 for interior of restaurant. Photograph ordered by the Branding Iron.
Branding Iron (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1950-1960;
This was how the interior of Smitty's Hilltop Drive-In Restaurant, 2508 So. 38th St., appeared on June 8, 1954, prior to its Grand Opening. Houston O. Smith was listed in the 1955 City Directory as the owner of this drive-in restaurant. When it opened for business, it was the first of its type in Tacoma. Open seven days a week, Smitty's featured the famous 19 cent hamburger among other entrees, and customers were served minutes after their orders were placed. Mr. Smith had spent over a year doing research for the best possible design and operation. The site of Smitty's Hilltop Drive-In is now the massive Borders Books & Music store. (TNT 6-11-54, p. 13)
Barcott's Sea Food; interiors of restaurant as seen in April of 1955. Owner John E. Barcott, Jr. was a member of one of Tacoma's pioneer restaurant operating families. Located near the intersection of 38th & Pine, Barcott's was considered to be at the exact geographical center of the city. Its spacious dining room, as befits a seafood and steak restaurant, was decorated with fishing gear, nets and life rings stamped with Barcott's. The restaurant had its Grand Opening in May of 1953.
Barcott's Sea Food; interiors of spacious restaurant. Owner John E. Barcott, Jr. had 15 years of experience in restaurants, as did his night manager Domi Petronivich. Their seafood and steak house had a nautical theme, decorated with fishing gear and nets. Ample seating can be seen at tables and booths, as well as a counter at the left of the picture. The tables have a small lamp and a bud vase with a few daffodils. Part of the kitchen can be been at the back left hand side of the picture. The cash register area is at the right rear, with a cigarette machine and lighted shelving displaying seashells. Their convenient location near 38th & Pine also had ample free parking.
Earl and Inez Russell smilingly pose with banjos. Photograph ordered by Steve's Cafe (also known as Steve's Gay Nineties.) The Russells lived at 1417 Browns Point Blvd. Their occupation was listed in the 1956 City Directory as "musicians" at Steve's Gay Nineties. Earl Russell was featured in the Steve's ads as part of the continuous music provided in Steve's Gay 90's and Cable Car Rooms. Steve's became famous throughout the Northwest for offering entertainment as well as great food at a reasonable price. It became a "must see" for out of town guests and a regular hang out for locals.
The interior of the Market Street Tavern, for the Washington State License & Beverage Association. George Koukles & Arthur T. Charuhas are listed as the owners in the 1955 City Directory. Booths line the right and left sides of the picture. The center section is occupied by a circular bar. On the booth tables and every few feet on the counter are Shyvers's Multiphones. They were telephones connected to an operator who would spin your selected record for a fee. The music was transmitted back via phone lines. Round built-in stools provide seating at the bar. A center island holds glasses and liquors and is topped by a shelf of displayed beer cans and bottles. Very modernistic light fixtures incorporate neon lighting. Photograph used in a Tacoma News Tribune special feature on taverns. The caption emphasized the new look of modern taverns, with greater luxury and attractive appointments replacing the dark look of earlier years. (TNT 5/30/1955, pg. 25)
A man points at the bottles inside the serve-yourself refrigerator at the Park Way Delicatessen & Tavern. The Park Way operated at this location from 1951-1957 and was owned by Al Moody. A counter and stools and a neon sign for Columbia Ale can be seen behind the man. The refrigerator is in the novelty shape of a bottle and holds 7-Up, Bubble up, Nesbit, Pepsi-Cola, Old Colony, Coca-Cola, Can-a-Pop Grape, Heidelberg beer and Squirt. TPL-7954
Park Way Delicatessen & Tavern (Tacoma); Refrigerators; Carbonated beverages; Beer
A beaming unidentified man helped himself to a six-pack of Heidelberg from the serve-yourself refrigerator at the Park Way Delicatessen & Tavern at 313 North I Street on June 7, 1955. The Park Way operated at this location from 1951-1957 and was owned by Al Moody. A counter and stools and a neon sign for Columbia Ale can be seen behind the man. The refrigerator is in the novelty shape of a floor-to-ceiling bottle and holds ice-cold 7up, Bubble Up, Nesbit, Pepsi-cola, Old Colony, Coca-Cola, Can-a-Pop Grape, Heidelberg beer and Squirt. This is currently the location of the Parkway Tavern. TPL-6630
Park Way Delicatessen & Tavern (Tacoma); Refrigerators; Carbonated beverages; Beer;
Tacoma was introduced to McDonald's hamburgers in 1963 when the franchised restaurant chain built its golden arches at 802 Tacoma Avenue South. When this photograph was taken, sometime after 1967, the popular fast-food chain had four outlets in Tacoma and was selling 3 million hamburgers each day nationwide.
McDonald's (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970; Fast food restaurants--Tacoma--1960-1970;
John A. "Jack" Bolton operated Jack's Lunch, "Home of the World's Largest Hot Dog" in Tacoma's Proctor District. Judging from the crowd, it was a popular local gathering place. Jack and his wife Ethel lived in an upstairs apartment. In 1938, he opened Jack's Tavern next door at 2622 No. Proctor. Soon after, it became known as the North End Tavern under new owners. Subsequent owners operated the Steak House restaurant at the 2624 Proctor location for many years.
Ten men doffed their hats as they posed in front of the Peninsula Cafe in Gig Harbor on October 8, 1927. The men were not identified. They may have been photographed for the Seattle Times. G72.1-142
Peninsula Cafe (Gig Harbor); Group portraits--1920-1930;
The Tacoma Field Inn at Tacoma Field (Pierce County Municipal Airport) in Lakewood. The inn served "Notter's Chicken Dinners" and Medosweet ice cream. TPL-7089
Restaurants--Lakewood--1930-1940; Tacoma Field Inn (Lakewood); Tacoma Field (Lakewood);
Rustic Naches Tavern. The Naches Tavern appears to be composed of a two-story log cabin-designed building with deep porch and a log archway a few yards away. It is surrounded by tall trees. It is located at the foot of the Naches Pass. A Captain Craine was the tavern's proprietor. TPL-5815; G75.1-001 (Tacoma Sunday Ledger, 4-4-26, G-1-article on Naches Pass highway and surroundings)
ca. 1938. An unidentified Cammarano Brothers employee is preparing to deliver a barrel of what may be beer to the Tabby Cat restaurant, 1318 South Tacoma Way, circa 1938. There are soft drinks and beer on the same Dodge truck. (Photograph courtesy of the William Cammarano Collection) BU-13366 TPL-10418
