An unidentified couple is shown entering O'Brien's in April of 1971. The restaurant, located on the fountain level of the new Bank of Washington Plaza, opened on February 1, 1971. It was built in a semi-circle around the plaza's fountain and accessible by the curving staircase shown above and also through the bank tower. Photograph ordered by Ballard & Cannon, Inc.
O'Brien's Restaurant, operated by Jim O'Brien, opened in early 1971 in the Bank of Washington Plaza complex at 1201-23 Pacific Avenue. Six of the restaurant's waitresses dressed in shimmering outfits and glossy shoes posed for a group portrait on January 29, 1971. At far left with her long hair pinned up is Carol Clark (now Yokes). The lady fourth from the right is Edreane Anderson, and the lady second from the right is her sister, Brynda Frazier, both graduates from Lincoln High School. According to a reader, owner Jim O'Brien had scouts out searching for the perfect women for his new restaurant. These six women were handpicked by him out of 200 applicants. Miss Clark had been waitressing at the Top of the Ocean when discovered. O'Brien's Restaurant was located below street level, accessible by a curving staircase and illuminated by the glow of a large fountain. Photograph ordered by O'Brien's Restaurant. Additional info provided by Ms. Frazier's daughter.
Bank of Washington Plaza. Towering over its neighbors is the new Bank of Washington Plaza on 12th & Pacific in downtown Tacoma. The National Bank of Washington and Pacific National Bank had merged effective August 16, 1970. The bank's new name was the Pacific National Bank of Washington with headquarters in Seattle. The Tacoma headquarters would remain in the 24-story plaza tower shown above. Goodwin Chase, former Chrm. of the Board of (National) Bank of Washington, became the president of the consolidated bank. The highest tenant level of the Bank of Washington Plaza tower was actually the 22nd floor with air conditioning units and other service facilities on levels above. View of the Bank of Washington Plaza taken on February 23, 1971. Occupants peering through the nearly 2000 solar bronze windows would have sweeping views of Mount Rainier and the Tacoma landscape. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific. (TNT 5-17-70, p. 1- article; TNT 8-17-70, p. 30 -article)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
Modern barber shop in the Bank of Washington Plaza. Portraits of four presidents overlook the customers of this modern barber shop in February of 1971. Walls are painted with bold stripes and checkered linoleum is found in the shop's work areas. A man reads a newspaper while he is waiting for his hair to be cut. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Barbershops--Tacoma; Barbers--Tacoma;
Unidentified executive enjoying view of the Tacoma tideflats from his office in the new Bank of Washington Plaza on February 23, 1971. His desk is placed next to one of the many bronze windows of the 24-story tower. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Windows--Tacoma--1970-1980;
O'Brien's Restaurant. O'Brien's Restaurant is crowded on February 23, 1971, as people enjoy fine dining in the oak-paneled and red brocade room . The ceiling is covered with small light bulbs, creating an image of a star-filled sky. In addition, the restaurant was illuminated at night from the glow of the courtyard and fountain directly outside. O'Brien's was located below street level in the Bank of Washington Plaza complex. There was room for 125 diners and the adjacent bar held 92 customers. Dave Porter, singer-guitarist, was appearing in the restaurant's lounge at this time. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific. (TNT 11-1-70, A-16 - Emily Walker's column)
Bank of Washington Plaza with no visible exterior signage. Sunlight reflects off the multitude of bronze windows in the new Bank of Washington Plaza at 12th & Pacific. An unusual part of the building complex is the large fountain accessible by curving stairs beneath the level of the actual tower. Seven trees are planted in the concrete surrounding the fountain space. The 24-story Bank of Washington Plaza was dedicated on January 9, 1971.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Fountains--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma--1970-1980;
Bank of Washington Plaza Building. The staff and management of Pacific National Bank of Washington stand before the brand new 24-story Bank of Washington Plaza tower in late December of 1970. Although the building would not be formally dedicated until January 9, 1971, staff had already moved into their new home. The Pacific National Bank of Washington was created in 1970 with the merger of Tacoma's National Bank of Washington, who had begun construction of the plaza, and Seattle's Pacific National Bank. This photograph was used for a full page ad in the News Tribune on January 7, 1971, inviting one and all to attend the official dedication of the new skyscraper in two days. The address listed for the plaza was One Washington Plaza. Photograph ordered by Pacific National Bank of Washington. (TNT ad 1-7-71, D-1)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma;
ca. 1979. A curved staircase leads down from the ground level to the fountain level of the Bank of Washington Plaza, 1201-23 Pacific Ave., in this 1979 photograph. Structure was built in 1970; Lea, Pearson and Richards, architects.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma--1970-1980;
Bank of Washington Plaza. Diners are pictured leaving the new O'Brien's restaurant located below street level in the Bank of Washington Plaza complex on February 23, 1971. People could use the large curving staircase to journey from the tower building to the restaurant and shops located beneath. A large circular fountain added to the peaceful view. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma--1970-1980; O'Brien's Restaurant (Tacoma);
Circular fountain at the Bank of Washington Plaza. Diners at the new O'Brien's restaurant have a lovely view of the large fountain and courtyard outside their floor-to-ceiling windows. A spiral staircase leads from the street level down to the fountain and restaurant. The fountain is illuminated at night. Photograph ordered by Lennen & Newell-Pacific. (TNT 11-1-70-, A-16 - Emily Walker column)
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; O'Brien's Restaurant (Tacoma);
On October 13, 1970 a photographer from the Richards Studio leaned out of an unfinished window of the Bank of Washington building at 1201-23 Pacific Avenue and captured this abstract image of the plaza below. The spiral at top center is the unfinished staircase that when completed would lead to the fountain, restaurant and shops that were planned for the lower level of the plaza. The small circles that surround half of the spiral were designated to hold trees. On the lower edge, two men are working on a scaffold suspended from the side of the building. The plaza became Wells Fargo Plaza in 1997. (Photograph ordered by Labor Advocate Publishing Co.) TPL-9547
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Fountains--Tacoma; Stairways--Tacoma--1970-1980;
The chef at O'Brien's Restaurant prepares to slice a large, luscious roast for several admiring guests on January 29, 1971. Owner Jim O'Brien, a former bailbondsman, had hosted a special sneak preview that evening. The restaurant would open officially in a few days; it was located in the Bank of Washington Plaza, at the foot of the curving staircase. Photograph ordered by O'Brien's Restaurant. (TNT 1-28-71, A-2 - "Faces & Places" column- article)
Bank of Washington Plaza. Pacific National Bank of Washington wished its customers, and all of Tacoma, happy holiday greetings from its recently completed Bank of Washington Plaza, 1201-23 Pacific Ave., in December of 1970. Sparkling red bulbs in the windows of two of the upper floors spelled out "Merry Christmas." Tacoma's National Bank of Washington and Seattle's Pacific National Bank had merged effective August 16, 1970, to create the Pacific National Bank of Washington with headquarters in Seattle. The Bank of Washington Plaza in downtown Tacoma would become the Tacoma headquarters. With assets over 700 million dollars, the new merged bank would have over 1800 employees and 60 branches. The Pacific National Bank of Washington would formally open its doors in Tacoma on Monday, December 14, 1970. (TNT 8-17-70, p. 30 - article; TNT 12-9-70 - article) Color photograph ordered by the public relations department, Pacific National Bank of Washington.
National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Pacific National Bank of Washington (Tacoma); Banks--Tacoma; Electric signs--Tacoma--1970-1980;
