ca. 1979. View of native American style graphics on the window glass of the Anchor Tavern, 1352 Pacific Ave., as well as a neon representation of the emblem for Rainier Beer. The Tavern was located in the former McCormack Bro. Department Store, 1348-56 Pacific Ave, in 1979. McCormack Bro. was located in the Baker-Dickson Building; constructed in 1911, Russell & Babcock, architects. The building was demolished in 2003.
Back of Photo: Ben Erhart, owner of Barnacle Bill's, is concerned what might happen to business if the Blair Bridge is closed. Photo by David Brandt Gillie/biz
ca. 1926. Interior of cafe. Eating bar along right side, small tables on left, built in stools at both. Menu boards over kitchen area. For B. Wingard and Sons, manufacturers of butcher supplies. (filed with Argentum)
Diners (Restaurants)--1920-1930; B. Wingard and Sons (Tacoma);
ca. 1934. "Dine and Dance group at Rausch's Road House". Group of men and women in front of log building with sign reading " Jay's Log Cabin" on the roof ridge. (filed with Argentum)
ca. 1933. Interior view of the "Happy Days Here Again" Beer Parlour. This is the "Ladies' Service." In this area, women were allowed to enter and sip drinks. One woman and three men sit at the front bar counter. The white shirted and aproned waiters stand beside the rear tables where most of the ladies are seated. This would be a more genteel area of the tavern, where couples could enter together or a pair of ladies could enter without male companions. The tavern was managed by Albert H. Innocenti.
Happy Days Here Again (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1930-1940; Eating & drinking facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Innocenti, Albert--Homes & haunts;
ca. 1934. Interior of the Fifteen-Eighteen Cabaret at 1518 Pacific Avenue. The club was owned by Louie DiDent and featured "wine and dine" and "entertainment that is different." Photograph pictures a crowd of people drinking beer at tables and a woman entertainer on stage at the front of room. Waiters in white jackets serve the tables.
Exterior view of Pucci Inn, a roadside restaurant owned by Guido Pucci. The two-story wooden building features a steep roof with projecting bay on the second floor .
Business Enterprises - Food Enterprises - Restaurants - Roadside Restaurants - Pierce County - Lakewood - Pucci Inn
ca. 1938. "Red Pig." Scenes taken under new management in 1938. New manager Bernice Fox is fixing two cups of coffee behind counter. The counter is empty, a stark contrast to the packed area pictured in A7529-1 just a few minutes before. The Red Pig restaurant was located on busy Tacoma-Seattle Highway (Highway 99) just beyond Fife. (T. Times 10/26/1938, pg. 7) (filed with Argentum)
Red Pig Restaurant (Fife); Restaurants--Fife--1930-1940; Restaurant workers; Fox, Bernice;
ca. 1930. Jack's Griddle, popular cafe in downtown Tacoma owned by Jack Staley and his son. This is probably the restaurant's original location at 913 Commerce. In 1937, Staley moved his eatery to larger quarters at 912-14 Commerce. Lighted sign advertises hamburgers for ten cents. Below the sign is a AAA (American Automobile Association) sign of approval. Menu posted. Regan's Cabinet Shop sign on upper level. In 1939, the restaurant had been in business for 22 years and employed a staff of 27.
ca. 1930. Jack's Griddle, popular cafe in downtown Tacoma owned by Jack Staley and his son. This is most likely the restaurant's original location at 913 Commerce St. In 1937, the eatery moved to larger quarters at 912-914 Commerce, a space that included banquet rooms. Awning covered entrance and storefront. AAA (American Automobile Association) sign of approval. Menu posted. Regan's Cabinet Shop sign. By 1939, Staley's eatery had been in business for 22 years. (WSHS)
Eastern Star Convention at the New Yorker, Margaret Kearney. Mrs. Arthur W. Slayer, third from the left in the front row, Grand Matron of the Grand Chapter of Washington State, Order of Eastern Star for 1947, presided over the 3-day state session. Mrs. Charles W. Douglass of Wenatchee, and Eugene C. Simmons of Centralia, (fourth and fifth from the left in the front row) were elevated to the offices of Worthy Grand Matron and Worthy Grand Patron during the session. (T.Times, 6/20/1947, p.1)
New Yorker Cafe (Tacoma); Order of Eastern Star (Tacoma); Fraternal organizations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Women--Tacoma--1940-1950;
Ingleside Cafe, Ponders Station, Ft. Lewis Highway. A large billboard for Olympia Beer shows over the roof of the cafe. Automobiles are parked outside the cafe which has a large awning over the windows on the parking lot side. The neon sign near the front door advertises fountain service. Additional neon signs placed over the roof dormers spell, "E-A-T". The Ingleside Cafe opened at this location in 1940. TPL-2535
Restaurants--Lakewood; Cafes--Lakewood; Ingleside Cafe (Lakewood); Billboards--Lakewood; Olympia Beer; Electric signs--Lakewood;
The Towers' kitchen measured 33 feet by 66 feet. It had all electric appliances and was finished in stainless steel. Bruce Parkers was the head chef, he was very well known throughout the Pacific Northwest. Interior view of the Towers' kitchen and dinner china, photo ordered by Dohrmann Hotel Supply.
New Yorker Cafe for Dohrman Hotel Supply.The double grill in the kitchen provides a large cooking area. The large stock pot on the left has a spout with a turn off valve at the bottom of the pot and a water line is provided with a faucet above the pot. The exit flues for the venting hoods over the grills bend towards each other before exiting through the ceiling forming an almost decorative look.
Ray Gamble banquet at Rau's Chicken Dinner Inn located at the corner of Pacific Avenue and John's Orchard Hill (the Mountain Highway). Ray Gamble was born in Lexington, Nebraska, and arrived in Tacoma in a boxcar in 1892. His was a rags-to-riches story. He started in business opening a fish market in 1913 and developed the world's largest wood flour business which furnished stabilizing materials for the explosives manufacturers. He owned several pieces of real estate including the exclusive Casa Blanca Apartments. He was also well known for his hobbies of collecting elephant statues and performing magic. Rau's Club was opened March 2, 1939. In August 1946 the name was changed to the "Country House Restaurant". (TNT 7/27/1941, p. A2; Genii, March, 1939)
Restaurants--Graham; Banquets--Graham--1940-1950; Group portraits; Gamble, Ray, 1886-1972; Rau's Club (Graham);
The entrance to the Olympus Cafe at the Olympus Hotel showing the stairway down from Pacific Avenue and the lobby. The newly opened "Olympus Cafe" and Supper Club, located in the Olympus Hotel, is celebrating their grand opening. Bert Sundegren, owner, stated it is "Tacoma's newest and Washington's finest" restaurant. The location had large columns, a tile floor and ornate chandeliers. TPL-6421
Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Olympus Cafe (Tacoma); Olympus Hotel (Tacoma);
Tacoma Athletic Club Dinner for Gretchen Fraser. More than 600 people jammed the Top of the Ocean to pay tribute to the Olympic Champion, Gretchen Kunigk Fraser. The Tacoma Ski Team was also honored that evening. Several young men line the outdoor stairway to the top of the Top of the Ocean singing and holding ski poles. (TNT, 4/6/1948, p.1) TPL-2220
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Medals; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Ski Team (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
On April 5, 1948, the Top of the Ocean had out a Welcome banner for Gretchen Kunigk Fraser, the first American skier to win an Olympic event. Mrs. Fraser won a Gold Medal (first place) for the special slalom and a Silver Medal (second place) for the Alpine combined downhill and slalom in the 1948 Winter Olympics. The Tacoma Athletic Commission was hosting a dinner at the Ruston Way restaurant for Mrs. Fraser. More than 600 people, including Tacoma mayor C. Val Fawcett, crammed the restaurant to its ceilings to honor the former Tacoma resident. (T.Times, 4/6/1948, p.5) TPL-2220
Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Fraser, Gretchen Kunigk, 1919-1994; Skiers--Tacoma--1940-1950; Signs (Notices); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Celebrations--Tacoma--1940-1950; Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
Grand Opening, Blue Moon Tavern, John Monta. Interior of the tavern showing seating along one wall, a pay phone, electric game board and the juke box. More bouquets sent from well wishers decorate the tables. Large paintings of mountains and the ocean are hung along the walls.
Blue Moon Tavern (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Jukeboxes; Telephones; Pinball machines--Tacoma;
Building front, Mondau's Tug Boat Tavern, Louie Mondau. Located in one of the brick buildings along Pacific Avenue, this view of Mondau's Tug Boat Restaurant and Tavern shows the entrance to the restaurant and on the left, the entrance to the James Hotel, above. Neon signs outline the letters and the tug boat that are part of the restaurant's sign, connected to their marquee. Louie Mondau was the owner of the restaurant and tavern. Warwick's Saloon had been at this location from 1893 until 1916.
Tacoma's Rudder Club offered their members a number of social activities throughout the year. Hat and style shows, stag and doe parties, children's events, dinner and cocktails at the club's facilities, and many other functions for their members and guests. Interior view of private dining room at the club's facilities, located at 735 Commerce Street; a lovely table is set with five unidentified waitresses ready to serve at the private party.
Photograph taken in November of 1947 of the Captain's Quarters at the Tacoma Athletic Commission's Club, located on the upper level of the Top of the Ocean, 2217 Ruston Way. Top of the Ocean housed Tacoma Athletic Commission, which retained its own private Club on the top level. The lower portions of the facility were open to the public. Organizations could also rent the facilities for parties. A cocktail area in the TAC Club is pictured; with a small dance floor, cocktail tables and comfortable chairs, a full bar and slot machines against the back wall. Photo ordered by Condon Advertising. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5).
Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma);
In November of 1947, Tacoma's Top of the Ocean was in such high demand, that the restaurant had to reduce the general operating hours for the public. Clubs and organizations now had more time options in reserving private dining rooms. Interior view of the main dining room and dance floor. Orchestra area in background, where Hal Gullett's Orchestra appeared on the weekends, photo ordered by Condon Advertising. The Top of the Ocean was also home to the Tacoma Athletic Commission. They maintained their own private club on the upper level with its own private entrance. (T. Times, 11/28/47, p. 5). TPL-8248
Dance floors--Tacoma--1940-1950; Table settings & decorations; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Interior decoration; Top of the Ocean (Tacoma); Tacoma Athletic Commission (Tacoma); Condon Co., Inc. (Tacoma);
