Back of Photo: Lyle Swenson in his Autorest Cafe in Cle Elum
CLE ELUM--The Autorest Cafe, known to travelers for its pastry and a back bar that came 'round Cape Horn, will change ownership on Sept. 15 after being in the same family since 1918. Many cross-state travelers have stopped at the venerable place, operated for the past 30 years by Lois and Lyle Swenson of Cle Elum. They have sold the restaurant to Ron and Donna Voight of the Tacoma area. Voight has been with Safeway. The massive back bar of dark, Honduras mahogany is the dominant piece. Visitors who sat at the counter and saw themselves in the bar's broad mirrors wouldn't know its history unless they read the sign. Hand-carved and built in Alabama in 1897 by the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., the bar was shipped around Cape Horn to Seattle, where it embellished the old Mecca Saloon on First Avenue in 1915. The bar was moved and installed in the Autorest Cafe, Cle Elum, in 1918.
Back of Photo: Charlotte Cline, owner of the Little Park Restaurant in Spanaway, wonders if the bar stools will ever fill again after the hepatitis scare at her establishment recently. News - Severson Bruce Larson Photo
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
Back of Photo: Over the cash register hangs a thermometer of how much money had been donated by 5 o'clock in the afternoon, and the goals of the tavern that they wanted to reach. Peggy O'Neall rings up the cash register with sales donated to help the little boy, victim of rape and mutilation, at the Fern Hill Tavern Thursday evening. Melissa Stevenson - Photo Susan Gordon - Story
Back of Photo: News Marlene Tenzler is just waiting for the auctioneer to auction off Bullwinkle and his friends, because she said she has five grandchildren. The public auction was held in the former Bullwinkle's Family Food N Fun theater and restaurant at 2424 S. 320th St. in Federal Way today. She didn't buy the moose. Winning bidder spent more than $4,000 for the sculptured pieces and equipment. Photo by Russ Carmack
Back of Photo: Pet Petersen (left, and Ray Causey sip a beer at eh Shoboat Cabaret (owned by Causey) in Ruston. Petersen's tavern (Pete's Place tavern --clever name!) is in South Tacoma. Photo by Jeff Larsen
Back of Photo: Many Asian businesses can be found along South Tacoma Way. Story by Dorian Smith Photo by Bill Hunter
“Signs in two languages light up the Royal Box in South Tacoma.” There were seven Korean nightclubs along South Tacoma Way and Pacific Highway NW, possibly making the highest concentration of Korean nightclubs on the West Coast according to the New Tribune. Along with serving food and drinks, they served as cultural meeting places for Tacoma’s Korean community.
Back of Photo: Old Barnacle Bill's Leveled- A longtime Tacoma waterfront landmark, Barnacle Bill's Cafe at the intersection of 11th Street and Port of Tacoma Road, was leveled early last week. The structure has been a cafe since the 1930s and was moved to the site from across 11th Street in 1941, according to owner Ben Erhart, who bought the establishment in 1950. The cleared site will be developed as a parking lot for the new, enlarged Barnacle Bill's, which has opened its doors to the rear of the site.
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.
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. 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)
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. 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.
