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)

O'Brien's Restaurant (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Eating & drinking--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Exterior view of The Old Spaghetti Factory. The Jefferson Avenue building housing The Old Spaghetti Factory once held a cracker plant, the Blake, Moffitt & Towne warehouse and a storage facility before the popular restaurant opened in July of 1971. This exterior view, shot in January of 1973, shows the plain three-story structure with five striped awnings. It was owned by Ed & Edna Groman and Guss Dussin. Color photograph ordered by The Old Spaghetti Factory.

The Old Spaghetti Factory (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Facades--Tacoma--1970-1980; Awnings--Tacoma;

Unidentified restaurant. The restaurant is empty at this time except for one employee in the background. Once open, donuts, pies, and pastries could be ordered as well as hamburgers and other dishes. Customers could sit at either booths or separate tables. Color photographs ordered by S & W Management.

Restaurants;

Staff of Clinkerdagger, Bickerstaff & Pett's Public House. In 1972, Crystal Corbin (far left) and Susan Pettit (far right) were hostesses at the new restaurant with the long name - Clinkerdagger, Bickerstaff & Pett's Public House - located on Ruston Way. Beth Pritchard (third from right) was one of the waitresses. Employees of Clinkerdagger's wore outfits reminiscent of pub fashions worn in London of the 1800's. Many of the young ladies shown above in April of 1972, shortly after the restaurant's opening, were students at the University of Puget Sound. Photograph ordered by Clinkerdagger, Bickerstaff & Pett's Public House.

Clinkerdagger, Bickerstaff & Pett's Public House (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Waitresses--Tacoma--1970-1980;

ca. 1934. Photograph is described in Richards' notes as "group at Rausch's Road House." However, associated pictures also show a sign on the building proclaiming that it is "Jay's Log Cabin, Dine & Dance." A group of people is seated in front of the log cabin. Group includes a young couple to the left of the seated row dressed alike in slacks, white shirts and sweaters and a woman in the standing row wearing a "Andre's Market" brown paper bag as a hat.

Rausch's Roadhouse; Jay's Log Cabin; Nightclubs--1930-1940;

ca. 1934. Photograph identified in Richards' log book as "group at Rausch's Road House." Four people standing by door of log building with sign reading " Jay's Log Cabin, Dine & Dance" on the roof ridge and extending from the side of the structure. The two couples outside are possibly the proprieters. One man is dressed in a long apron, as if he has been or is planning to cook. The log cabin is located in what appears to be a rural location. For a closer view of these individuals in a group shot, see image #2.

Rausch's Roadhouse; Jay's Log Cabin; Nightclubs--1930-1940;

ca. 1933. Some "Good Fellows" gaze out into the night form the glass store front of the "Happy Days Here Again" Beer Parlour. Night view of neon-clad exterior of the drinking establishment. Caption: "Where Good Fellows Gather." The tavern was owned by Ido Innocenti and managed by Albert D. Innocenti. Beneath the overflowing stein on the big neon sign, it is stated that the tavern has both "Ladies" and "Gents" service and also serves "Dutch Lunch."

Happy Days Here Again (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1930-1940; Eating & drinking facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Innocenti, Albert--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1933. Interior view of the "Happy Days Here Again" beer parlour. All the gents lift a glass to the photographer. This is the "gentlemen's service," a particular area where only men were admitted. White aproned bartenders stand behind the counter. The walls are adorned with what appear to be prints of women. As was proper in this more formal time, most of the men are wearing hats. The male only atmosphere allowed the men to drink, smoke and joke more freely. The glass topped cases in the foreground of the picture contain boxes of cigars available for purchase.

Happy Days Here Again (Tacoma); Bars--Tacoma--1930-1940; Eating & drinking facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Innocenti, Albert--Homes & haunts;

ca. 1934. The Rathskeller, beer parlor, owned by Lyle Lane. New establishment showing modern counter, and mirrored walled above cabinets. The establishment was located on the ground floor of the Rust Building, 950 Pacific Ave. (WSHS)

Restaurants--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Alcoholic beverages; Rathskeller (Tacoma);

ca. 1934. The Rathskeller, beer parlor, owned by Lyle L. Lane. New establishment opened at end of Prohibition on the ground floor of the Rust Building. Modern-style wood booths with abstract pattern floor covering. The beer parlor is empty at 11:25 a.m.

Restaurants--Tacoma; Bars--Tacoma; Barrooms--Tacoma; Alcoholic beverages; Rathskeller (Tacoma);

Farrell's Ice Cream Parlor celebrated its grand opening on May 21, 1974, with dignitaries enjoying a bite of red licorice instead of the traditional red ribbon snipping. Located in the west end portion of the Tacoma Mall, Farrell's offered delicious hamburgers and other delicacies as well as mountains of ice creams in many flavors. It was an old fashioned ice cream parlor, believed to be the 84th in a large chain. Food was not served sedately but with much horn blowing and drum beating, especially for soon-to-be popular birthday parties. Color photograph ordered by Gerber Advertising, Portland. (TNT 5-22-74, B-12 -article)

Farrells Ice Cream Parlor (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980; Dedications--Tacoma--1970-1980;

An unidentified carhop delivers a tray holding two large mugs of Triple XXX Root Beer to a smiling customer sitting behind the wheel of his car. Dick Bevington opened his Triple XXX Barrel drive-in restaurant at 924 Puyallup Avenue in May of 1940. The restaurant offered booth, counter and car side service with a staff of six waitresses and six carhops.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma; Bevington's Triple XXX Root Beer Restaurant (Tacoma); Waitresses--Tacoma--1940-1950;

J & M Cafe, interior view from behind counter. Coolers, soda fountain equipment, many flowers, bar, and stools. This photograph, taken on October 22, 1936, may have been for the grand opening of the small cafe.

Restaurants--Tacoma--1930-1940; J&M Cafe (Tacoma);

J & M Cafe, interior view. Counter and stools, coolers, soda fountain equipment, many flowers, bar, and stools. This is most probably the grand opening of the cafe.

Restaurants--Tacoma; J&M Cafe (Tacoma);

ca. 1934. Interior shot of the Fifteen-Eighteen Cabaret bar. Men raise a toast with glasses in hand. Man in tuxedo and white jacketed servers behind the bar. Men at bar wear overcoats and hats. The room's decorative accents are in the art deco style.

Fifteen-Eighteen Cabaret (Tacoma); Eating & drinking facilities--Tacoma--1930-1940; Eating & drinking--1930-1940; Nightclubs--Tacoma--1930-1940; Bars; Bars (Furniture)--Tacoma--1930-1940;

By June 26, 1938, employees and customers of Dorothy and Joe's Silver Dollar Cafe were settling in at the cafe's new quarters at 905 Pacific Avenue. Proprietors Dorothy and Joseph L. Duckwitz oversaw the move from their old location (910 Pacific) across the street. The Cafe had all new fixtures, including a back bar, that were manufactured in Tacoma. In 1940, Joseph started the Gehri Co. with George Gehri. Dorothy continued to operate the Silver Dollar Cafe until 1945. The Cafe, under new owners, officially closed around 1949. (filed with Argentum) (TNT 7/25/1958, pg. 5)

Silver Dollar Cafe (Tacoma); Duckwitz, Joseph--Homes & haunts;

Pop Reed at banquet held in his honor at Rau's Chicken Diner. Seattle Tacoma Shipbuilding Corp.

Restaurants--Graham; Banquets--Graham--1940-1950; Rau's Club (Graham);

Reopening of Central Cafe, for Nick A. (Vic) Zvolis. The "Sagebrush Racketeers," two men and two women in Western outfits, with a guitar and a bass, on stage. "Kitty" box for tips at right.

Central Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Musicians--Tacoma--1940-1950;

Kruger's Triple XXX Root Beer Barrel drive-in restaurant in South Tacoma. On June 4, 1941, six young carhops in uniforms and boots lined up in front of the building with neon signs on cornice and giant root beer barrels on roof. There are automobiles parked in front of restaurant which was owned and operated by Frank J. Kruger. It had celebrated its grand opening in October of 1936. The drive-in was sold to Bill and Thelma Busch in 1943 and became familiarly known as Busch's Round Table Restaurant.

Drive-in restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Triple XXX Barrel (Tacoma); Restaurant workers--Tacoma--1940-1950;

ca. 1979. Sidewalk leading up along the side of the C. St. Cafe and the rear of the cafe, circa 1979.

C St. Cafe (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma--1970-1980;

Back of Photo:
John Duras, owner/operator of the Jubilee Hamburger Restaurant waits on customers.
Geff Hinds - Photo

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:
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

The staff of The Steak House posed for this photogragh on March 24, 1945 shortly after it expanded by taking over an adjoining building. The Steak House was located at 2622-24 No. Proctor, across the street from the Proctor (now Blue Mouse) Theater. At the time this picture was taken, it was owned by Ted Clark. It closed in the mid-50s.

Restaurant workers--Tacoma; Restaurants--Tacoma; Waitresses--Tacoma; Cooks; Uniforms; Steak House (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. Rudder Club, Mr. Avge. Interior of dining room with tables and chairs, doorways leading into additional seating. Floral wallpaper, a figured carpet draperies and lighting add to the ambiance.

Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Clubs--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. Rudder Club, Mr. Avge. Photograph of the interior of the Club, showing the restaurant counter with the kitchen seen through the doorway at the rear. Floral wallpaper, a figured carpet and gleaming linoleum are also shown. Coffee pots are at the ready and the cash register is, too. The Club facilities included a restaurant, bar and club room and lounge. (TNT 8/26/1943, pg. 19)

Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Rudder Club, Inc. (Tacoma);

ca. 1943. End cup of coffee rationing. A smiling waitress happily holds a trayful of coffee mugs as her co-worker begins to fill them for waiting customers in this circa 1943 photograph. WWll saw many shortages for common items as Americans learned to be patient and abide by federal rationing regulations. (T. Times).

Restaurant workers--1940-1950; Coffee; Coffee cups; Consumer rationing--1940-1950;

In August of 1943, the new Antlers Tavern, owned by Jeo E. Andreo, opened at 1142 Pacific Avenue. The original Antlers Tavern, located at the intersection of the Mountain highway and the county highway road, was destroyed by fire on February 4, 1943. The 60 foot long bar in the new tavern was one of the longest in the city. Several mounted deer's heads are hung on the wall above the back of the bar. The man standing at the right behind the bar is believed to be Joe Andreo.(T.Times, 8/9/1943, p.9)

Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Antlers Tavern (Tacoma);

The Steak House and No. End Tavern, exterior.

Diners (Restaurants)--Tacoma; Steak House (Tacoma); Restaurants--Tacoma;

This photograph of Murphy's at 938 Pacific Avenue was taken on December 6, 1946. Nine months earlier, on March 28th, Murphy's was one of seven tavens in Tacoma subjected to a surprise gambling raid by appoximately forty Tacoma policemen. The raids, which happened without orders from the chief of police, resulted in 54 people being arrested for illegal gambling. (TNT 3-30-1946 p.1)

Bars--Tacoma--1940-1950; Taverns (Inns)--Tacoma--1940-1950; Restaurants--Tacoma--1940-1950; Beer halls--Tacoma--1940-1950; Murphy's (Tacoma); Electric signs--Tacoma--1940-1950; City & town life--Tacoma--1940-1950;