Sat 5 Dec 2009
It’s Repeal Day!
We’ve reviewed some of the very oldest bars in Seattle, some out of the way and often overlooked prohibition era bars, and what may be the oldest continually operating gay bar in the country. Tonight’s the night you should celebrate your constitutional right to booze at one of these historic saloons or just your favorite neighborhood joint.
Prohibition disposal (public domain photo from Wikimedia Commons)
Below is a list of Seattle area bars that I’ve found which have origins preceding 1950 (and my best assessement of the bar’s date of origin, as per the guidelines I described in Part 3). Any one of them would make a fine Repeal Day setting, especially if you’ve never been to it before. If I have missed any, of if you have any information or questions on these old bars, please drop me a line at kbar@peterga.com.
Cheers!
[Update: This list has been amended considerably since the original publication of this post. See the Seattle's Oldest Bars page.]
Seattle’s Oldest Bars
- 1890 – Merchants Cafe
- 1892 – The Central Cafe/Saloon/Tavern (originally Watson Bros. Famous Restaurant, then “Seattle Bar” in 1901, and “Central Cafe” in 1919)
- 1890s – Doc Maynards Public House (refurbished 1890s pub, in the Pioneer Building, built 1891)
- 1907 – Jules Maes (building constructed in 1898, leased by Jules Maes himself in 1936)
- 1908? – The Virginia Bar/Inn
- 1933 – Athenian Inn (restaurant since 1909)
- 1933 – Five Point Cafe (restaurant since 1929)
- 1933 – Caroline Tavern (building constructed 1926)
- 1933 – The Cabin
- 1933? – Fifth Avenue Tavern
- 1934 – The Double Header (est. 1930?)
- 1934 – Blue Moon Tavern
- 1938 – The Buckaroo Tavern
- 1940 – Al’s Tavern
- 1945 – North City Tavern (Since at least 1945, probably 1933; oldest commercial building in north city (1929))
- 1948? – The Comet Tavern
- RIP – J & M Cafe and Cardroom (Closed 2009; J&M established in previous location 1889, move to recent location in 1902)
