Benjamin M. Paris (1884-1950) was an American sportsman, entrepreneur, and conservationist. His namesake store, the Ben Paris, was a combination restaurant, lounge, pool hall, pull-tab parlor, barber shop, sporting goods establishment, and was a Seattle institution for many years. It was located on the northeast corner of Fourth Avenue and Pine Street on the lower level of the Eitel Building. Paris founded the first fishing derby here, the Seattle Ben Paris Salmon Derby, in 1931, and started the now-iconic "Fishing (and Hunting) Guide to the Northwest," published from 1935 to 1980.

This image of Ben Paris and two men was taken at Ben Paris Sporting Goods and Recreation in downtown Seattle. Opened in the late 1920s, the store had a speakeasy feel to it since it was below street level, and featured a glass tank with live bass and a live trout pool.

Photographer's number: 42825