American Spirits: The Rise and Fall of Prohibition

From Roy Olmstead’s bootlegging empire to Central District speakeasies, the Jazz Age was in full swing in Seattle and surrounding areas. Was your favorite neighborhood bar once a secret drinking establishment?

Reservoir Bar and Grill, 8509 Roosevelt Way NE, Seattle
The Reservoir debuted as a neighborhood pub in 1934, but originally marked its start years earlier as a speakeasy during prohibition.

5206 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle
Now Dave Coleman Architecture, during prohibition this building housed a bootlegging and speakeasy establishment for several years that was frequented by Ballard precinct police officers.

North Star Bar and Hotel, 5101 Ballard Avenue NW, Seattle
The North Star Bar and Hotel officially became Ballard Hand Laundry throuhghout the years of prohibition, although remnants of the hotel linger to this day. Even with the change, the buisness proceeded to serve alcohol after the substance was banned. Look for the old North Star Hotel sign painted on the exterior brick wall.

East Lake Union Floating Homes, Near Fairview Ave at E. Boston St, Seattle
The first floating homes were built in the early 1900s by residents that could not afford land. During prohibition the area became a “zone of tolerance” where brothels and speakeasies could be found. Entrepreneurial students at the University of Washington provided a 24-hour rowboat transportation service to and from the floating speakeasies.

Clay Fourth Apartments Unit C, 319 Clay St, Seattle
Clay Fourth Apartments, Unit C was the location of a large illegal distillery and distribution center. It was raided and closed on November 12th 1931.

Rendezvous, 2322 Second Avenue, Seattle
Around 1924, the Rendezvous and Jewelbox Theater became a part of Belltown’s historic Film Row. During prohibition, it served as a speakeasy to numerous Hollywood stars visiting the Pacific Northwest.

Queen City Grill, 2201 First Ave, Seattle
Appeared as the Queen City Saloon in the 1901 Polk Guide, this establishment is one of the few still existing that pre-dated prohibition. Although it changed its name to Queen City Lunchroom during prohibition, it likely continued to serve alcohol illegally.

Eitel Building, 1501 Second Avenue, Seattle
Built in 1904, the Eitel Building was the location of one of the largest prohibition-related raids in Seattle. It was officially housing business offices when sheriff’s deputies raided two speakeasies in the building, uncovering vast amounts of alcohol and client lists as well as a list of prestigious Seattle apartment buildings, indicating that it was also a liquor delivery business.

Leland Hotel, 64 Pike St, Seattle
The Leland Hotel was operating as a speakeasy until the investigation of bootlegging kingpin Roy Olmstead uncovered its true identity.

Doc Hamilton’s BBQ Pit, 908 12th Avenue, Seattle
Known as “The Pit,”” this was one of the most famous speakeasies in Seattle. Local African-American business owner and entrepreneur, Doc Hamilton operated this swanky establishment, which was frequented by the mayor and other Seattle elites.

Home of Reverend U.G. Murphy, 1104 James St, Seattle
Rev. Murphy was operating as an informant and alleged that gambling, bootlegging, and prostitution was being protected by rogue officers.

317 16th Ave, Seattle
This house became the focus of Prohibition Agents when they received a letter that began, “Dear Sir: My husband is in the habit of buying a quart of whiskey every other day from a Chinese bootlegger […] living at 317 16th near Alder Street. We need this money for household expenses. Will you please have his house raided?” The letter continued in great detail even offering details on when to raid the house before closing with, “I remain yours truly, Mrs. Hillyer. Nothing is known if the house was actually raided but the Hillyer home address was noted by agents in the margin of the letter, making one wonder what became of Mrs. Hillyer’s husband, Jack.

Martha Lloyd Chain of Brothels and Speakeasies
612 3rd Ave, 1102 3rd Ave, 1924 Westlake Ave, 807 3rd Ave, 204 Pine St and The Dixie at the 2200 Block of 1st Ave. These were the several establishments in a chain of brothels and speakeasies owned by Martha Lloyd was uncovered in early 1931.

Columbia Athletic Club, 321 2nd Ave, Seattle
Despite the name, Columbia Athletic Club, there was no athletic equipment in the building “save drinking equipment and a score of ‘elbow athletes.'” The establishment was raided simultaneous to the Eitel Building raid in 1931. According to an article in the Seattle Star, Herman F. Meyers was in the middle of pouring out two full pitchers when agents entered.

The Merchant’s Cafe, 109 Yesler Way, Seattle
The Merchant’s Café has operated as several businesses in its 120-year history. At the turn of the 20th century it was said that gold traders traded the precious metal in the basement. It was a saloon before prohibition took effect and continued to serve alcohol illegally and quietly after prohibition took effect.

J&M Cafe, 201 1st Avenue South, Seattle
From a Gold Rush flop-house to an illegal brothel: J&M Cafe has been it all. From 1906 to 1916 it operated as J&M Saloon, until prohibition took effect and it became a speakeasy, serving “soft drinks” and food.

Central Saloon, 207 1st Ave S, Seattle
Established as the Central Saloon in 1892 and renamed the Central Café in 1919 with the enactment of the Volstead Act, it likely continued to serve alcohol to its valued patrons.

People’s Café Saloon, 172 S Washington St, Seattle
Built in 1898 and operating as the People’s Café Saloon in 1905, the alcohol continued to be served in this building even after prohibition was in effect.

200 Block of S Washington St, Seattle
210, 214, 216, 220, 218, 224, 215, 219, 219 ½, 221, 223, and 222 Washington Street were all places that were reported as violating the National Prohibition Act. The owners and operators of the establishments were uncovered as bribing officers in exchange for protection from arrest.

200 Block of 3rd Ave S, Seattle
200, 202, 204, 201 – 3rd Avenue South were all places that were reported as violating the Volstead Act, which prohibited the sale of alchohol. The owners and operators of the establishments were uncovered as bribing officers in exchange for protection from arrest.

El Travatore Café, 507 S Jackson, Seattle
The El Travatore Café, paid protection to Tony Salvino until the investigation of bootlegging kingpin Roy Olmstead uncovered it as handling moonshine and wine.

613 and 617 S King St, Seattle
The former owners of these establishments bribed officers in exchange for protection from arrest.

612 Maynard Ave S, Seattle
According to National Archives, this was the location of the “Jap Club” speakeasy and home of Sam, a collector that made more than $2.700 a month in protection money.

Triangle Pub, 553 1st Ave S, Seattle
The hotel above the Triangle operated as a brothel from the 1920s until World War II. In the times of prohibition, where there was prostitution and illegal liquor– the bottom floor continued to house a bar until 1929 when a Western Union moved into the space.

Roanoke Inn, 1825 72nd Ave SE, Seattle
After the original owners lost the Roanoke Inn as a restaurant due to outstanding debts, it ultimately changed hands and became a brothel and speakeasy during prohibition.

Seattle Brewing and Malting Company, 5890 Airport Way S, Seattle
Known as the “Original Rainier Brewery,” this was largest brewery west of the Mississippi. In 1916 the brewery closed to comply with Washington State prohibition laws and moved to San Francisco, where prohibition was not yet law. In 1935, with the repeal of prohibition, the brewery returned to Seattle to what we now call the Tully’s Building, producing Rainier Beer.

Jules Maes Saloon, 5919 Airport Way S, Seattle
Jules Maes operated as a saloon before prohibition, continuing as a speakeasy after the passage of the 18th amendment.

Bootlegging and speakeasies weren’t restricted to Seattle. Tacoma has it’s fair share of watering holes as well.

Holly Hotel, 811 Pacific Ave, Tacoma
The Holly Hotel operated as a brothel and sold alcohol illegally during prohibition in the 1930s.

Oaks Hotel, 106 S 10th St, Tacoma
Oaks Hotel operated as a speakeasy during prohibition.

Charleston Hotel, 1145 Court C, Tacoma
During prohibition, the Charleston Hotel operated as a speakeasy.

Brenden Hotel, 304 South 13th, Tacoma
Archives indicate the Brenden Hotel was owned by “a large blonde, name unknown” where liquor was illegally sold.

The 1300 Block of Broadway, Tacoma
The Victor Hotel at 1316, the New Tacoma Hotel at 1317, the A.B.Hotel at 1330 and Brenden Soft Drink Parolo at 1302 all operated as speakeasies during prohibition.

The 1300 Block of Pacific Avenue, Tacoma
The 1300 Block of Pacific Avenue was filled with liquor and ladies of the night during prohibition. Prostitutes Bee Guinan and Sunny Boyd operated a speakeasy and brothel out of the Fern Hotel. In addition to that, the Brooklyn Hotel and Vasa Hotel both operated as speakeasies, and the Franklin Hotel, Maples Hotel and St. Remo Hotel operated as brothels along with serving alcohol.

The Brown Cottage, 1506 Court D, Tacoma
The Brown Cottage once housed prostitutes and illegally sold liquor in the 1920s and 1930s. The cottage was owned by a woman who according to archives “was known as” Swede Fordell.

The Green Cottage, 1505 Market Street, Tacoma
The Green Cottage was owned by African-American woman Mary Hunt. It operated as a brothel and a speakeasy.

Madison Hotel, 1523 Market Street, Tacoma
The Madison Hotel operated as a speakeasy during prohibition.

The 1500 Block of Pacific Ave, Tacoma
The Grand Hotel at 1514, Hotel Lewis at 1522 and the Savoy Hotel at 1535 all operated as speakeasies during prohibition.

Grays Harbor Hotel, 1509 Commerce Street, Tacoma
The Grays Harbor Hotel owner Jack Consells and his wife ran this brothel and speakeasy.

The 1500 Block Of Broadway, Tacoma
The Broadway Hotel at 1519 and the Ewen Hotel at 1537 operated as brothels and sold alcohol illegally while the Florence Cafe at 1522 operated as a speakeasy.

1546 Broadway, Tacoma
Mr. and Mrs. George Coyne worked in partnership with ex-Prohibition Agent Howard Carr. The trio sold beer that had been smuggled and whiskey what Carr had manufactured.

Bob’s Java Jive, 2102 S Tacoma Way, Tacoma
Built in 1927, this iconic landmark, known as The Coffee Pot Restaurant, served as a speakeasy for a short period of time.