Rhoda Roberts established the Viking Tavern, a long-time Ballard neighborhood saloon, in 1950. The bar's web site stated: "This Ballard landmark was established in 1950 by Rhoda Roberts, whos [sic] picture still hangs on the wall, and has remained the same to this day. The Viking is revered by our long time patrons and is a refreshing experience for newcomers, all are welcome here. We have 12 beer taps, including domestic and a selection of local microbrews. In addition we have a selection of quality wines and hand crafted cocktails. Our menu is focused around our in house smoked meats, including smoke brisket, smoked pork and smoke turkey sandwiches. We also offer ribs, chili and our famous Nordic Nachos. " (The Viking Est. 1950,Accessed 07-10-2012.) Tim Cannon and his wife, Peggy, took ownership of The Viking in 1989. According to a 2001 review in The Stranger by Rachel Kessler, the Viking maintained the smallest commercial kitchen in the state.

In 2012, Ballard Lofts, LLC, announced its plan to demolish the Viking Tavern in order to erect another six-story mixed-use condominium building in the Ballard Neighborhood of Seattle, WA. In the mid-late 2000s, the City of Seattle designated Ballard as a key "urban village" zoned for mid-density housing. Developers created a tremendous amount of six-story condos there too fast, causing a temporary glut in housing and a stale, homogeneous environment. In 07/2012, Ballard Lofts reached an agreement with owner Tim Cannon to tear down the original Viking Tavern and replace it in a ground-floor retail space in the new building.

PCAD id: 17990