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Overview

Seattle architect Gerald C. Field designed this restaurant/nightclub for the building's general contractor, E.B. Fromm, in 12/1933. The original occupant, the Chinese Castle, lasted about two years at the site, before it was renamed the Jolly Roger, another restaurant/tavern/nightclub. The Jolly Roger's ownership changed several times over the years, but it remained in business until 1979. That same year, the City of Seattle named the Jolly Roger an historic landmark, amidst some controversy.

Building History

The restaurateur Huey Wong opened the Chinese Castle restaurant in 1934, a night spot that featured "American and Chinese cuisine" and the Chinese Castle Orchestra providing dance music. It ran into problems with Washington Liquor Control Board the next year. (See "4 Beer Parlors Lose Licenses," Seattle Times, 05/28/1935, p. 8.) Wong had his liquor license revoked on 05/28/1935 for a month and a half, effectively ruining his fledgling business. It has been said that Chinese businessmen financed the club which had dancing on the first floor, and, according to some, rooms for gambling and prostitution in the basement. An erroneous article appeared in the Seattle Times indicating that seven men were arrested for gambling at the Chinese Castle on 06/30/1935, although the newspaper corrected the error saying that court documents listed the wrong restaurant as the scene of the crime. (Oddly, the correct restaurant, the Horsehoe Tavern, located sixten miles south of Seattle, was located on the Tacoma Highline Highway, not on the Bothell Highway. See "Gambling Raid Not Conducted at North End Place, Seattle Times, 08/02/1935, p. 3.)

Another urban legend had it that a tunnel was dug under Lake City Way, to enable escape from the club if a raid occurred. The tunnel supposedly led to a restaurant across the street, the Coon Chicken Inn, at 8500 Lake City Way NE. Additionally, a two-story lookout tower supposedly enabled early detection of approaching police. According to the web site Dorpat Sherrard Lomont, the stories about the tunnel and tower were apocryphal.

The Chinese Castle closed in late 1935, and was replaced by the opening of the Jolly Roger Road House, a restaurant, tavern and night club that was built and owned by contractor and alternative doctor E.B. Fromm on 10/20/1935. A classified advertisement run in the Times between 12/12/1935 and 12/19/1935 stated: "Taking over Chinese Castle on Bothell; want to dispose of 'Town House' on Fuhrman and Eastlake; going business. No information over phone." (See classified ad, Seattle Times, 12/12/1935, p. 34.) In 11/1934, C.W. Schifferli served as Fromm's manager. Fromm sold the business to Orville R. Cleveland in 04/1936. (See "Business Site Sold," Seattle Times, 04/19/1936,p.44.)

Apparently, things didn't go smoothly for Cleveland at the Jolly Roger. Despite the monthly patronage of the 36th District Democatic Club, and other organizations holding regular meetings there, he put a classified ad in the Seattle Times in 1938: "'Bargain! The Jolly Roger Must Be Sold,' Located on the New Bothell Highway, just two blocks north of city limits, on a large triangular plot of ground with about 252 feet on Highway. Originally costing about $25,000--it is fully equipped for both restaurant and tavern purposes. Ideally located and in good condition, presenting a fine opportunity. Priced for quick sale at $10,000." (See Clasified ad, Seattle Times, 06/19/1938, Page 14.) Another similar classified ad indicated that the business was for sale for $10,000 in 04/1940. as well.(See Classified ad, Seattle Times, 04/11/1940, p. 36.)

Despite this ownership volatility during the late 1930s (and being robbed twice, in 1943 and 1962), the Jolly Roger became a landmark night spot operating for 44 years, attracting generations of nearby University of Washington students. After the Jolly Roger closed in 1979, the building accommodated an Italian restaurant, the Jolly Roger Roma Restaurant, owned by chef Mauriceau Castro, but this did not last the year. (See John Hinterberger, "Some Food for Thought about Restaurants' Year," Seattle Times, Tempo Section, 12/28/1979, p. 10.) Following this, a nightclub featuring blues musicians and a Chinese restaurant, the Hunan Wok, occupied the building before it burned.

Building Notes

There was a lot of popular support in North Seattle for making the Jolly Roger a City of Seattle Landmark; many people at that time had fond memories of meeting friends at the coffee shop/night club in the late 1930s-early 1940s. Historic preservationists wanted to save a prime example of 1930s roadside vernacular architecture.

Demolition

The Joly Roger was demolished in 03/1991. The roadhouse was badly damaged by a suspicious early morning arson fire in 10/19/1989, but popular sentiment hoped that ownership would rebuilt the landmarked highway tavern/restaurant. The fire caused approximately $200,000 damage. The new owners did not want the restaurant anymore, and sought to build a multi-story mixed use building on the property with a Thai restaurant on the first floor; they were limited by the building's Seattle Landmark status. Landmark protection, however, does not extend to burned-out buildings. A Shell Oil service station currently occupied the site.