If you were born and raised in Washington, there’s no doubt that you keep a mental list of all the places from your childhood (or even from the last few years) that are no longer open that you miss. From the memories of old restaurants that make us feel nostalgic to the shops we’ll never explore again, it’s natural to mourn these losses even though change is inevitable. How many of these Evergreen State spots do you remember?
- Skate King, Bellevue
KurtClark / Flickr Admit it… if you’re over the age of 25 and you grew up in Western Washington, you smiled when you saw this picture. Skate King was a beloved part of Bellevue for 40 years, and at one time, they actually had seven Washington locations. The Bellevue location was the first and the last, but it closed its doors for good in 2015.
- The Yakima Museum Soda Fountain, Yakima
Yakima Museum Soda Fountain / Facebook The 1930s style soda fountain that opened in the Yakima Museum in 1996 was an instant hit. It remained a beloved local icon until it closed a few years ago. Luckily, we still have the museum itself.
- The Alaskan Way Viaduct, Seattle
Sean O’Neill / Flickr Nothing could top the views of the waterfront from the Alaskan Way Viaduct, especially at sunset. And while the structure was unsafe and needed to come down, it was still devastating to see it shut down. In fact, on the night it closed for good, Seattleites threw a goodbye party on it.
- C.I. Shenanigans, Spokane
Zomato In October of 2012, Spokane’s beloved restaurant C.I. Shenanigans closed unexpectedly, instantly breaking hundreds of hearts. Due to its close proximity to the Spokane Arena, and the fact that it was located in the Spokane Convention Center, it served as a starting point to many amazing nights as well as the end of plenty of great days.
- The Harvard Exit Theatre, Seattle
Nonsequiturlass / Flickr The Harvard Exit Theatre as housed in a building built in 1925. The theatre was part of Seattle’s SIFF film festival for years, and it was heartbreaking when it closed its doors in 2015.
- Ramblin’ Jacks, Olympia
Daniel Curtis / Google No one knows exactly why Ramblin’ Jacks closed its doors in downtown Olympia after more than two decades of serving delicious Southern BBQ and pizzas. But one thing is for sure – we really miss those pulled pork nachos and the sweet potato fries.
- The Country Store, Yakima
Jeff Youngstrom / Flickr If you didn’t grow up in the Yakima Valley, just replace this one with your own local quirky general store – almost every town had one. At Yakima’s Country Store, you could shop for everything you didn’t know you needed and play some video games… and sometimes play Tic-Tac-Toe with a chicken.
- Manny’s Cafe, Moses Lake
Zomato For those who grew up in Moses Lake, losing Manny’s Cafe felt like losing a part of their childhood. Between the charming converted street car and the hearty breakfasts, it was a longtime local favorite.
- The Broadway Grill, Seattle
Alan Taylor / Flickr For years, The Broadway Grill hosted Halloween parties, drag shows, public and private events, and served some tasty food in their dining room and on their patio. It was known as a gathering place for Capitol Hill’s vibrant community. When the eatery and venue closed in 2013, it took a piece of old Seattle with it.
Many a business has come and gone in Washington over the years, and this is just a small sample of the many places we miss. What spot do you wish was still open?
KurtClark / Flickr
Admit it… if you’re over the age of 25 and you grew up in Western Washington, you smiled when you saw this picture. Skate King was a beloved part of Bellevue for 40 years, and at one time, they actually had seven Washington locations. The Bellevue location was the first and the last, but it closed its doors for good in 2015.
Yakima Museum Soda Fountain / Facebook
The 1930s style soda fountain that opened in the Yakima Museum in 1996 was an instant hit. It remained a beloved local icon until it closed a few years ago. Luckily, we still have the museum itself.
Sean O’Neill / Flickr
Nothing could top the views of the waterfront from the Alaskan Way Viaduct, especially at sunset. And while the structure was unsafe and needed to come down, it was still devastating to see it shut down. In fact, on the night it closed for good, Seattleites threw a goodbye party on it.
Zomato
In October of 2012, Spokane’s beloved restaurant C.I. Shenanigans closed unexpectedly, instantly breaking hundreds of hearts. Due to its close proximity to the Spokane Arena, and the fact that it was located in the Spokane Convention Center, it served as a starting point to many amazing nights as well as the end of plenty of great days.
Nonsequiturlass / Flickr
The Harvard Exit Theatre as housed in a building built in 1925. The theatre was part of Seattle’s SIFF film festival for years, and it was heartbreaking when it closed its doors in 2015.
Daniel Curtis / Google
No one knows exactly why Ramblin’ Jacks closed its doors in downtown Olympia after more than two decades of serving delicious Southern BBQ and pizzas. But one thing is for sure – we really miss those pulled pork nachos and the sweet potato fries.
Jeff Youngstrom / Flickr
If you didn’t grow up in the Yakima Valley, just replace this one with your own local quirky general store – almost every town had one. At Yakima’s Country Store, you could shop for everything you didn’t know you needed and play some video games… and sometimes play Tic-Tac-Toe with a chicken.
For those who grew up in Moses Lake, losing Manny’s Cafe felt like losing a part of their childhood. Between the charming converted street car and the hearty breakfasts, it was a longtime local favorite.
Alan Taylor / Flickr
For years, The Broadway Grill hosted Halloween parties, drag shows, public and private events, and served some tasty food in their dining room and on their patio. It was known as a gathering place for Capitol Hill’s vibrant community. When the eatery and venue closed in 2013, it took a piece of old Seattle with it.
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