Jess Cliffe of Vintage Seattle does a wonderful job of documenting the brilliant architecture of Seattle, Washington with his pieces on various Victorian homes, Craftsman homes, factories, schools, apartment buildings, etc. But who knew that aside from the Space Needle Seattle's most revered Googie structure is a former Denny's restaurant that first began life as Manning's Cafeteria. An article in the Chicago Tribune recently informed us Chicagoans of a city council decision in Seattle that saves the life of this baby and designates it as a historical landmark. Those of you who know me know what a slave I am to gorgeous modern structures, especially anything boldly modern like the example of this poor Denny's has been. For a structure that was built in 1964 this decision is historic in itself as you all mostly know how upset i get when modern isn't considered landmark or old enough to be historical which paves the way for many of these structures getting lost, I hope that this is a wake up call, one that isn't too late to help save others like this.
Fix her up and she'll be as good as new.
13 comments:
Did, I'm going to be out of a job here soon! Just kidding. Nice to see a bit of my city on your blog. It's creating quite a stir out here, a lot of people see it as just a ploy to block development of another big-box style condo project. So the two sides are slinging mud back and forth.
Cliffe
Hahaha! I just may be trying to snag your job, Cliffe. Are there any other former restaurants that look like this.
Well, if it were up to me I'd rather have this cool restaurant then some ugly boxlike structure with cheap Home Depot bricks. The reason I featured it was because the decision to grant landmark status is kind of historical to us Googie enthusists who are fighting for recognition of structures built during the era this restaurant was built. Too many are being ignored and torn down at a very rapid pace.
Ya, I'm fine with it becoming a landmark (whatever the reasons behind it). The condo developers can go find a parking lot to build on. And they can eat a bag of hell.
There's one very similar to it, actually just a couple blocks from my house. I think it's an IHOP right now. Hm, what is it with cheesy restaraunt chains and Googie's?
Cliffe
I don't know. I think it's a 50/60s thing. A lot of cheesy diners always had the Googie architecture thing going. Even the orginal Pizza Hut trapaziod seemed kind of Googie although less so now that it isn't quite the distinct hut look it used to be. There is a building like this one in Seattle here that is quite similar right off one of our expressways. It has been sitting abandoned for quite a long time. My hubby says it used to be a Blockbuster for a while but it was most certainly built orginally as a restaurant just do not know which one. Looks kind of like an old Dutch Mill or something. I think there was a chain of 60s restaurants that had that distinct look but I can't recall the name nor whetehr they even had locations here..
Hey Did,
Just posted a postcard of the building's interior in case you're interested.
http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/30/past-post-mannings-cafeteria-interior/
Cliffe
Oh blast, it didn't html'ize it! Noooooo. Save me, Didi.
Cliffe
Damn this blogger. This is so easier on IMDb.
Let's try again.
http://www.vintageseattle.org/2008/01/30/past-post-mannings-cafeteria-interior
Let's see if I can figure it out. It gives you tags to use but doesn't tell you how. Let's see if this works.
Okay, I give up. It makes links but none are clickable. I will just update with a posting on a clickable link. Sorry, Cliffe, I can't save you. I need a knight and shining armor to save me then save you. LOL.
Hi- I'm part of the group that is trying to keep this building from the wrecking ball. What we tell everyone first and foremost is- we are NOT against development, but rather, would like to see development done with thoughtfulness and respect to the building (s) and their heritage and community cultural influences. You should really check out the website www.docomomo-wewa.org for all the links to this project. It's a great building, with great lines, and we are not slinging mud- not from our side anyway. We are going about this with factual information, in an effort to educate people about the landmarking process here in Seattle. It's unique, in that a building only has to be 25 years old to be landmarked! If any of you googie enthusiasts out there would like to write a letter of support, check out that website- it will lead you to the right people! Thanks for the post. It's nice to see people out there who appreciate this building as much as we do.
As someone who has advocated the preservation of historic buildings, I am aghast that anyone would bother crusading to save the 1964 Manning's Cafeteria/Denny's Restaurant. Architecturally it's a zero, the worst sort of highway kitsch, appealing only to those who find aesthetic value in lava lamps. The 1960s did produce some fine buildings, but this mongrel will never appear on the list. Put your civic-mindedness to work making its replacement an improvement to the Seattle streetscape, and let this tacky eyesore go.
Sorry, but I disagree. Even if it is kitsch road trip fare, it represents a time in our country when gas was cheap, the interstate highway system was newly configured and everyone hit the road. It goes with the motels of those days, which were loathed for the quick and rapid growth they experienced during that same time period. I see it as a representation of this country's history from that era including the rise of malls and shopping centers as well as the roadside, Route 66 type culture.
Besides, I detest lava lamps, ever since I was a kid and saw the inside and outside of this building as much more than a passing fad and something much better than the freaky ugly lava lamp an older cousin had when I was a kid growing up in Ohio.
Also, there is a group of wonderful individuals out there including the hard working Anne Forestieri working to see that this place survives as a leader and example of saving the modern stuff that gets torn without a thought.
Funny thing was in NYC, near the Bronx this weekend I could have sworn I saw a building very similar to that one while on an expressway. Unfortunately, due to other obligations beyond my control I couldn't stop and take a photo.
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