Bayview Brewing Co. - Seattle (1883-1893)
Green Beer Bottles
In 1883, Andrew Hemrich and partner John Kopp established a small brewing operation that would eventually become the Rainier Brewery. Their firm operated under the name of Kopp & Hemrich, and was located south of downtown Seattle. The brewery was at the base of Beacon Hill, on the corner of 9th Avenue and Hanford Street, and near a spring of pure water. The "bay view" referred to their vantage of Elliott Bay, which would eventually be obscured by a new building on filled tide lands. On 11 January of 1893, Bay View joined with the breweries of Albert Braun and Claussen-Sweeney to form a new association - the Seattle Brewing & Malting Company. The brand name eventually chosen for the company's flag-ship beer was "Rainier". The Bay View plant continued to operate, and in 1906 added a bottling shop and additional refrigeration. Brewing ceased in August of 1913, with all production shifted to the Sweeney plant in Georgetown, but the bottling works continued operating.
History developed in association with Gary Flynn - Website: www.brewerygems.com
Bayview Brewery Area - Then
A photo of the Bayview Brewery in Seattle (circa 1890).
Bayview Brewery Area - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Aronson - Seattle (1900-1915)
Labeled Whiskey Bottle
Jacob Aronson started in the wholesale liquor business in Seattle in 1900. He first located at 109 Columbia Street and in mid-1903 moved to 104 First Avenue South and then expanded the business to a second store at 1510 Second Street in late 1909. He continued to wholesale liquor in Seattle until Prohibition in 1915. In addition, he had a retail liquor store from 1911 until 1915 located at 308 & 310 Pike Street when he bought out the Murphy Wine and Liquor Company.
104-106 First Ave. South - Then
A photo of the final days of the Aronson Liquor store at 104-106 First Ave. South just prior to Prohibition in Seattle (December 1915).
104-106 First Ave. South - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
Imperial Liquor Co - Seattle (1908-1913)
Aqua 1/2 Gallon Bottle
The Jaffe business interests in the wholesale and retail liquor industry of early Seattle encompassed several companies including the Imperial Liquor Company. This company was started by Joseph L. Jaffe in 1908 and lasted until Prohibition in 1915. It was a saloon and combination family liquor store that also dealt in the wholesale business. Joseph C. Barman was secretary treasurer and manager of the company having taken over for M. Nelson in 1912. The business outlets for this company were located at 305-307 & 311 Pike and 818 First Avenue and the firm used the brand name "King's Crown" in various local newspaper and billboard ads throughout the city. The saloon store that was in combination with the liquor store at 311 Pike was known as the College Buffet. Louis Ruiz operated the store on First Avenue in 1911 until its closing in 1913 which then became the Los Angeles Wine Co. operated by I. Rosenthal from 1913-1914.
818 First Ave. of Seattle - Then
A photo showing the Imperial Liquor Co. storefront in its final days in Seattle (Late 1913).
818 First Ave. of Seattle - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View
The Nut House - Seattle (1918-1923)
Advertising Mug
The Nut House was opened at 911 Western Ave. Seattle in 1909 by Antone Delkin as a business that sold salted nuts and chocolate confections. Known around Seattle as "The Chief Nut", Delkin's motto was "Nuts of Quality" that he sold to grocery, drug and cigar stores from Georgetown to Ballard and from West Seattle to Leschi. He expanded the business to a 3 story processing building at 2244 1st Ave. S. in 1915 while renaming the Western Ave. address "The Squirrel House" as its retail location. In 1917 he expanded the business across the United States to the East Coast, the South and Midwest and was known for his quality products. He expanded the business too rapidly and sold the company in 1923 then moved with his family to Lynn Mass.
2240 First Ave. South Seattle - Then
A photo of The Nut House storefront located at 2240 First Ave. South in Seattle (circa 1925).
2240 First Ave. South Seattle - Today
Photo Courtesy: Google Street View