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1. Lowery
   Member Profile

   

   What's the story with the closed tavern on Admiral near CA? It's between Wells Fargo and a dry cleaners. There's no for sale sign or anything. How long has it been closed? Did it close for any other reason besides just running out of customers (ie: health issues, etc)? I just like getting the story behind closed and run down buildings.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

2. Trick
   Member Profile

   

   You must be referring to the Spanish Galleon bar of Sailor debauchery and sounds of waves crashing while sipping on Black Crow whiskey?

   It would be the lovely Benbow Inn that is dearly missed by this WS resident.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

3. Cait
   Member Profile

   

   I went there every weekend with my Aunt for prawns. That place holds SO MANY great memories. I want a pirate bar where I can take my nieces and nephews. Am I remembering correctly that the bar room had animatronic and/or talking parrots and a Pirates of the Caribbean-esque thing going on? Or was that just my imagination getting carried away with me.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

4. Zenguy
   Member Profile

   

   I too have many fond memories of the Benbow. Pan fried Quillicene oysters, Prime Rib and the Benbow Burger...mmm.

   My brother and I would always beg for change to throw off the bridge over water in the hall way. We would peer into the Spanish Galleon bar while they played the storm...what a COOL place. I bought my first condom in the mens bathroom for a quarter.

   It closed once the owner died and rumor is it will be torn down for a new developement.

   Man I miss that place.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

5. MrJT
   Member Profile

   

   So, Zenguy.. Waterballoon or playground novelty ?

   Posted 3 years ago #         

6. GenHillOne
   Member Profile

   I guess it's not surprising that I don't remember a thing about the interior design or the food - Benbow was always a late-night stop on the way home for us - nothing like sitting around a smokey bar drinking cheap beer from a can after a night downtown, good times :)

   Posted 3 years ago #         

7. Zenguy
   Member Profile

   

   Let's just say it never got used.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

8. MrJT
   Member Profile

   

   Zenguy, I have the same sad story.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

9. JenV
   Member Profile

   

   Or Lowery could have meant the old TNT Tavern right next door to the Benbow? Great place. Good pool, good jukebox. I don't even remember when it closed.

   Posted 3 years ago #         

10. GenHillOne
    Member Profile

    oooh yeah, good point, Jen - think I threw some darts there without maiming anyone

    Posted 3 years ago #         

11. marianne
    Member Profile

    The Admiral Benbow Inn or aka "Captain Nemo's" what a place. Had many pops there. Great memories. So sad they closed. Never went into TNT much.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

12. Gina
    Member Profile

    

    Aren't the property owners having trouble with city zoning/permits?

    Posted 3 years ago #         

13. Lowery
    Member Profile

    

    So there's 2 different places right next to each other that both closed? There's a window you can look in and see old bench seats sitting there collecting dust. I just hope they're not going to tear it down and put up even more freakin condos.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

14. WSB
    Member Profile

    

    Not enough time to go into all the detail but the development proposal here has long been shelved. Recently two neighboring properties including T and T Tavern went up for lease again. But Benbow wasn't mentioned.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

15. villagegreen
    Member Profile

    

    Sad story - After moving to Seattle I had heard mcuh about the Benbow and finally decided to check it out. Upon arriving with a couple friends we were greeted with a closed sign and learned from some patrons at the TNT next door that the owner had died the day before. Missed it by ONE DAY!!! Oh, and my condolences to the owner's family...

    I've heard so many good things about the place that the image I have in my mind is probably better than the actual reality was. Even so, I'm still upset I was one day late. Story of my life -- I am a procrastinator and guess I always will be.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

16. marianne
    Member Profile

    Villagegreen

    Sometime in the mid-late 1990's the band Mudhoney shot a video in the pirate bar. Can't remember for what song, but somewhere out there is footage of what the place looked like. Maybe someone from Easystreet Records knows.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

17. villagegreen
    Member Profile

    

    Awesome - Thanks marianne!

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7Ze0sXZgQCA

    Posted 3 years ago #         

18. marianne
    Member Profile

    You're welcome! Was fun to see it again. Thanks for posting it. Showing my age, but it never occurred to me to look on youtube.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

19. JenV
    Member Profile

    

    wow, thanks for showing that. I love Mudhoney, and I dearly miss the Benbow.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

20. Dunno
    Member Profile

    I'm pretty sure its owned by C and R Electric.

    I rode the Huskies bus many a time from Benbow's.

    Great watering hole long gone.

    Posted 3 years ago #         

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