The Central Saloon

Specialties

Local live music! Cheap drinks! Great food! Pregame HQ!

History

Established in 1892.

The Central became in it’s time, a café, a post office, an employment hall, a card room & bar, & a brothel. The dumbwaiter that served the downstairs brothel is still on the north wall. When Henry Yesler’s lumber mill shut down & «skid road» became known more for its bawdy bars & red-​light hotels, Pioneer Square became the refuge of winos, dingbats & the occasional aristocrat.

The tavern’s draw & fame was so great that one patron, J. J. «Tiny» Freeman was able to run a congressional campaign from the front table. He lost.

Music & new owners were added in the 1980s. Many of the rock-​n-​roll bands now known internationally for Seattle’s «grunge sound» first played to packed houses here at The Central.

In 1990 the present owners traded-​in the status «tavern» for «saloon,» refurbished the bar and kitchen, restored the hard liquor license, & continued with the tradition of quality food, liquor & congenial atmosphere.

On April 7^th of 1992 The Central celebrated it’s 100^th Anniversary.

Meet the Business Owner

Guy C.

Business Owner

Guy Curtis. Saloon owner