Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 425 Cedar ST / Parcel ID 0696000320 / Inv #

Historic Name: 5 Point Café Common Name: 5 Point Café Style: Commercial Neighborhood: Belltown Built By: Year Built: 1922   Significance This is an excellent example of a small commercial building, found in many Seattle neighborhoods. It is one of the last remaining virtually intact examples of its size in the downtown area. It was designed in 1922 by architect Earl Roberts, a noted apartment designer, for the Webb Investment Company. It has a prominent corner location and, combined with the similar building to the west, the Rodeo Café building on Denny Way, the landmark Chief Seattle statue and Tillicum Place, it forms a notable composition reflecting the history of Denny Way and the residential character of this part of the Denny Regrade. This building was built in 1922, and has always had a variety of businesses. In 1938 the main tenants were Buchman Hardware and the 5 Point Café. The hardware store was replaced by Crawford-Waage Hardware which later moved to a nearby location and was one of longest-lasting downtown hardware stores. The 5 Point Café, one of downtown's oldest restaurants, remains here.   Appearance This one-story commercial building has red brick cladding, with vinyl siding on the rear and part of the side (west) elevation. It has a stepped parapet with metal coping. It has four storefronts. The two smaller ones on the north side are in largely original condition, with display windows with transoms, recessed entries with wood doors and vertical wood bulkheads. The corner spot, once Buchman Hardware, is also close to original, with an angled entry behind a brick corner column and newer bulkheads. The one shop on the east has a slightly modernized entry, but retains the display windows with transoms. The largest space, the 5 Point Café has been altered with modern doors and windows and stone planters; this may have been done in the 1950s to reduce visibility into the bar area.

Detail for 425 Cedar ST / Parcel ID 0696000320 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Hold Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick, Veneer- Vinyl Siding Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Unknown Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Specialty store Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Balloon Frame/Platform Frame No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Architecture/Landscape Architecture, Commerce Integrity Changes to Windows: Slight Changes to Original Cladding: Slight Changes to Plan: Slight Storefront: Moderate Major Bibliographic References King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972. City of Seattle, Department of Planning and Development, Microfilm Records.

Photo collection for 425 Cedar ST / Parcel ID 0696000320 / Inv #

Photo taken Mar 18, 2007 Photo taken Mar 18, 2007