Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 4523 University WAY / Parcel ID 881640-1115 / Inv #

Historic Name: Brehm's Grocery Common Name: Rezhen Mongolian Grill Style: Beaux Arts - Neoclassical Neighborhood: University Built By: Year Built: 1924   Significance This small building was constructed in 1924 and has been extensively altered since then. In 1938 it was Brehm's, one of a chain of several grocery stores in Seattle neighborhoods. At that time, it had a large neon sign along the entire center section of the façade, above tall narrow windows and a suspended canopy. Later it had a meat market and a Van de Kamp's Bakery with its prominent windmill sign. This building was constructed during the commercial heyday of the district, as stores and services of all types appeared to serve the nearby residential neighborhoods like University Park, the numerous apartment buildings and the students themselves. The University Heights Addition had been a very rural area when it was platted in 1899, although the University of Washington had moved to its nearby campus in 1895. The commercial hub moved to the corner of NE 45th Street and University Way NE about the time of the Alaska-Yukon-Pacific Exposition in 1909, and grew exponentially during the next two decades.   Appearance This building retains its original ornament and cladding on the upper half of the one-story façade, but the lower half has been extensively altered. Cladding is large ceramic tile in a cream color, with a stepped parapet which has in its center an oval medallion with the date of construction-1924. Below is a prominent cornice supported by four pairs of curved corbels with wreaths--all in terra cotta. However, below this the original transoms have been covered or removed, and cladding is modern tile with glass-and-steel doors and display windows with a curved glass canopy.

Detail for 4523 University WAY / Parcel ID 881640-1115 / Inv #

Status: No - Altered Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick, Ceramic tile Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Unknown Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Specialty store Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Concrete - Poured No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Commerce Integrity Changes to Original Cladding: Moderate Changes to Windows: Extensive Changes to Plan: Intact Major Bibliographic References Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972. Tobin, Caroline, and Sarah Sodt, "University District Historic Survey Report," City of Seattle Department of Neighborhoods Historic Preservation Program, 2002.

Photo collection for 4523 University WAY / Parcel ID 881640-1115 / Inv #

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