Seattle Historical Sites

This commercial building was constructed in 1946 during a period of important industrial, commercial and warehouse development in the South Lake Union area.  The earliest tenant was Lexow & Son Custom Cabinet works (Seattle Times Archives, 1947). Over the next three decades the building housed a number of different businesses, including: Seattle Pump Service Co. and Iman electric Co. Motors (an historical photo dated 1950 shows two distinct business, each occupying two of the four storefront bays, King County Property Record Card, 1950); Seattle Pump & Control Service, Inc. (Seattle Times Archives, 1961); Chiscraft Parts Co. (Seattle Times Archives, 1967), Marine Parts Northwest, Inc. (Seattle Times Archives 1970, 1980); and Future Products Inc. (Seattle Times Archives 1979). The current tenant, Athletic Awards Company, has occupied the building since 1983 (Seattle Times Archives, 1983).   

This concrete block building features large storefront windows with thin aluminum frames typical of Modern commercial design from this period, however, its overall design refers back to an earlier commercial vernacular style in which storefront windows are not yet continuous and emphasis is still placed on window enframements that define four distinct bays. This building remains largely intact, although transom windows above the storefronts have been filled in and punched window openings with industrial sash on the west (alley) facade have been painted over.  Other alterations that detract from the building’s overall historic character but are readily reversible include large painted business signage and oversized painted wall graphics on all facades, as well as an oversized roof mounted trophy replica above the entry.

Bibliographical References:

Jackson, Mike, FAIA. “Storefronts of Tomorrow.” Preserving the Recent Past 2. Eds. Deborah Slaton and William G. Foulks. Washington DC: Historic Preservation Education Foundation, National Park Service, Association for Preservation Technology, 200. 57-65.  

King County Property Record Card (1937-1972), Washington State Archives

Seattle Times Historical Archives:

Feb. 12, 1947, p. 28

May 7, 1961, p. 168

Dec. 13, 1967, p. 11

May 24, 1970, p. 79

Apr. 25, 1979, p. 23

Jan. 4, 1980, p. 23

Nov. 6, 1983, p. 95

This 3,900 commercial building is rectangular in form and features a flat roof and wood frame construction with concrete block walls. It has four enframed storefront bays with aluminum sash windows. Transom windows above the storefronts have been filled in. The recessed entry door is located in the second storefront bay from the south. Punched window openings with industrial sash located on the west (alley) facade have been painted over.  To the east of the building is a surface parking/delivery court that can be closed with a tall wrought iron fence and gate. A concrete block car-port-like structure with a flat roof shelters the parking/delivery court at the corner of Republican Street and 9^th Avenue North. All of the structures on the site are painted bright yellow and feature oversized painted business signage and wall graphics.  An oversized trophy replica is mounted to the roof above the main entry and an internally illuminated box sign with changeable lettering is mounted to the car port roof.