Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 12543 Lake City WAY / Parcel ID 1453600721 / Inv # RO013

Historic Name: Tai Wan Café Common Name: Toyoda Sushi Style: Art Deco - Streamline Moderne Neighborhood: North District Built By: Year Built: 1946   Significance In the opinion of the survey, this property appears to meet the criteria of the Seattle Landmarks Preservation Ordinance. This is an outstanding example of Art Moderne design, located in a strip of buildings in the heart of Lake City. It is notable for its curved glass block entry and black tile façade. The restaurant, built in 1946, was originally called Donald's Tasty Food. A small flat-roofed addition was built the following year, in 1947. It was known as the Tai Wan Café through the 1950s-60s and is now a sushi restaurant.   Appearance The most notable feature of this small Art Moderne restaurant is the curved wall of glass block at the entry. The door itself is the original oak and glass, and a square wood canopy shelters the entry. The rest of the storefront is clad in 4x4 inch black ceramic tile with stucco above. A large display window in the front (east) and a smaller one on the alley (south) have aluminum sash. The alley elevation is painted clay tile and CMU, with three small original windows. At the rear is a small flat-roofed addition with clapboard cladding, two original windows and newer doors.

Detail for 12543 Lake City WAY / Parcel ID 1453600721 / Inv # RO013

Status: Yes - Inventory Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Ceramic tile, Concrete - Block, Stucco, Wood - Clapboard Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat Roof Material(s): Unknown Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Restaurant Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Masonry - Unreinforced No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Commerce Integrity Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Windows: Intact Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Major Bibliographic References King County Property Record Card (c. 1938-1972), Washington State Archives. Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996.

Photo collection for 12543 Lake City WAY / Parcel ID 1453600721 / Inv # RO013

Photo taken Oct 20, 2002