Seattle Historical Sites

Summary for 2230-34 2nd AVE / Parcel ID 0694000035 / Inv #

Historic Name: Bell Street Auto Repair Common Name: Mama's Mexican Kitchen Style: Commercial Neighborhood: Belltown Built By: Year Built: 1924   Significance This building, constructed in 1924, is a good example of a small commercial building, surprisingly intact in comparison to others in the vicinity. The corner space has usually been occupied by a café—in 1938 it was the New Cecilia Café. For many years it has been Mama’s Mexican Kitchen, one of Belltown’s oldest restaurants. The storefront on Bell Street is one of downtown’s most intact examples of an auto repair garage. In 1938 it was Bell Street Auto repair, and it remains in that use today. Many auto repair shops located in Belltown in the 1920s-30s, as it provided a central location with lower land prices than downtown.   Appearance This one-story building is of masonry construction faced with red brick; someof the brick bulkheads have been painted in bright colors. There are three storefronts on the west elevation, plus the garage on the north side. Two of the storefronts have recessed entries, while one has been altered. The large display windows have light transoms, obscured by canvas awnings. The roofline has a stepped parapet with metal coping. The garage is amazingly intact, with decorative brickwork above the expansive multilight windows. The garage door is newer.

Detail for 2230-34 2nd AVE / Parcel ID 0694000035 / Inv #

Status: Yes - Hold Classication: Building District Status: Cladding(s): Brick Foundation(s): Concrete - Poured Roof Type(s): Flat with Parapet Roof Material(s): Unknown Building Type: Commercial/Trade - Restaurant Plan: Rectangular Structural System: Brick No. of Stories: one Unit Theme(s): Commerce Integrity Changes to Windows: Slight Changes to Plan: Intact Changes to Original Cladding: Intact Major Bibliographic References Polk's Seattle Directories, 1890-1996. King County Tax Assessor Records, ca. 1932-1972.

Photo collection for 2230-34 2nd AVE / Parcel ID 0694000035 / Inv #

Photo taken Mar 18, 2007 Photo taken Jul 04, 2006