Central Saloon

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Central Saloon
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Seattle - Central Tavern, 1970s (53502918631) (cropped).jpg
Central Tavern, 1970s
Central Saloon
Restaurant information
Street address207 1st Avenue South
City Seattle
StateWashington
Postal/ZIP Code98104
CountryUnited States
Coordinates 47°36′2.2″N122°20′4″W / 47.600611°N 122.33444°W / 47.600611; -122.33444

Central Saloon is a bar, restaurant and music venue in Seattle, in the U.S. state of Washington. Established in 1892, the bar is among the city's oldest. [1] [2]

The bar is located in the Pioneer Square neighborhood, the oldest in the city.

Lonely Planet says, "It may be two years younger than the official 'Oldest Bar in Seattle' (Georgetown's Jules Maes), but the Central isn't exactly modern. More of a locals' hangout than an object of historical interest, this long, narrow joint makes grotty bathrooms and blah food seem charming, by virtue of cheap suds, friendly barkeeps and a comfortable, unfussy vibe. Nirvana, Soundgarden and most of the grunge nobility have played here, and live music still happens regularly." [3] Many other bands in the grunge scene and other local rock acts played early shows at the venue, including Nirvana's first Seattle concert, which led to them getting signed by the Sub Pop record label. [4]

In June 2022, the owners of the bar purchased the building where it is located, ensuring that it won't be sold or redeveloped. [5]

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References

  1. Craighead, Callie (2020-02-25). "Then and now: 16 historic Seattle restaurants still open today". seattlepi.com. Archived from the original on 2022-07-04. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  2. "Central Saloon in Pioneer Square is the city's oldest Saloon". king5.com. January 29, 2020. Archived from the original on 2020-01-30. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  3. "Central Saloon | Seattle, USA | Nightlife". www.lonelyplanet.com. Archived from the original on 2022-07-17. Retrieved 2022-07-17.
  4. "Central Tavern and Saloon (Seattle)", HistoryLink
  5. "Central Saloon, storied grunge-era club, secures long-term future in Seattle", Seattle Times , June 8, 20022