Smith Tower Renovations Bring 1920s Flair
Smith Tower's makeover includes a new cocktail bar
By Haley Durslag July 26, 2016
This article originally appeared in the August 2016 issue of Seattle magazine.
When the historic 1914 Smith Tower reopens its 35th-floor observation deck after a recent overhaul, a new 1920s, Prohibition-inspired eatery and bar will be unveiled. Will there be flappers, gin fizzes and jazz? The folks at Unico Properties, which bought the building in 2015, were tight-lipped on the details at press time. But with an interior designed by Graham Baba Architects, the firm behind posh downtown restaurant Miller’s Guild and Capitol Hill’s Melrose Market, it’s sure to honor its place in Seattle history.
“We are honored to enhance [Smith Tower’s] reputation as a premier city landmark,” says Scott Brucker, senior asset manager at Unico Properties. The redesigned space will offer an “unparalleled and fully immersive experience” that mixes the present with gems from the tower’s past, says Brucker, adding that elements from the Chinese Room, such as the Wishing Chair, will be incorporated. But be careful what you wish for, especially after imbibing a few of those cocktails—legend promises marriage within a year to any single woman who sits in the chair.
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