Mecca Theater Deal to Close Today (29. August 2006, 16:13 by Derek Young) ~ A Changing Landscape
A little bird has flown into our office to tell us that the sale of the Mecca Theater to the Gintz Group is set to close today. With the transfer of title, another chapter in our downtown history will be closed and a new one will begin. From what we hear the top two floors will become condos and the Broadway street level will become a an upscale restaurant and bar “modest brewpub”. We assume that work on the building will begin soon.
There’s something intriguing about being able to say that one lives over what was the last adult theater in downtown Tacoma. Will that be included in the condo marketing materials?
Previously on Exit133
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Its very important for historical buildings to recognize their prior use and even display earlier interior and exterior pictures of the building.
Typically, a renovated building will have pictures of the building at an earlier time whether it was used as a jewelry store, retail store or other use.
Also, historical buildings often keep notable items or collectibles from the building that were removed during renovation and place the items on display.
Has anyone heard anything about the rumor that McMenamins was going to convert the Mecca from a porno to a pub-theater?
2 | Posted by Matt | Aug 29, 09:46 PM
Has anyone heard anything about the rumor that McMenamins was going to convert the Mecca from a porno to a pub-theater?
A rumor that McMenamins is doing something in Tacoma shows up with every building project in town. Elks. Old City Hall. Drakes. Mecca. Others. I hear it pretty regularly, but only as a rumor and (almost) never from a good source. It wouldn’t surprise me if they showed up eventually, but that’s not the name I’ve heard associated with the Mecca restaurant. There’s apparently a restaurant partner, but it’s somebody local…
“Also, historical buildings often keep notable items or collectibles from the building that were removed during renovation and place the items on display.”
This idea is so disturbing… I love it!
4 | Posted by morgan | Aug 29, 10:19 PM
I sure hope they scrape the floor and disinfect everything!!!:-)
maybe the condo association will set up a movie room featuring the ‘content’ of what used to play there. :-p
6 | Posted by Zintradi | Aug 30, 08:02 AM
I don’t know the layout of the building, but will they be doing anything with the Commerce side/entrance? I think there was a “Mecca Deli” or some such in that location.
I’d love to see some improvements along Commerce to make the Link stop more active & inviting.
7 | Posted by DavidS | Aug 30, 08:57 AM
So Tacoma’s getting rid of the Mecca finally. Wow. That’s like watching your 80 yr.old grampa toss out his vintage Playboy mags. Tsk tsk tsk.
8 | Posted by Ellen | Aug 30, 02:42 PM
10 | Posted by morgan | Aug 30, 09:42 PM
Very cool update (#10). Are there other chains mimicking the McMenamins model? Are there other regional stand alones that have mimicked the model?
11 | Posted by DavidS | Aug 31, 10:18 AM
Nothing like McMenamins that I know of.
Although there is a fantastic pizza place up in Seattle (Ballard), Madame K’s, that has a bordello theme. The story goes that the building was one at the turn of the century. The menu items have suggestive names, the waitresses are sassy, the lighting is dim. Best of all is their dessert, rightfully named, the “Orgasm” – a large, fresh out-of-the-over chocolate chip cookie topped with a generous scoop of vanilla ice cream… I’m melting just thinking of it!
12 | Posted by morgan | Aug 31, 03:32 PM
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