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Life // Food & Dining

22 iconic Seattle eateries and bars we miss

by Callie Craighead, Seattle P-I

Restaurants come and restaurants go.

The newest wave of restaurant closures in Seattle has sparked concern among the city's foodies, but it's not the first time that once stapled restaurants have been forced to shut their doors due to the rapidly changing landscape and rising costs of the Emerald City.

Scroll down for a look back on famed, historic Seattle eateries and bars that have since departed.

1. Twin Teepees
Opened in 1937, the Twin Teepees, on Aurora Avenue North near Green Lake, was razed after a fire in 2000. It was part of a vanishing generation of roadside businesses and a one-time workplace of cook Harland Sanders, of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. There's a legend that he perfected KFC's fried-chicken recipe at the Teepees, but it's never been proven.
ROBIN LAYTON

Opened in 1937, the Twin Teepees, on Aurora Avenue North near Green Lake, was razed after a fire in 2000. It was part of a vanishing generation of roadside businesses and a one-time workplace of cook Harland Sanders, of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame. There's a legend that he perfected KFC's fried-chicken recipe at the Teepees, but it's never been proven.

2. Zesto's
Generations of Ballard High School teens hung out at Zesto's for its burgers, fries and jukebox cool. It opened in 1952 and was known as the place with a '57 Chevy on the roof. It closed in early 2012.
Phil H. Webber/Seattle Post-Intelligencer

Generations of Ballard High School teens hung out at Zesto's for its burgers, fries and jukebox cool. It opened in 1952 and was known as the place with a '57 Chevy on the roof. It closed in early 2012.

3. Red Robin Tavern
A staple University of Washington hangout on the corner of Furhman and Eastlake Avenues E., the restaurant was originally named Sam's Tavern after the owner. After being sold to a local restaurant entrepreneur,  the first restaurant in the franchise opened in Yakima in 1979.
P-I file

A staple University of Washington hangout on the corner of Furhman and Eastlake Avenues E., the restaurant was originally named Sam's Tavern after the owner. After being sold to a local restaurant entrepreneur,  the first restaurant in the franchise opened in Yakima in 1979.

No, the burgers weren't the best, but the Red Robin in Eastlake was a popular spot for UW students and families alike. And it was the first Red Robin in the country, around for 40 years. It closed in 2010.
Joshua Trujillo/seattlepi.com

No, the burgers weren't the best, but the Red Robin in Eastlake was a popular spot for UW students and families alike. And it was the first Red Robin in the country, around for 40 years. It closed in 2010.

4. Tini Bigs
The popular bar at the corner of Denny Way and 1st Avenue closed in 2017. It's neighbor Hula Hula relocated to Capitol Hill.
GENNA MARTIN/SEATTLEPI.COM

The popular bar at the corner of Denny Way and 1st Avenue closed in 2017. It's neighbor Hula Hula relocated to Capitol Hill.