Following on the heels of our look at the history of the Green Lake Grill, we received the following request from My Green Lake reader Steve:
I was wondering if you also have information on the old breakfast place that was on the site of what’s now the building that houses Bluwater Bistro, Zeeks, etc. When I moved here in 1995, I remember my real estate agent taking me to what I believe was an old gas station turned into a diner that served good breakfasts. It closed soon after, and was razed for future development which come in the form of the current building.
Thanks for asking, Steve!
This is not the first time I have heard of this much-loved restaurant: seattlepi.com crime reporter Casey McNerthney practically breaks down in tears every time he reminisces about the burgers that he ate as a child at a north Green Lake diner.
The restaurant in question was called Greenlake Jake’s. It first appeared in the neighborhood circa 1977. Two years later, it was joined by its neighbor the Secret Garden Bookshop, now relocated to Ballard. Three years after that, Guido’s Pizza came to the building, and then Ed’s Juice & Java.
Greenlake Jake’s does sound fantastic. A 1991 Seattle Times article titled “How To Eat Your Way ‘Round Green Lake” offered this review:
Greenlake Jake’s looks like a quintessential 1950s-style burger drive-in – and it once was. But although the charbroiled hamburgers are excellent, the real attraction is the enormous sit-down breakfasts served from 7 to 11:30 a.m. Monday through Friday, until noon Saturdays and until 1 p.m. Sundays.
Huge portions, Starbuck’s coffee, fresh-squeezed orange juice, three-egg omelets and what may be the best corned-beef hash in the city keep the tables filled. Most items are priced at $5 or less. Shannon Byron’s splendid homemade pies and caramel pecan rolls ($1.85) sell out early.
As Steve remembers, Greenlake Jake’s, Secret Garden, Guido’s, and Ed’s were torn down circa 1995, after the original landlord passed away and a developer bought the property (source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Jan 31, 1997).
In the summer of 1996, the Lakeside Plaza was built at the site. Although Greenlake Jake’s was lost, Guido’s Pizza and Ed’s Juice returned to the new building. They were joined by Bernie’s Bagels, a sporting-goods store called Good Sport, and children’s dentist Dr. Camille Sata (sources: Puget Sound Business Journal, March 29, 1996 and North American Post, Oct 7, 1998). As far as I can tell, Dr. Sata is the only remaining original tenant at Lakeside Plaza.
A restaurant called Six Degrees set up shop in 1997 (source: Seattle Post-Intelligencer, Sep 19, 1997), and a Tully’s and a Marbletop Creamery also moved in.
In 2002, BluWater Bistro replaced Six Degrees. BluWater remains today. Other current tenants include Dr. Camille Sata, Illustrated Salon Spa, Ben & Jerry’s, SkinLogic Skin Center, World Wrapps, Zeeks Pizza, AlataRock Energy, Physiotherapy Associates, and My Green Lake advertiser Lakeside Dental Center.
Does this chronology of 7900 E Green Lake Dr N sound right to you? Any memories you would like to share about Greenlake Jake’s or any of the other establishments that once occupied this address? Please feel free to leave a comment.
