Archive detailing the attempted building of Top o' the Port, a high-class roof-garden supper club on Elliott Bay
Seattle: Ca. 1945. Small archive of materials laid in and bound in a maroon cloth folder with gilt lettering. Generally very good or better with some mustiness, toning, and edge wear.
An interesting archive with attractive visual material detailing the proposal for a premier restaurant on the roof of Seattle's Bell St. Terminal, overlooking Elliott Bay, called Top o' the Port. We find mention of the businessman behind the endeavor, Gus D. Darland, as early as 1937 in Spokane newspapers, where it seems he was involved in mining. The Marine Digest article gives a bit more background information on Darland, stating he had been in the restaurant business since 1930. According to other items in the archive, Darland at the time also owned and operated Darland's Grill on Alaska Way as well as a cafe, cafeteria, and two canteens in Winslow, Washington.
The fantastic concept sketches show this would have been quite the venue, depicting a large seating area with both adults and well-dressed children enjoying the view through surrounding windows. With 40,000 square feet of floor space, the restaurant would have been complete with separate dining rooms for private clubs, stages for entertainment, dance floors, oyster bars, and much more. As with so many projects of its kind, the club seems to have failed due to lack of funding. We find advertisements for the public offering starting in 1946 and running through 1947 in the Seattle Star. After that, we find no further mention of the venture.
Detailed list of contents:
1. Signed letter of recommendation for Gus Darland from P. O'Neal, manager of Dohrmann Hotel Supply Co. dated in 1945.
2. Three copies of a printed advertisement with blurbs from various newspapers on the project.
4. A set of blank Rateholder forms from the Seattle Post Intelligencer, one with notes in pencil, presumably regarding an advertisement in the paper.
5. Port of Seattle 16pp illustrated brochure, compliments of the Port of Seattle Commission, ca. 1945. Laid in are copies of recommendation letters for Darland from the Port of Seattle Commission and Chief Engineer; a schedule of estimated costs for the project from Atherton Construction Co.; and 3 pages from Darland Enterprises Inc. with labor operation estimates, day's takes, and percentages of costs.
6. A nicely printed business outline [5]pp, on black, glossy stock with a cover sheet, board of directors, costs, receipts, and investment plan.
7. A more complete business plan which includes same as the above as well as a letter and estimates from Atherton Construction Co.; floor and balcony plans by Stuart & Durham architects; a photograph of the Bell St. Terminal and concept drawing by Galen W. Bentley, architect, of the interior view; copies of a drawn map and 6 other concept sketches of various views from inside and outside Top o' the Port, by "Plancich."
Price: $300.00