by Chan Boswell
Bob and Marcia Almquist Place
Prior to Plymouth Housing’s most recent development at 501 Rainier Ave, Linc’s Tackle, a well-known local fishing retailer, operated at the site for over 65 years. Its owner, Japanese American Lincoln Beppu, purchased the shop after the original owner drowned during a fishing trip in the mid 1930s. Once World War II broke out, Linc’s was forced to close and Beppu and his family were required to relocate to an internment camp in Idaho. Lincoln and his sons were eventually able to return seven years later, after saving enough money to buy a car and drive back to Seattle. The store reopened in 1950. Lincoln remained its owner for over 30 years until he eventually retired and handed Linc’s down to his eldest son, Jerry Beppu. Jerry continued to operate the store alongside his wife, Marcia, until its doors closed in 2017. Linc’s operated for six generations of Seattle’s everchanging urban landscape, and it remains a beloved memory of the Little Saigon community.
Almquist Place opened in April 2020. It has 102 apartments for people who’ve formerly experienced homelessness.
Lewiston/Scargo
Originally built between 1910-1911, the Lewiston Hotel operated as a single occupancy workers’ hotel that offered industrialized features such as hot water and shared baths. Prior to the Lewiston’s construction, the property and existing building were owned by boat engineer Martin Paup. This multi-dimensional commercial space served several businesses including a tobacco stand, newsstand and several taverns. During this period, the hotel housed blue collar workers for longer term stays. It closed sometime in the 1970s and was adopted into Plymouth’s portfolio in the late 1980s. Lewiston has undergone several renovations and housed many nightlife establishments over the course of three decades. Most notably, Queen City Tavern (known later as Queen City Grill) operated as Seattle’s oldest union affiliated bar until closing February 2020. The building was restored and now operates in conjunction with the neighboring Scargo hotel as 94 studio apartments with shared facilities.
