The Martini Manhattan Memorial
Von's opened in 1904 as Rippes on Pike Street. In 1923 the café moved to Fourth Avenue, the center of Seattle's business section. In 1940, theater magnate John von Herberg and chef Anthony Meyers bought it, reopening it as Von's Café. It was crowded at noon and dinner with business people who knew it would be good. It became a great place for the theater crowd or anyone en route home from a festive evening.
One day, restaurateur Walter Clark and Gil Redean, Von's last owner, stopped to see me. Gill was 80 and going strong. He loved to tell how Von's was the businessman's Mecca: great food, strong drinks and fast service. He claimed more deals were cut in his joint than in any other saloon in town.
Von's has since became the Martini Memorial and has been at 6th and Pine, catercorner to the big Nordstrom, since 1987. We're proud to say it's still a Seattle Classic.
