Listen up McMenamins, this concept’s even better

DAN VOELPEL; THE NEWS TRIBUNE
Last updated: September 19th, 2008 01:45 AM (PDT)

What? You don’t want to buy it?

I know who should – Mike and Brian McMenamin.

Followers of this column will remember that I’ve tried several times since 2003 to persuade the McMenamin brothers of Portland to bring their popular, historic renovation-style brewpub operations to Tacoma. Most notably, I walked with Mike McMenamin through the old Elks Temple at 565 Broadway. And more than 300 of you in 2006 generously sent enthusiastic e-mails to the brews brothers begging them to install one of their establishments inside the temple. Darned if the exorbitant renovation costs made it unfeasible.

That now looks like a blessing in disguise for Tacoma and the McMenamins. Why? Because the 99-year-old Federal Building has more room, more diverse spaces and more historical stories to tell about the cases that passed through the U.S. District Court that operated there for most of the 20th century.

When the U.S Postal Service puts the building on the market early next year, it will ask for proposals and price offers. The one that offers the greatest combination of price, historic preservation, financial backing and a concept with public and private support will win the building, said Mike Hickey, principal at Tacoma’s Neil Walter Co., and the listing agent for the building.

What do you think would work best? More condominiums like those that went into the historic Walker Apartments at Sixth and St. Helens avenues? More office space like that occupied by DaVita in the old Schoenfeld Furniture building? A computer server farm like the one occupying the former F.W. Woolworth Co. variety store at South 11th Street and Broadway?

Not now. Not in this market. I can’t imagine anything would work better than a signature McMenamins destination resort featuring hotel rooms in the upper-floor offices and judges’ chambers; movie theaters in the historic courtrooms; a brewery and a soaking pool in the brick-lined basement; a restaurant in the post office; a music venue and dance hall in the mail carrier loading station; a brewpub in the former postal museum space; and quaint bars in the evidence room, jury room or holding cells where U.S. marshals kept prisoners waiting for court.

The brothers operate brewpubs at more than 55 locations in Oregon and Washington. But they operate just seven signature properties, with an eighth under construction in downtown Portland.

None of the eight involves anything like a historic federal courthouse.

The McMenamins “are always looking” for something unique and challenging, said their staff historian, Tim Hills.

“Tacoma’s got a great history, and there are some great buildings there,” Hills said. “I hope for the time when there’ll be the chance” for a Tacoma McMenamins.

Me, too. How about you?

Dan Voelpel: 253-597-8785

dan.voelpel@thenewstribune.com">dan.voelpel@thenewstribune.com

McMenamins’ Signature Destinations

Mike and Brian McMenamin started brewing beer and opened their first pub in 1983, and now operate more than 55 retail outlets – but just the following eight signature hotel properties.

1. Edgefield – Troutdale, Ore.

Originally: 1911 Multnomah County Poor Farm

Now: 74-acre campus including more than 100 guest rooms, brewery, winery, distillery, bars, restaurant, theater, spa, outdoor concert venue, gift shop, 32-hole par-3 golf course

2. Hotel Oregon – McMinnville, Ore.

Originally: 1905 brick building featuring restaurant, banquet hall, bus station, beauty parlor, Western Union and soda fountain

Now: Four-story hotel with 42 guest rooms, brewpub, bar, music venue, annual UFO festival

3. Grand Lodge – Forest Grove, Ore.

Originally: 1922 Masonic & Eastern Star Lodge home for aged and infirm, and the poor and distressed worthy Master Masons, their widows and orphans

Now: Campus and hotel featuring 77 rooms, theater, bar, restaurant, spa, music venue, 10-hole disc golf course

4. Kennedy School – Portland

Originally: 1915 neighborhood elementary school

Now: Hotel with 35 rooms, soaking pool, theater, restaurant, three small bars, brewery, gift shop

5. Old St. Francis School – Bend, Ore.

Originally: 1936 Catholic schoolhouse

Now: Hotel with 19 guest rooms, four rental cottages, pub, brewery, bakery, Turkish-style soaking pool, private meeting and event space, gift shop, music venue

6. Olympic Club Hotel & Theater – Centralia

Originally: Notorious 1908 men’s club and 1913 Oxford Hotel

Now: Hotel with 27 guest rooms, pub, bar, theater, brewery, pool hall, music venue

7. White Eagle Hotel – Portland

Originally: 1905 civic and social hub for Portland’s Polish immigrants

Now: Micro-hotel with 11 rooms, saloon, music venue

8. Unnamed Hotel – Portland

Originally: 1911 triangular-shaped, four-story hotel and tire shop with various incarnations, including a men’s bathhouse and nightclub

Now: Purchased in June and under reconstruction for 2009 opening as hotel with 50 rooms, restaurant, bar, soaking pool, spa one block from McMenamins’ Crystal Ballroom concert venue

Originally published: September 19th, 2008 12:55 AM (PDT)