You may have seen the story about the demolition permit issued by the city of Seattle for the Ballard neighborhood's Manning's/Denny's, which is slated to be torn down for condos. Despite its designation earlier this year as a city landmark, the Landmarks Board later voted not to protect the structure, saying that saving it was not financially viable. That cleared the way for its destruction. But all is not lost for fans of Googie architecture in the Northwest. A Manning's/Denny's lookalike has been spotted in Portland. Forget the old Twin Teepees, we may have twin Googies!
Reader and photographer John Froschauer sent in this picture he snapped of a building he photographed a couple of weeks ago as he was walking from his hotel to the Portland Tri-Met station. It is located on the grounds of Portland International Airport. The distinctive swoopy roof, the stone pillars, the tall windows, the arches: All are highly similar to elements of the Clarence W. Mayhew designed Ballard diner that was built in 1964 for the Seattle-founded Manning's restaurant chain. It is thought to have possibly been inspired by a pavilion at the Seattle World's Fair.
Is it another Mayhew design? A knockoff? Did it inspire the Ballard restaurant, or vice versa? Was the "scandigoogienesian" school more far flung than we knew? Froschauer says it stands next to the runway area east of the terminal and could have been a restaurant in a past life. Does anyone out there know this building and its history? Please write if you do.
