#1557 - Tides Tavern, Gig Harbor, WA - 9/24/2011

The Tides has been a tavern of various names since prohibition, and was remodeled and renamed into the current incarnation in 1973.  From the tavern's web site:

'The building that now houses the Tides Tavern was built by Axel Uddenburg in 1910 and served the area as a general store. Located next to the "People's Dock", the town's only public ferry landing, it was called the West Side Mercantile. The ferry dock provided a steady stream of customers through the first half-century. With the end of prohibition in the 1930s, a tavern was added, and a tradition of good times began. Beer was sold for 10 cents a glass, and 20 cents a bottle. The tavern never made much money, but no one cared.

Through the years, the building has seen a number of colorful owners, not the least of which was "Three Fingered Jack," a Jerry Garcia look-alike whose tenor voice resonated across the dance floor on Friday and Saturday nights in the late 60s and early 70s.

In 1973, current owner Peter Stanley bought the run-down, but well-known tavern, and began a two-month re-construction project which culminated in the memorable opening of The Tides on the weekend of "Harbor Holidays."'

One of the things I liked about The Tides was that the staff were all running around working hard to serve a full house, but there was much smiling and laughter. It felt like the heart of this small town, for both locals and visitors, and both customers and workers seemed like they were glad to be there.

2925 Harborview Dr, Gig Harbor, WA 98335 - (253) 858-3982
Est. 1973 - Building constructed: 1910
Previous bars in this location: Ferry Tavern, Three-Fingered Jack's
tidestavern.com (history) - acoupleoffoodiesintacoma -  yelp