From Richey’s Pharmacy to Seaside Café: Looking back at 2738 Alki Avenue | Business

Just a few months ago the Alki community was shocked to find one of its favorite dining destinations – Alki Bakery – had closed its 25-year-old café. While the bakery had a lengthy history itself, the property was home to a pharmacy for nearly 80 years before that. We teamed up with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society to learn all about the history of 2738 Alki Avenue.

Beginning in 1907, the building on the corner of 63rd and Alki wasn’t dealing out baked goods but medical supplies as the Seaside Pharmacy, owned by Jewell and Bunting until the 1922 when Charles Richey Sr. purchased the property and renamed it Richey’s Alki Community Drug Store.

During the 1930’s and 1940’s, the pharmacy was a popular hangout for teenagers because it boasted a soda fountain with Cherry Phosphates and Chocolate Cokes.

“Richey’s was a sort of unofficial meeting place,” former Alki resident Glenn brewer told the Southwest Historical Society. “After the Boy Scout Troop meetings, we would all go there for a Green River. We didn’t have access to a lot of money then, during the Depression, but could always come up with enough for a treat. I remember once finding a rolled-up $5 bill in the gutter outside Richey’s, and thought I was in heaven.”

 “I used to meet my friend there and we would drink Cokes and Green Rivers,” said former Alki resident Don (Babe) Smith. “Some of the girls that worked there included Blanche Rupp, Jane McDougal and Marie Johnson. Marion Johnson worked for Mr. Richey for many years. You might say she was his right hand person. The whole group that worked there were good people.”

Son Charlie Richey Jr. took over the business in the 1950’s and was so involved in the local community that he became known as the “Mayor of Alki.”

“In the early days, we did most of our shopping right there on Alki Avenue and went to Richey’s to have our prescriptions filled and for special treats, usually ice cream cones for the kids,” said another former Alki resident Marguerite Parlato. “Mr. Richey was our friend, and we had an account there and seldom went to town if Richey had it. If there had been a mayor of Alki, it would have been Charles Richey.”

“I remember Mr Richey, the ‘Mayor of Alki,’” said Barbara Andersen. “He had a remedy for everything. He even tried to sell me a ‘Johnny-mop.’”

Others recalled their memories of the old pharmacy with the Southwest Seattle Historical Society:

“I remember being in the Richey’s Pharmacy many, many times and my oldest sister Joanne worked behind the counter for many years. I was asked to deliver some prescription medicine a few times by Charles Richie. This meant driving his 12-cylinder Lincoln Zephyr. It was always a temptation to speed a little, but both the car and I survived,” said H. Martin Smith.

“My friend Rob Galsbreath of the West Seattle class of 1937 told me the only reason he went to Richey’s Drug Store was to buy beer because they weren’t fussy about the age,” said Dave Wilkins.

By the 1980’s the Richey’s pharmacy closed and the Alki Bakery moved in. Having just closed in November, the property is now being leased to John Bang, owner of the neighboring Alki Café. Bang says he plans to reopen the space as the Beachside Café on Alki. They will be open from around 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. serving coffee, deserts, sandwiches, salads, frozen yoghurt, waffles and more. It should be more of a “to-go” destination rather than the “sit-down” style of the Alki Café.

A big thank you to the Southwest Seattle Historical Society for providing us pictures, stories and valuable information on Alki’s history. The society is located at the Loghouse Museum, which is open Thursday through Sunday, noon to 4 p.m. Those interested in West Seattle history should check out their latest publication: Images of America: West Seattle.