Jules Maes features signs that
prominently claim "Since 1888," and local newspapers have refered to
Jules Maes himself working there in 1888.
This would make Jules the oldest bar in the current Seattle city limits (the Georgetown
area was annexed by Seattle March 29, 1910).
However my research indicates that these claims are not accurate.
First, the building at 5919 Airport Way was not constructed until 1898
(Note:
King County parcel information says "1900," but this was once common
for any building constructed on or before 1900.)
According to the
most comprehensive history I could find, the building was first a saloon in 1907,
thus this is the date I used for the bar's age, even though it wasn't leased
to Jules Maes until 1936.
Jules attended and/or owned other bars in the area in the early 1900s, but not earlier.
His bar was located at
5953 Airport Way in 1934, before moving into the current building in 1936
(the 5953 location then became the "Georgetown Tavern" from at least 1939 into the early 2000s.)
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