Some Interesting History of Laurelhurst Past Businesses

 LCC published this Laurelhurst history in a recent newsletter:

History of Laurelhurst - Glimpses of the 1950s written by Jim Rupp, LCC trustee 

When I was a young boy in the 1950s, Emmett Ziebarth had an easy walk to work from his house in Laurelhurst. He lived in a lovely home on Union Bay at 3615 42nd Avenue NE (replaced by a larger modern home several years ago) and it was a short trip to his business, Ziebarth’s Hardware. It was located in the buildings on NE 45th Street that now house the businesses that extend from Jaks restaurant to the Marlai Thai restaurant. 

The buildings were constructed in 1948, and I think Ziebarth probably built them. He owned the whole block. Back then neighborhoods didn’t have the large grocery stores or shopping centers that we’re now accustomed to, only small neighborhood stores. Ziebarth started out across the street, where Valarmos Pizzeria is now located, with a hardware and grocery store. When he moved into the new building, Ziebarth’s retail enterprise was limited to hardware. He leased space to other businesses that served the neighborhood well. The Ziebarth block had much to offer. 

You could walk into the butcher shop and Carl Pollard could provide a wide range of meat for the table. And next to that was Walt Landis’s grocery store. The store owners knew most of their customers by name and personal service was key. Some allowed you to run a tab and pay at the end of the month. When my father visited Ziebarth’s he might say, “Emmett, I need a 4 inch, 3/8th inch bolt,” and Mr. Ziebarth would find it for him. 

When my mother visited Pollard’s, he’d have the hamburger she’d ordered over the phone or requested on the spot. Where Marlai Thai now serves meals, Graham Condie’s pharmacy filled prescriptions and provided various sundry products. Pill prescriptions came in small glass bottles with plastic tops that easily popped off. 

My parents always went to Condie’s. Many others went to Zoff’s, across Sand Point Way between where the Laurelhurst Condos and El Camion are now located, in what ultimately became a bicycle shop. The only time I remember being in Zoff’s was when I was in sixth grade. Tom Hatch and I went in to look at Playboy magazine. 

Mr. Zoff quickly shooed us away with a stern look of disapproval. Over the years new and varied enterprises have come and gone in the Ziebarth block and larger stores have replaced most small local purveyors in Seattle. In our area, I believe Tradewell and Thriftway were the first of the larger “super” markets where you could buy everything. 

One opened in the building where City People’s now resides, and the other was located in the southwest corner of the University Village. When Emmett Ziebarth died in 1985 he still owned the block. It’s now owned by a Ziebarth family trust.

The Laurelhurst Blog has posted about the history of Zopf pharmacy and a conversation the staff had with the owner's grandson, here.