Coon Chicken Inn: Seattle's Dark Past.

A Restaurant with a Troubling Legacy

In the vibrant city of Seattle, there exists a chapter in its history that many would rather forget. The Coon Chicken Inn, a restaurant with a disturbing name and concept, became a prominent fixture in the city’s culinary scene during the mid-20th century. Its existence and popularity serve as a stark reminder of the racial stereotypes and discrimination that were once acceptable, and it raises important questions about how we remember and confront our past.

A Brief History of the Inn

The Coon Chicken Inn was established in 1929 by Charles W. Potter, a businessman from Portland, Oregon. Potter had already opened a few similar restaurants in Oregon, capitalizing on the racist trope of the “coon” caricature, which stereotyped African Americans as lazy, unintelligent, and comical. The name and theme of the restaurant were derived from this offensive stereotype, with the word “coon” being a derogatory term for black people.

Potter’s restaurants featured a large, grinning head of a black man as their logo, which was prominently displayed on the restaurant’s signage. The Seattle location, situated on Lake City Way, became particularly well-known due to its distinctive architecture and prominent signage. The main building resembled a plantation-style cabin, complete with a faux fireplace and a large veranda, creating an atmosphere that romanticized the antebellum South.

A Popular Dining Destination

Despite its troubling theme, the Coon Chicken Inn became a popular dining spot for Seattleites. The restaurant offered a unique dining experience, with a menu that featured southern-style comfort food and live entertainment. It attracted a diverse range of customers, from families seeking a novel dining adventure to business professionals on their lunch breaks.

The Inn’s success can be partly attributed to the fact that it capitalized on the prevailing racial stereotypes of the time. The caricature of the “happy darky” was a pervasive image in American culture, and the restaurant played into this racist trope, offering a “safe” and “fun” space for patrons to indulge in their prejudices.

The Protests and Pushback

Not everyone in Seattle was comfortable with the existence of the Coon Chicken Inn. Local civil rights activists and community leaders began to speak out against the restaurant, arguing that its name and theme perpetuated harmful stereotypes and contributed to a culture of racism.

In 1947, the Seattle chapter of the NAACP organized a boycott of the restaurant, calling on the community to refuse to patronize the Inn until its name and theme were changed. The boycott gained traction, with local businesses and organizations joining the cause. However, despite the growing pressure, the restaurant’s owners refused to make any changes, citing their right to free speech and the popularity of the establishment.

A Slow Decline

While the boycott and protests did not immediately lead to the closure of the Coon Chicken Inn, they marked a turning point in the restaurant’s history. Over time, as societal attitudes began to shift and the civil rights movement gained momentum, the Inn’s popularity began to wane.

By the 1960s, the restaurant’s business had declined significantly, and it eventually closed its doors in 1965. The building was sold and demolished, and its troubling legacy was seemingly buried with it.

Remembering and Learning from the Past

The story of the Coon Chicken Inn serves as a stark reminder of the dark underbelly of American history and the prevalence of racial discrimination. It raises important questions about how we should remember and confront our past, particularly when it comes to confronting uncomfortable truths.

Today, the site of the former Coon Chicken Inn is marked by a historical plaque, which acknowledges the restaurant’s existence and its troubling legacy. The plaque serves as a reminder of the city’s past and a commitment to learning from it, ensuring that such offensive establishments are never repeated.