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LANDMARK RESTAURANTS – Redondo Beach History
Salty’s Restaurant at Redondo Beach just south of Seattle, Washington,
has been a locals’ favorite waterfront seafood restaurant and café-bar
from the time of its opening in 1981. The restaurant building is set on
piers resting on Puget Sound beachfront and has historical significance
along with the area known as Redondo Beach.
As Larry Snyder Jr. said in a local paper, “The area of Redondo
Beach has a long and memorable history in South Puget Sound. Initially
settled in 1869 by The Stone family, the beachfront community became known
as Redondo, named by those who thought it had some potential to become
similar to the beach community in southern California. Near the turn of
the century, Redondo Beach became a popular camping spot. The early 1900s
brought an amusement park, including the Washington State’s largest
roller skating rink. It was one of the first to require wooden wheels.”
"I remember skating there when I was 16," Larry Wilson of Des
Moines says. "The skating rink was upstairs and a penny arcade downstairs."
Kids enjoyed the facility, complete with a Wurlitzer organ, until the
building was destroyed in a 1951 fire. Wilson also recalls the construction
of a five-story "dry storage" boat facility in the late 1950s,
complete with a water-borne boat elevator. "Because there was no
breakwater, a southern wind helped you decide how fast your boat got on
that elevator,” says Wilson.
Quotes from The Highline Times, January
16, 2002
THE LONG AND HAPPY LIFE OF SALTY’S AND REDONDO BEACH
1868—Zacharias and Jane Stone buy squatter’s rights to their
homestead, known as Stone’s Landing.
1886—Steamer service is provided by Captain John Phillips.
1890—Beach is a popular picnic area with people arriving on horseback,
buggy or mostly by boats. Some families even pitch tents for the entire
summer.
1904—It is named Redondo when Mr. & Mrs. Isaac Hurd take over
the post office.
1910—Charles Betts brings in a ferris wheel, merry-go-round and
slides; Redondo becomes a carnival town.
1922—Weston Betts builds a Dance Hall which becomes a local hot
spot.
1930—The Dance Hall becomes a skating rink requiring wood wheels.
It’s known as Washington State’s largest skating rink and
features a Wurlitzer pipe organ.
1947—Nel’s Boathouse is built (and the building will eventually
become Salty’s at Redondo, the restaurant).
1951—The famed skating rink burns to the ground. Amusement equipment
is sold to Seattle’s Woodland Park.
1954—Nel’s Boathouse is renamed Nel’s Boathouse Tavern.
1959—Byron Betts opens Redondo Marina, touted as best in the State.
1968—Renamed Redondo Tavern.
1971—Under new control, a new name, Redondo Beach Tavern.
1972—A Class “H” license is introduced, and a year later
the name changes to Redondo Beach Broiler.
1975—Acquired by Paul’s Dock, Inc., it is named Paul’s
Dock.
1977—The name changes, this time to Fisherman’s Market.
1978—Redondo Waterfront Park is established. It includes the boat
launch ramp, fishing pier and park across the street with picnic tables.
1979—New owners establish Sebastian’s Seafood Restaurant.
1980—New management changes the name back to Paul’s Dock.
1981—Gerry & Kathy Kingen purchase Paul’s Dock and after
a major remodel open under a new name, Salty’s at Redondo Beach.
