Jake's Famous Crawfish facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Jake's Famous Crawfish |
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| Restaurant information | |
| Established | 1892 |
| Current owner(s) | McCormick & Schmick's |
| Food type | Seafood |
| Street address | 401 SW 12th Avenue |
| City | Portland |
| State | Oregon |
| Country |  United States |
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Whitney and Gray Building and Jake's Famous Crawfish Restaurant
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 Location in Portland, Oregon
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| Location | 2417 SW 16th Avenue Portland, Oregon |
| Built | 1910 |
| Architect | Knighton & Root |
| NRHP reference No. | 83002177 |
| Added to NRHP | August 11, 1983 |
| Website | https://www.jakesfamous.com/ |
Jake's Famous Crawfish is a very old and well-known seafood restaurant. It is located in downtown Portland, Oregon. The restaurant first opened its doors in 1892. It was started by a man named Jacob "Jake" Lewis Freiman. The building where the restaurant is now located was finished in 1910.
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History of Jake's Famous Crawfish
The building that houses Jake's Famous Crawfish was built in 1910. Since then, the ground floor has always been home to this famous restaurant. Jake's and the restaurants before it have been serving customers since 1892. This makes it Portland's second oldest restaurant that has been open without stopping.
Early Beginnings: Mueller and Meier
The very first restaurant was called Mueller and Meier. It was a saloon that opened in 1892. This saloon was one of only two places in Portland that served crawfish back then. In 1911, Mueller and Meier moved into the Whitney & Gray Building. It continued as a saloon until 1913, when it became the Mueller and Meier Cafe.
Prohibition Era Changes
In 1916, a statewide ban on alcohol, called Prohibition, started in Oregon. Because of this, the restaurant began to focus on serving soft drinks. This continued throughout the entire Prohibition period.
The Original "Jake" Takes Over
Around 1920, the owners, Mueller and Meier, sold their business. It was bought by Jacob J. Freiman and J. Rometsch. Jacob Freiman was the original "Jake" that the restaurant is named after. He used to be a waiter at another crawfish restaurant called The Quelle. Jake was a very popular waiter and knew a lot about crawfish. He brought many loyal customers and his crawfish knowledge to the new restaurant. This helped build the restaurant's great reputation, which it still has today.
New Owners and Continued Success
In 1921 or 1922, J. Rometsch left the business. Clem Hackman joined Jake Freiman as a partner. This partnership lasted until 1933, when Jake Freiman passed away. The restaurant was then sold to Joseph Kaffesieder. Joe Kaffesieder was also a very friendly person. He made sure to keep the restaurant's traditions and unique style alive. Many customers even started calling him "Jake" too! Later, Joe's son, Max Kaffesieder, took over the restaurant.
In 1946, Walter E. Holman, Sr., bought the restaurant. He ran it until 1958, when he sold it to his son, Walter, Jr. Walter, Jr., operated it until 1960. After that, it was sold to a group of three investors. In 1961, Howard Wilson, who used to be a manager there, bought the restaurant with his partner, Nick Shewczyk.
McCormick & Schmick's Era
The current owner, William McCormick, bought the restaurant in 1971. In 1972, William "Bill" McCormick purchased Jake's Famous Crawfish. He hired Doug Schmick to be his manager. A few years later, Bill and Doug became partners. Their partnership eventually grew into the well-known restaurant chain called McCormick & Schmick's.
Historic Building Status
The building that has been home to Jake's Famous Crawfish since 1911 is very important. It was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places in 1983. It is listed as the Whitney & Gray Building and Jake's Famous Crawfish Restaurant. This means it is recognized as a special historic place.
What Jake's Looks Like Inside
A writer named Rachel Dresbeck described the restaurant's look. She said it has an "old-fashioned feel from the turn of the last century." She mentioned its many cozy booths tucked against brick walls. The restaurant also has old oil paintings, deep wood panels, a beautiful bar, and crisp white tablecloths. It sounds like a place where you can step back in time!
