Knapp’s Restaurant and Lounge, the Proctor District fixture that opened in 1938, has closed its dining room, according to a handwritten sign taped to the front door on Monday. The note reads, “Knapp’s is closed. Thank you for the memories,” with a second sign promising the space will open Saturday from 7 to 10 a.m. for “coffee only.” Staff at the restaurant could not be reached for immediate comment.
The News Tribune reported that the sign went up Monday and that attempts to reach restaurant representatives were unsuccessful. The paper noted that Knapp’s served breakfast, lunch and dinner, with staples that included steak ’n’ eggs, burgers and meatloaf, and that the business also operates an adjacent bar. Another handwritten door note invited customers to stop by and “share the <3” during the brief coffee-only opening.
Knapp’s Through the Decades
Knapp’s traces its lineage to a delicatessen opened in 1938 and later expanded with the adjacent bar in 1969, according to Knapp’s. Maple Valley resident Billy Brewer, who took over the business in August, told The News Tribune that he “fell in love with the place” and praised the staff who “kept this place open by the effort that they’ve put forth.” The restaurant’s website lists its address as 2707 N. Proctor St.
What Comes Next for Proctor
It is not yet clear whether the closure is temporary or permanent, and the fate of the dining room will be watched closely as the Proctor business corridor continues to evolve. On June 2, the City of Tacoma approved a 12-year Multi-Family Housing Tax Exemption for a 98-unit project in the Proctor Mixed-Use Center, a move that underscores development pressure in the neighborhood, according to the City of Tacoma. For now, the door sign promising a short Saturday coffee service is the only public timetable for Knapp’s next opening.
Reporters were unable to reach anyone at Knapp’s when the sign was first posted, and the diner had not issued a formal statement by press time. This story will be updated if Knapp’s releases a message or the owner provides details about the space’s future.
