This building has a storied past. Constructed in Black Diamond’s commercial district around 1900, it became the Black Diamond Store (also called People’s Store). In 1910, after the explosion of the Lawson mine, Pacific Coast Coal moved their Company store onto the adjacent lot. The Company store was later taken over by the Zumek brothers who eventually closed the original and in 1962 opened a supermarket on Highway 169, now home to a variety of shops. The Black Diamond or People’s Store was eventually converted into an automotive garage. In time the building was divided in two parts. The south half was successively a warehouse, butcher shop, Ford dealership, garage, and then the Diamond Stage bus line office. The north half was used as a pool hall and tavern, the most successful of which was King’s Tavern.
By the time of this 1985 photo, the building had stood empty for three years, then became home to the Black Diamond Saloon & Eatery. The location was conveniently situated between the bakery and museum. The business belonged to Gary Platt with the building owned by Jared Fors, a longtime resident on Lake Sawyer. The saloon business survived several years but by 1995 was replaced by Bob Charles’ Baker Street Books and is now home to Black Diamond Antiques and More, located at 32790 Railroad Ave. This Seattle Times photo by Vic Condiotty comes courtesy of JoAnne Matsumura.
