Fans line up for one last slice of Seattle history and say goodbye to Northlake Tavern

After nearly 70 years, Northlake Tavern and Pizza House — known for pizzas that easily weighed six pounds — has closed its doors.

Gina Hamilton was a newcomer to Seattle in 1979 and was drawn to this place, not just for the pizza.

“They’ve been around since 1954,” said Hamilton. “That’s the year I was born, so you know, they’re still going strong and so am I!”

Many customers like Hamilton waited hours in line to say goodbye and savor one last bite.

“Sad to see it go,” said UW graduate Kirk Nosho. So were his parents, Jerrie and Terry, who joined him for lunch.

“It’s been a long time since I was a student, coming down here after a test or something,” Jerrie Nosho said.

Whether it was after work, after the movies, Northlake Tavern became a regular hangout.

At the tavern’s entrance, Tracy Duncan is waiting patiently to place her order to go. Her parents took her and her brother to Northlake when she was five years old—even though they were too young to be in the bar.

“We had to stay in the car,” Duncan said. “They would bring us slices outside and we would eat in the car.”

Earlier this month, the current owner, Abdoullah, announced his retirement to take care of health issues. He expressed gratitude to the original owner, Herb Friedman, who trained him.

Jessica Scott, one of the bartenders, says they’ve been overwhelmed since the announcement, but appreciative of the community support.

“There is that undertone of sadness,” she said. “But you know what, every story has a chapter.”

Scott will spend her next chapter here when Big Mario’s, another local pizza business, takes over the space.

It’s been bittersweet. But the way Gina Hamilton sees it, Northlake Tavern’s closure is a mirror of Seattle’s transition.

“He’s passing the torch to the new Seattle,” she said.

And making room for what’s coming next.