The Press
Beginning with its opening days and ending with its sell to Best Buy, Speakeasy was often in the news -- in Seattle, and around the world.
Check out the clippings.
Press: Coffee And A Few Bytes — Internet Cafes Serve Up New Ways To Get Wired, Blending Technology, Community And Entertainment
After months of wielding jackhammers, running cable, wrangling 2 x 4's into actual furniture and
Press: Art Of The Net — I-Music Offers Internet’s First Live Gallery Opening
Roderick and Anisa Romero of Sky Cries Mary hold the first live-streamed art gallery opening,
Press: Dramatic Additions — New Performance Spaces Are Springing Up In Unlikely Places
As Seattle's Belltown neighborhood begins to be revitalized, Speakeasy's backroom theater is one of
Press: Tune In To New Sonarchy, A Web Site For Sound
Jack Straw Productions launches one of the first streaming radio stations, Sonarchy. 20 years later,
Press: Cyberspace, Real Life Merge For A Day — Internet Users View Images From 500 Sites Around Globe
In 1996, it wasn't hard to dub your event 'the largest collaborative Internet event ever,' but even
Press: Music Creates The Mood For Silent-Movie Series
Speakeasy's backroom theater was host to not only live performances, but to a wide variety of
Press: Coffee and Quick Bytes – Asia Times
Our press coverage even went as far afield as the Asia Times.
Press: A Dose Of Culture — You’ll Find Art, Theater And More In The Heart Of The City
"People are starting to live here again. As opposed to in the past where people leave downtown to go
Press: X Marks the Spot for Low-Key Sales – Nation’s Business
The cafe was featured in a business review newspaper, focusing on the low pressure sales approach
Press: Monk in the Cell – Der Spiegel
The cafe was featured in a piece by Der Spiegel in June of 1996.
Press: Smaller Films, Videos Find A Showcase At Speakeasy
One of the ways that Speakeasy connected with the arts community in Seattle was to provide a space
Press: Linux Journal Interviews Mike Apgar, Speakeasy Cafe
Speakeasy was conceived around March of 1994. The main impetus was that while the Internet was
Press: Covad Plans To Offer Speedy Dsl Service In Puget Sound Area
Partnering with Competitive Local Exchange Carrier Covad, Speakeasy launches its broadband services
Press: Blue law meanies ruin a business that was an institution
"The Speakeasy has been really glorious," says Gretchen Apgar. "From the beginning, we wanted to mix
JAMPAC Benefit Screening – L7: The Beauty Process
Founded by former Nirvana bassist Krist Novoselic, JAMPAC was focused on fighting several anti-music
Press: Local Nightclub Owners: Music To Their Ears
"It ruined us," said co-owner Gretchen Apgar. "You spend two-and-a-half years building an identity,
From Russia, with Love
In late November, several of Speakeasy's web servers were compromised by a hacker based in Russia.
Press: Soul Providers
Entrepreneur profiles several start-ups, focused on more than just making a buck.
Press: Speakeasy Acquires Jet City
Speakeasy expanded its customer base by acquiring another local ISP, Jet City.
Press: Covad Declares Bankruptcy
In a brief setback, Speakeasy's partner, Covad, files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection.
Press: Nader for Prez!
The Speakeasy Cafe hosted a fundraiser for the Green Party presidential hopeful, Ralph Nader.
Press: 21 Dog Years – Timely look inside Amazon.com
Mike Daisey's breakthrough work, 21 Dog Years, debuted in Speakeasy's Backroom theater in early 2001.
The Fire
On the evening of May 18th, 2001, one of the cornerstones of Speakeasy's ideology, community, and
Press Release: DirectSwitch – Speakeasy Offers Customer-Friendly Transition Program for Stranded DirecTV DSL Subscribers
Speakeasy grows exponentially through the launch of their DirectSwitch program.
Press: Speakeasy is adept at evolving
Finding success as an upstart Internet Service Provider in the early days of the web wasn't easy.
Press: Speakeasy Debuts at No. 47 on Inc. 500
Speakeasy debuted at number 47 on the Inc 500 list of the US's fastest growing private companies in
Press: Speakeasy’s secret formula
The success of Speakeasy was often written about; this piece tracks the history of the company as it
Press: DSL Headbangers
DSL Headbangers Metallica strikes Speakeasy Deal by Karl Bode Metallica, the band that created
Press: Metallica’s online strategy is ‘St. Anger’ management
Through a partnership between the band and Seattle-based Internet service provider Speakeasy, music
Press: Launch of NetShare
Speakeasy launches the Wi-Fi sharing service, NetShare, to its customers.
Press: Speakeasy names new chief executive
Broadband provider Speakeasy has hired Bruce Chatterley as its president and chief executive
Press: Capital time for cash hunt
Speakeasy successfully raises $24m in additional funding.
Press: Internet provider buys GameDaemons
Speakeasy expands its brand within the gaming community by picking up GameDaemons.
Press: Launch of OneLink – High-speed access without local line
Speakeasy's OneLink enabled customers to receive DSL services without requiring a land line.
Press: Internet provider reports new funding
Speakeasy receives funding from Intel in order to investigate the since-abandoned WiMax technology.
Press: Launch of VoIP
Speakeasy expands its product set to include Voice over IP services for their residential customers.
Press: Speakeasy to offer Firefox browser
Yes, there was a time when Mozilla's FireFox was considered an 'upstart,' and that's precisely when
Press Release: Speakeasy Launches Integrated Business Voice Over IP (VoIP)
Building on its success with residential Voice over IP services, Speakeasy launches a
Press: Space Needle a launchpad for ‘pre-WiMax’ service
Speakeasy sets up its first hardware in order to test out delivering WiMax within the Seattle metro
Press: Speakeasy moving to downtown site
Speakeasy departs Belltown for a new location overlooking the Seattle waterfront.
Press: Midsize companies beginning to mature
Founded in 1994, Speakeasy evolved into an Internet service provider primarily for residential
Press: Speakeasy founder leaves for new venture
After more than a decade developing Speakeasy from nothing into something, Mike Apgar was ready for
Press: Ookla puts Speakeasy creator back in control
Upon leaving Speakeasy, Mike Apgar spins off a new company, Ookla, focused on developing and
Press: Speakeasy selling wireless assets to rival
After its experiments in WiMax didn't pan out, and in preparation for its sell to Best Buy,
Press: Best Buy acquires Speakeasy in $97 million deal
After running on its own steam for over a decade, Speakeasy is picked up by a major corporation.
Press: Speakeasy speaks to Best Buy’s business strategy
When you spend over a decade building a loyal customer base, you've got to do a little PR to allay