The Stories
While the growth and development of Speakeasy was tracked in the press, its crew had their own insider experience of the phenomenon.
Let’s Put on a Show!
In September of 1994, my childhood friend, whom I knew as Gretchen Hage, came over to my Alki Point
Dirty Jobs (Done Dirt Cheap!)
I literally began at Speakeasy digging ditches, when I wasn’t trying to get my ‘Internet in a burlap
Employee #1
I started hanging out there during the construction. Eventually, I decided Speakeasy needed someone
Internet in a Burlap Sack
I was never paid, but got free coffee and colocation for my Linux web server. I also donated the
Hypnotizing Chickens
One day, I was walking from the Pike Place Market to our apartment in Belltown. On the way, there
Crushing Through Problems
One day, just days before our scheduled opening, our electrical inspector was doing the final
The Whole Internet Guide and Catalog
The day my girlfriend left for school back east, a friend took me out to cheer me up. He brought me
Tripping Out on Coffee
I worked regular shifts in the cafe for some time, which I enjoyed in the extreme. I also got to
Infamous Alleyways
I've been a bass player in a few Seattle bands over the years, and back in the day I used to have
Back to the Future
When I moved to Seattle in early 1996, the Speakeasy had RAIN Mail terminals at the Allegro, among
Rolling Kegs with Humans in the Way
I loved my early days working weekend nights at the Speakeasy Cafe, behind the bar in a packed
Didgeridoo, with Jam
It was one of the most musical improvisation sessions I have participated in.
Press: Gathering ‘Round a Virtual Campfire – The Christian Science Monitor
Speakeasy was the focus of an article by the Christian Science Monitor in May 1996.
Handwritten Resumes
I asked to talk to the manager and this short, attractive, direct woman in cutoff jeans and a white
No Money for Adventure
I have an intense romantic nostalgia for RAIN terminals. I was 17 when I moved to Seattle, and I
SST #1
At the young age of 15 I attended an alternative school by the name of Puget Sound Community School
Superfan Turned Crew
I had always been a super-fan, lived in Ballard, came to Belltown all the time, used the terminals,
Edward, Enchanted
I first met Mike and Gretchen when I was 18 and came in to the Cafe via my volunteer work with
Workin’ Girls
It was the most relaxed work environment I’ve ever experienced and we always had a blast together.
Feats of Derring-Do
Belltown Killer was organized by myself and Adrienne Dailey. The participants (around 30 in the
The Final Song of Buddy Rose
Here’s my Killer saga; I was mercilessly taken out by Vain’s owner, Victoria Gentry.
Tickling the Ivories
One of my new roommates brought me down to the Speakeasy Cafe one night after Bumbershoot in early
From NetDesk to VP
I started off doing tech support in the evenings on the weekend and found I had a lot of interesting
Somehow We Made a Company Happen
My favorite memories of working at Speakeasy all have to do with how ridiculous all of it seemed. We
On Loan from the Wall of Sound
I adored that we had a record exchange going with Wall of Sound records across the street.
Improvisational Confidence
Mike actually had a printed out PowerPoint deck with our executive summary and overview. He was
From Arcade to Tech
I was working at an arcade in Seattle when a regular (bnelson) called to me from a mezzanine above
Loved the Feel
I worked in Kirkland and walked by the cafe on my way to the bus every day. I don't think I ever
Ellis Island
I started off on the sales team. I wasn’t the best sales person on the team, however, I was good at
Hardware Hoochie and System Salvationist
I was hired on as a technical support representative, but I was then quickly transitioned into
Work Hard, Play Hard
While working at Speakeasy, I also had the privilege of performing in a play on the Speakeasy Cafe
A Sense of Community
I think that sense of community and togetherness is one of the best things I took away from my time
We Were a Family
I lived right next door to Speakeasy, and I loved waking up, stumbling down the stairs, seeing my
Something for the Smarty Pants
you | wonder whether if | with eyes closed | we could bend spoons | or ascend stairs | by desire
Giddy and Free
There are too many memories! There were a lot of good times, but the best times were spent in
Go Do It
What I remember is that we had to move quickly. If you knew how to get the job done, the job was
Competing with Napster
I did a couple of music content ‘deals’ for Speakeasy, bundling eMusic and Rhapsody digital music
Put it in Juakeem’s Box
At some point during my tenure as a barista, I became the curator of the cafe's music selection. It
Guinness is Good for You
The first time I had seen Mike Apgar was when my manager walked our training group through the Blue
Lateral Memories
A lot of my favorite memories are sort of lateral, involving people I met at the Speakeasy, or
The Oldest One Here
I was hired at Speakeasy as a Controller in January 2001. Having spent my career at more
Threatening Gary Busey
One of my favorite memories is when we held LANsanity in the old pool hall above the cafe.
We All Pulled Together
I always loved the old building(s) we were in, but being in the 2nd Ave office during the Nisqually
As the Windows Above Us Exploded
The rising air made the steel door to the staircase rattle like someone was trying to escape. When
Feeling Less Helpless, Together
A memory that stands out is getting a phone call from a night shift tech telling me that the cafe
A Great Face for Phone Support
I started in billing and then tech support. I learned that I could Google steps to solve tech issues
September 11th
One early Autumn morning, American’s perception of its place in the world was irrevocably
The Angel of Belltown
About a year after the fire, Tom and I moved to the building next door to the old Speakeasy Cafe. If
All About the People
It's rare that you work with a group of folks that you want to spend the rest of your evening
You Can’t Train Attitude
I have always thought that myself, you can teach anyone anything if they are willing to learn, but
My Views Were Valuable
At a meeting one morning after about six months or so of starting my job, Mike Apgar turned to me
Fight the Fight Against Misogyny
It was so offensive, I asked Jesse Harris (who was my AS at the time) if he would take the call and
Anti-Metallica DDoS
After their infamous battle with Napster, Metallica decided to take the reigns of how their music
Focusing on the Right Thing to Do
Jay Hollett was newly hired, and I was his mentor, so he sat next to me and asked a lot of
WEEN!
Well before social media and viral events were part of an organization’s standard operating
It Could Only Happen at Speakeasy
One warm spring day, we lost our Internet connectivity in the 3rd Ave building, and I just happened
Full of Heart
Speakeasy was full of heart at all times. I have a million examples of this kind of corporate
Knowledge in Spades
I don't think I'd ever had so much fun on the job, we laughed daily and the overall vibe was sincere.