Bathing 2nd Ave in Champagne
Coming in at the end of a millennia, it's only fitting that 1999 was a seminal year for Speakeasy. While the business was thriving and growing as both a cultural mecca and a tech innovator in the boom of the late 90's, the cafe started to suffer from some unwanted attention from the Washington State Liquor Control Board.
While they navigated how to keep the cafe open to the community, the Speakeasy Crew dived headfirst into offering broadband services. This move was the next logical step in their goal of bringing the Internet to the masses, and it completely altered how Speakeasy did business. For the first time, they hit $1.5 million in annual revenue.
Becoming a full-fledged independent ISP offering a full suite of services, Speakeasy became a target later in the year for an enterprising young Russian hacker. While this didn’t adversely impact Speakeasy’s customers or services, it did result in landmark prosecution, which helped define new laws pertaining to computer crimes initiated from outside of the US.
After such an eventful year, the crew celebrated New Year’s Eve together at the cafe, ringing in the new millennium by pouring champagne for passersby on 2nd Ave, and dancing in the streets.
Snapshots
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Cafe Events
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Advertisements-Event-Calendar.jpgOne of Speakeasy's monthly events flyers.
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Advertising: Cafe Re-Opening
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-PR-Cafe-Re-Opening.jpgSpeakeasy announced that it was remodeling and reopening via a series of print ads in local papers.
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Cafe Events: Grand Re-Opening
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Adverts-1999-Re-Opening.jpgThe flyer and theme for the cafe's re-opening was the roaring 1920s.
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Cafe Refresh
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Interiors-VT100s-1999.jpgA view of the cafe after its remodel.
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Cafe Refresh
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Interiors-Settee-1999.jpgDuring the remodel, an upgraded conference table area was installed.
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Cafe Refresh
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Interiors-Platform.jpgThe platform lounge area after the remodel.
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Cafe Refresh
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Interiors-NetDesk-Revamped.jpgThe NetDesk area after the cafe's remodel.
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Cafe Refresh
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Interiors-Lounge-1999.jpgAnother shot of the lounge and art gallery after the remodel.
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Cafe Refresh
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Interiors-1999-VT100s-2.jpgThe NetDesk and cafe area after the remodel.
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Cafe Refresh
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Cafe-Interiors-1999-Lounge-2.jpgThe lounge area after the remodel.
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Website: MySpeakeasy
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Website-MySpeakeasy-V1.jpgA screenshot of Speakeasy's first customer account management website, MySpeakeasy.
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There Is No Cloud
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-ISP-Internet-Breakdown.jpgA highly detailed and technical diagram of how the internet works.
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It's Just Someone Else's Computer
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-ISP-This-is-how-it-works.jpgGretchen Apgar's rendering of the Speakeasy's network.
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Team Building: Paintball
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Crew-Speakeasy-Paintball.jpgThe crew, out for paint.
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Crew: Cap'n
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Crew-Mike-ATeam.jpgMike Apgar loves it when a plan comes together, especially if it involves paintball.
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Crew: Gretchen Apgar
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Crew-Gretchen-cafe-post-renovation.jpgGretchen poses on the new bar installed during the cafe's remodel.
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Crew: Lynx
https://www.speakeasy.cafe/wp-content/uploads/2016/10/Web-Crew-Lynx.jpgThe de facto mascot of Speakeasy, Lynx was an office cat for a few years before joining Mike and Gretchen at their home.