Without a doubt Seattle’s Broadway Ave is just a shadow of its former self. While many businesses continue to prosper, a few appear to just be hanging on. Few people would argue that the street is very different from when it was the vibrant center of the gay ghetto just a decade ago.
When QFC Grocery took over the entire Broadway Market the gay community lost a central destination. Even though most of the GLBT community did not regularly visit the historic Broadway Market (opened in 1928), symbolically the center of gay Seattle seemed to have disappeared. Broadway’s history as a prominent street goes back over 100 years.
HistoricLink.com describes Broadway’s history:
“After Broadway was paved in 1903, it became the favorite flyway first for cyclists and soon after motorists – a preferred promenade for flashy wheels.”
However, both Broadway Grill, Julia’s on Broadway, and the DeLuxe Bar & Grill continue to attract gay crowds into their restaurants. Many seem pessimistic that the impending future changes and condo redevelopment on Broadway will leave the street anything like it was. However, it can only get better as businesses will begin to relocate and fill in the north part of Broadway Ave. No doubt it will be different but the vibrancy of this historic street should eventually return.
Broadway will endure years of deconstruction on a giant section south of E John Street to build a future rail station. All for a University link rail system that will not begin operation in 2016. For a station that expects 14,000 riders by 2030. How old will you be in 2030?
