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Wednesday, May 20, 2009

Economy Tomorrow in Auctions

Posted by Bethany Jean Clement on Wed, May 20, 2009 at 3:03 PM

Thanks to the new economy, you can purchase a piece of Gold Rush history from the J&M in Pioneer Square—a piece like a carved antique mahogany bar or the J&M name. For sale tomorrow at 10 a.m.:

• J&M CAFE & CARDROOM trademarked name
• Store front stained glass window J&M CAFE & CARDROOM
• Side window J&M
• Bar located on east side of premises
• Bar located on west side of premises
• (4) chandeliers
• Painting on east wall
• STONE FISHER CO railroad mirror
• NORTH COAST LIMITED railroad mirror
• (10) antique mirrors
• Assortment of restaurant equipment, glassware, dishware, utensils, cookware, tables, chairs, framed photos & pictures, historic items [not including the pedi-cab that Elvis rode in It Happened at the World's Fair, which someone has apparently liberated], office equipment

Here's a zoomable photo of one of those bars. So pretty.

As far as the space goes, according to James G. Murphy Co. auctioneers, the building is for lease, the auction is brought to you courtesy of the bankruptcy court, and the landlord is trying to buy all the fixtures back so he can re-lease it intact—if that doesn't work, then a lot of the pieces will be sold out of it.

How busy is the James G. Murphy Co. right now?
"Very busy."
Yours seems like a good line of work to be in right now.
"Right at the moment, it does."

If you've never been to one of these auctions, they are sad and strangely beautiful. This one should have plenty of drunk ghosts.

Comments (7) RSS

Oldest First Unregistered On Registered On Add a comment

That should be pretty depressing. I hope the landlord can get all the items!

Posted by andrew

on May 20, 2009 at 3:16 PM

Is the gold rush-era urine stench also available for purchase?

Posted by w7ngman

on May 20, 2009 at 3:16 PM

How about the urinal in the mens room where John Wayne stuffed that guy after pole-axing him in "McQ"?

Posted by Toe Tag on May 20, 2009 at 3:20 PM

oh my land! i used to take guys i'd picked up in the elliott bay cafe there in the '80s! the last stop before we got to 'my place or yours?'

Posted by scary tyler moore

on May 20, 2009 at 3:46 PM

Some years ago, the J & M was co-owned by two guys who had a business dispute, and one of them came in with a crew in the dead of night and stripped the place clean. After the legal morass was sorted out, he had to bring all of that stuff (including that amazing bar) back.

It will be interesting to see who shows up at the auction, and where those great fixtures wind up.

Posted by Mr. X on May 20, 2009 at 5:16 PM

God in heaven, I need a few million dollars to spend freely right now.

Posted by Woodcarver drooling over that back bar on May 21, 2009 at 8:23 AM

Wow. Crazy times. I so hope the place stays intact.

Posted by SouthSeattle on May 21, 2009 at 8:45 AM