PORT TOWNSEND — It started as a fish-and-chips stand at Quincy Dock, evolved into the Silverwater Cafe in 1989, and now the founding owners have taken the business one step further.
Founding owners David and Alison Hero have added Studio 49, a newly remodeled banquet room for parties, receptions and seminars, opening it above the Silverwater Cafe in the historic Elks Building at Taylor and Washington streets.
From the building’s third floor, 2,600-square-foot room, tall Victorian-style windows overlook Haller Fountain across Washington Street.
Classically styled
It is designed with a classically styled food-serving room and space to seat up to 49 under high ceilings, six to eight at a table.
David and his new wife, city pool manager Nancy Speser, christened Studio 49 with their recent wedding reception after becoming the first couple to marry at the new Northwest Maritime Center.
Studio 49 is so named for its former occupant, Richard Miller’s photography studio, but the room has a history of BPO Elks 317 lodge meetings that date back to 1889.
“It’s a happy space,” said David Hero. “It’s a really nice conference space and a flexible facility.”
Hero, who has long been active in business and community development since he moved to Port Townsend in 1973, said he envisions the restaurant on the ground floor catering events on the third-floor Studio 49, which is accessible by elevator adjacent to the Silverwater’s kitchen downstairs.
Studio 49, with newly refinished birch floors, is suitable for events from dancing to being darkened for projector Powerpoint sessions.
“I want to do wine pairings for a fancy night out,” he said of one of his ideas to expose the public to the space.
The building was gutted in 1996 and redone, adding windows at street level.
The most recent work on the banquet space was done by Little/Little Construction of Port Townsend.
The Silverwater Cafe started with a staff of 10, after David and Alison vacated their fish stand moving into the space at what today is Water Street Brewing & Ale House at Quincy and Water streets.
The business has grown over the years, with a staff of between 35 and 55, depending on the time of year.
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Port Townsend-Jefferson County Editor Jeff Chew can be reached at 360-385-2335 or at jeff.chew@peninsuladailynews.com.
