February 12, 2016

New digs for Old Spaghetti Factory in Tacoma

Photo from Absher Construction [enlarge]

After operating for 45 years in the Tacoma Paper & Stationery building on Jefferson Avenue in Tacoma, The Old Spaghetti Factory relocated nearby to 1250 Pacific Ave.

The restaurant reopened last month in a space at Pacific Plaza that previously housed Tacoma City Grocer.

The News Tribune reported that the University of Washington Tacoma paid the restaurant nearly $1 million to move out of the old location so the school can renovate the 40,000-square-foot building for classrooms and laboratories. A groundbreaking ceremony for that project is set for Feb. 19.

Absher Construction Co. of Puyallup built the new restaurant space that includes a bar and several unique chandeliers and lighting fixtures. Tenant improvements consisted of HVAC and electrical upgrades, new partitions, acoustical ceiling and flooring, and replacement of the existing entrance with a new landing and ADA ramp. Crews also installed a grease interceptor under the sidewalk to accommodate a commercial kitchen.

The old trolley car from the original location was moved into the new space by Omega Morgan. Crews used a forklift, flatbed truck and rollers to move the trolley, which houses six tables for 18 patrons.

Old Spaghetti Factory also had new front doors installed that are replicas of those at the old location.

Scott|Edwards Architecture of Portland was project architect. Old Spaghetti Factory used its in-house design team for finishes. PCS Structural Solutions was the engineer.

Major subcontractors were Tandem Electric, Air Systems (mechanical), Tacoma Plumbing and Heating, D.L. Henricksen (gypsum walls and insulation), Acoustical Design (acoustical ceilings), Rubenstein's (floors), Tru Colors (paint and stain), Bargreen Ellingson (kitchen equipment), Specialty Coatings (kitchen epoxy floors), Pacific Window Systems (storefront) and Cascade Construction Co. (masonry).

Absher's team was led by project engineer Taylor Lyman and superintendent Jim Rogers.

Absher built Pacific Plaza in 2009.