Totem House Fish ‘n Chips 1948 Magnet

Built in 1939, in Seattle’s Ballard neighborhood, Totem House was originally opened as the Northwesters’ Arts and Crafts Shop. Located across from the Ballard Locks, the shop sold Native American arts and crafts to the earliest tourists of the Locks, attracted by the indigenous pole style architecture and Nuu-chah-nulth and Haida carved totems out front. In 1948, the authentic Native style building was taken over by a family, who opened up a fish ‘n chips restaurant that quickly became a favorite of locals and tourists alike. For nearly 62 years, visitors to the Ballard Locks would grab take out and cross the street to enjoy lunch at the Locks, but sadly, economic pressures forced the owners to shutter the restaurant in 2010.