Breakfast of Historians

"A city board stunned developers, preservationists and Ballard residents Wednesday by voting 6-3 to designate the boarded-up Denny's Restaurant at Northwest Market Street and 15th Avenue Northwest a landmark — based largely on the visual punch the structure's Googie-esque roofline delivers to passing motorists."

"The Landmarks Preservation Board's decision — which rejected its own staff's recommendation against the designation — represents a significant setback for the property owner, the Benaroya Companies, which acquired the site in 2006 for more than $12 million and intended to sell it to a condominium developer."

"More than 600 people, including national experts on Googie architecture and staff members from the Washington Trust for Historic Preservation, supported the designation."

"Many residents spoke fondly of the razzle-dazzle, space-age charm the building had when it opened as Manning's Cafeteria in 1964. (Denny's Restaurants took it over in 1983 and shut down the restaurant late last year.)"

"'Ballardites proudly called it the Taj Mahal of Ballard,' said Mildred Andrews, a local historian."