For over 40 years, Shakey’s Pizza in Fairwood was “the place for birthdays and sports parties” and it has now officially closed its doors.
With about a week of notice of the beloved restaurant’s closing, locals and pizza fans from all over the area — a long line formed out the door and down the street — came out in hopes of getting a slice, taking a wack at a colorful arcade game and reflecting on the restaurant’s place in some patron’s childhoods.
“I don’t remember a time when it wasn’t here. It’s sad,” said Candice Laqua, 43, who had lived in Fairwood “for forever” and used to frequently bring her four children to the restaurant.
Originally set to close on Monday, Jan. 20, the restaurant, 14300 SE Petrovitsky Road, had to remain closed for two days while waiting for more product to be delivered, delaying the final day to Tuesday.
For Talia Good, who lives down the street from the restaurant, the sudden closure of Shakey’s may be a big problem in her household as her 3-and-a-half-year-old son Liam asks to go to Shakey’s every day.
“It’s his favorite place to come to so when we broke the news last night to him, he was pretty heartbroken,” Good said, who would come to Shakey’s every Friday with Liam and her husband, Nate. “I love the arcade. We get the fun of playing while waiting for our pizza. It takes us back to our childhoods.”
According to owner Lori Bender, who ran the restaurant for nine years, there are a few reasons why the Shakey’s is closing: the building needs to be renovated, the recent minimum wage increase for businesses in unincorporated King County —along with other operating costs — and her wish to retire.
“I’m almost 70 so I’m well past retirement age,” Bender said. “I want to relax and rest. I was looking for a little project and this was big.”
A California-based pizza franchise, Fairwood’s Shakey’s was one of the last ones in Washington, along with the Pasco location. However, Bender says that it wouldn’t be difficult for others to open a new location in the area.
“They’ve grown in California and they can still grow here,” she said. “It’s a really good product and a really great company.”
The doors are now shuttered and the space will soon empty but at least Shakey’s fans were given an extra day of dough, cheese and sauce.
“We’re very happy we got to come and have one more slice,” said Good. “We’re gonna miss it a lot.”
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Liam Good, 3, of Fairwood loved going to Shakey’s Pizza every week.
Arcade games were a big draw at Shakey’s, adding to the nostalgic feeling of the restaurant.
