List of “Firsts” and Interesting Capers

First to sell wine by the glass in cork finish versus jug wine with varietals versus “red” or “burgundy” or “Chablis” 1976.

Inventor of Kamikazi in late 70’s.

First to “free pour” premium liquor as well drinks.

Issued cigar boxes to servers instead of traditional cash register. Since then abandoned. It was a noble experiment in 1976.

Paid cash every night for payroll instead of payroll checks. Another noble experiment.

First ice beer box for coldest beer in the history of restaurants.

Offered to “Buy Out George” Argyros (owner of Mariners in 80s) with ad in Seattle Times. If 300,000 people could put up $250 each, we could raise $75 million, pay George $48 million and build an outdoor baseball stadium with the remainder and play baseball outdoors, the way it was meant to play. First one to bring up the subject of outdoor baseball.

Painted the sidewalk outside the Queen Anne Duke’s blue and white checked. Became the “bad boy” of Seattle when he defied the engineering department of Seattle and was brought before the Board of Public Works and labeled a “vigilante” for “taking the law into his own hands” by painting the sidewalk a beautiful blue and white check.

When Herschel, the sea lion was eating all the salmon near the Ballard Locks, Duke was the first to ask the Department of Fish & Wildlife if he could pay for the salmon to feed Herschel all he could eat in exchange for the rights to sell his Award Winning Clam Chowder at the locks so people could feed Herschel and eat some yummy chowder at the same time.

First to win the Chowder Cook Off three years in a row and then asked to retire because the other restaurants threatened to pull out of the fund raiser because they “just can’t compete”.

“Pioneered ‘Direct Diner Marketing’ through the use of Duke’s website and restaurant locations. Asking diners opinions via email, opinion polls, and online surveys, Duke’s diners’ input led to the great items and ingredients that are on this menu, our weekly ‘off menu’ specials that draw their appeal from seasonal dishes, as well as entertainment and outside dining desires on ‘Duke’s Decks’. Diner’s confidentiality is protected, and they’re rewarded for their input by going to www.dukeschowdershouse.com and signing up for Duke’s email Newsletter”.

“Finally, another first, in creating the newest Seattle sensation in 2003 by keeping up with the times and coming up with the most popular, refreshing and original drink in at least a decade with the Cucumber Mojito. It has taken the Emerald City by storm”!