Tacoma Restaurant Guide

It all started with son David's haircut in 1952. Gertie wasn't happy with his haircut so she took him to another barbershop down at American lake. The barber had an empty space in his building. Gertie thought she might be interested in it for a variety store, but the barber, Mike, said no, it was equipped for a restaurant. The rent was $45 a moth and as an incentive he gave her the first month's rent free.

Gertie, who'd always worked in an office, accepted the offer. Gertie's Grill, a one-woman hamburger joint, opened a few days before the 4th of July and was swamped by GI's on the holiday. Gertie put her husband and children to work washing dishes, and Gertie's Grill was off and running.

Six years later she bought a "downtown" Tillicum site (incidentally, a former horse pasture) and opened her new restaurant March 17 with a sign that read: "With the luck of the Irish, we'll make it." After she received a Class H liquor license, (against organized opposition) Gertie expanded her restaurant once again in 1970 and converted tenet's beauty parlor into a cocktail lounge.

The lounge was named Galloping Gerties; the name had nothing to do with Tacoma's Narrows Bridge but for the fact that Gertie's favorite pastime was betting the nags at Longacres. In 1978 after 26 years of galloping, Gertie retired and took up horse racing full time with Windy Gert, Mrs. Grace and Windy Peaches.

Today, youngest daughter Susan and her sidekick, Rod, have taken over the reins. Together they carry on Gertie's great tradition of excellent food and a friendly atmosphere. A big part of that tradition is being a "home away from home" for the troops. Since the 60's, GI's, soldiers, troops, whatever you want to call them, have a special place in their hearts for Gerties, as we do for them.

Welcome to Gerties then; share a hot tip from the track, play the pulltabs, laugh at Comedy Night Mondays and sing your karaoke heart out.