There’s A Restaurant Hiding Inside This Century-Old Firehouse In Washington

I’d like to respectfully point out that three horses named Nip, Dick, and Joe once pulled a fire wagon out of this building.

If I may say so, that’s rather interesting for a place where you can now order a burger.

The brick firehouse went up in 1907. It later held the last horse-drawn fire equipment in its city, running until 1919.

Today, the old stables are part of the dining space, and an original fire pole still stands inside.

Here in Washington, that seems worthy of a little admiration. Would anyone mind if we took a polite look around?

A Firehouse That Traded Hoses For Burgers

Some buildings retire quietly. E9 Firehouse & Gastropub chose a far more delicious second career inside a brick fire station built in 1907.

Known for decades as Engine House No. 9, the building served Tacoma’s North End as a working station. For many years, it was also a battalion headquarters, which sounds very official for a place that now serves tater tots.

The building opened for service in 1908, when horse-drawn equipment was still an essential part of Tacoma’s emergency operations.

The restaurant keeps that past front and center. Firefighting memorabilia and vintage photos fill the dining room, so history greets you before the menu does.

Outside, the red brick facade, large equipment doorways, and prominent windows preserve the station’s distinctive architecture.

Today, E9 Firehouse & Gastropub serves lunch and dinner daily. Hours begin at 11 AM, with extended service on Friday and Saturday evenings.

Washington has plenty of places to eat, of course. Few of them once kept horses ready to pull emergency equipment through enormous doors.

Meet The Horses Who Made History Here

Nip, Dick, and Joe deserve a round of applause. These three horses handled the final symbolic run of Tacoma’s last horse-drawn fire wagon.

Engine House No. 9 holds that special title in city history. Horse-drawn equipment operated from this station from 1908 until 1919. After that, motorized fire trucks took over, and the horses finally got a well-earned break.

The original setup was impressively efficient. When an alarm sounded, a night watchman opened the stable gate, allowing the horses to move into position.

Crews could prepare the equipment and leave the station in approximately 30 seconds. Spring-loaded folding doors helped make those remarkably quick departures possible.

Think about that for a second while you wait for your food.

The space around you once held working animals, harnesses, and equipment ready for an emergency. Now it holds tables and people debating fries versus tots.

If you’re bringing kids, the history makes a fun conversation starter. Ask them to imagine how three horses could pull an enormous piece of equipment through Tacoma’s streets.

Two Reporters Rescued This Brick Beauty

In 1965, the old station closed its doors. The April 29 earthquake and a newly completed replacement station both played a part in that decision.

The historic structure then spent several years exposed to the elements. By 1971, portions of the roof needed extensive work, and the interior required major restoration.

Then two newspaper reporters, Win Anderson and Bob Lane, stepped in. They purchased the property and began transforming the former station into a neighborhood gathering place.

Their work preserved the building’s historic character while giving its interior a practical new purpose.

In fall 1973, Engine House No. 9 reopened as a restaurant, with the ground floor converted for dining and the second story adapted into an apartment.

Here’s the impressive part. It became Tacoma’s first historic building restored and reused commercially through private enterprise.

The building joined the National Register of Historic Places in 1975. It also holds recognition as a Tacoma Historical Landmark.

Since 2011, the restaurant has operated under new ownership while maintaining its connection to the building’s past. Few restaurants in Washington can claim such an unusual transformation. Not bad for a couple of journalists.

Yes, The Fire Pole Is Still Standing

An original fire pole still stands inside. Please don’t try sliding down it, no matter how tempting it looks after a big meal.

The brass pole once connected the firefighters’ upstairs quarters with the ground floor, allowing crews to reach their equipment quickly.

Its presence is one of the clearest reminders that this restaurant began life as a working station.

High ceilings and wide bays give the interior an open, roomy feel. Exposed brick and warm wooden furnishings keep everything comfortable.

Look down, and you’ll notice the wooden floors. The flooring was salvaged from a local roller skating rink during the restaurant’s restoration, adding another interesting piece of reused history.

The original equipment bays are still recognizable in the building’s layout, even though their doors have been updated over time. Then there are the walls. Firefighting memorabilia and vintage photos turn the dining room into a casual history display.

The Old Stables Got A Seriously Cool Upgrade

Where did the fire horses stay? Right where part of the restaurant’s gathering space sits today.

The former stable area at E9 Firehouse & Gastropub has been adapted for modern use. It’s a clever transformation of a space with more than a century of history.

The original arrangement allowed horses to move from their stalls toward the equipment waiting inside the station.

You can still appreciate that practical design in the building’s broad interior spaces and substantial structural details.

The restaurant offers several seating areas, each with a slightly different atmosphere. There’s the main dining room, a separate gathering area, and outdoor seating.

Outside, red picnic tables sit near the historic brick facade. Trees provide shade, while the old equipment doorways offer a particularly interesting backdrop.

Upstairs, a separate event room preserves more of the building’s character, with wooden floors, large windows, and exposed brick.

The combination makes the property suitable for everyday meals and private gatherings. It’s fun to stand in the converted space and imagine horses waiting patiently for the next signal.

Burgers, Tots, And Firehouse-Style Pizza

Comfort food fits a firehouse perfectly. The menu at E9 Firehouse & Gastropub sticks to American favorites made for hungry people.

Burgers are a big part of the lineup, including the E9 Smash Burger with American cheese, house sauce, tomatoes, and pickles. A plant-based Beyond Burger offers another choice.

Tater tots show up in several forms. Garlic tots come tossed in a herb sauce and topped with Parmesan, while Cajun tots bring a little extra seasoning. Sometimes a crunchy little tot just makes the whole day better.

Pizza adds another reason to visit. The Firehouse-style selection includes The Pumper Truck, topped with pepperoni, sausage, bacon, mozzarella, onions, mushrooms, and olives.

Nip’s Cheese Pizza even carries the name of one of the station’s famous horses. The pizzas have a thin, crisp style that fits the casual dining room.

Sandwiches round out the hearty options. The Lieutenant Reuben combines smoked pastrami, sauerkraut, Swiss cheese, and dressing on toasted rye.

The menu also includes a crispy chicken sandwich and a chicken Parmesan pesto melt. Sharing a pizza and a few sides sounds like a perfectly reasonable plan.

Pasta, Salads, And A Menu Made For Kids

Fire Pasta sounds like a dare, but it’s actually a dish on the menu. In a former fire station, the name feels just right.

The dish combines fettuccine and grilled chicken with a spicy Calabrian cream sauce, finished with Parmesan, basil, and garlic bread.

For something gentler, roasted tomato fettuccine offers a sauce made with tomatoes, fresh basil, and Parmesan.

Mac and cheese comes with a creamy house-made sauce and crunchy Parmesan breadcrumbs. Salads offer another direction. The house salad includes mixed greens, cucumbers, tomatoes, pickled carrots, and radishes.

A Thai chicken salad combines romaine, cabbage, vegetables, grilled chicken, sesame seeds, and peanut ginger dressing.

Families have plenty of familiar choices, including burgers, pizza, sandwiches, and pasta.

Shareable snacks include chicken wings, Firehouse Nachos, mozzarella sticks, and garlic cheese curds with a sweet and spicy coating.

The menu also includes brisket tacos, wraps, and a rotating soup selection. You can keep things light or go full comfort mode.

Finding Your Way To Tacoma’s North End

Getting here is pleasantly simple. You’ll find E9 Firehouse & Gastropub at 611 N Pine St, Tacoma, WA 98406, in the city’s North End neighborhood.

The building is hard to miss once you’re nearby. Red brick, arched windows, and those big equipment doorways announce themselves loudly. It’s like the building still wants to answer a call.

Street parking is available in the surrounding neighborhood, with additional parking options nearby. Allow some extra time during busy evening periods.

The historic structure sits close to Tacoma’s Sixth Avenue district, where shops, restaurants, and neighborhood businesses make it easy to extend your outing.

Visiting from elsewhere in Washington? This stop pairs nicely with a day exploring Tacoma.

The restaurant opens at 11 AM daily. Sunday through Thursday service runs until 10 PM, while Friday and Saturday hours extend until midnight.

Holiday schedules may differ. So the next time someone says nothing exciting happens at lunch, prove them wrong.

Take them to a 1907 firehouse with an original fire pole, historic horse stables, and a pizza named after a fire horse. That’s one meal with a story worth remembering.