A Tacoma restaurant that served generations of diners in the Proctor District has closed its doors after nearly nine decades in business.
A sign posted this week at Knapp’s Restaurant and Lounge, 2707 N. Proctor St., announced the closure with a simple message: “Knapp’s is closed. Thank you for the memories. We’ve enjoyed serving you.”
The closure marks the end of an era for one of Tacoma’s oldest continuously operating restaurants.
A Proctor Fixture Since 1938
Knapp’s traces its roots back to 1938, when Ned and Corinne Knapp opened a delicatessen inside the historic Gamble Building, which was constructed in 1929.
Over the decades, the restaurant expanded beyond its original deli concept. In 1969, it added the Knappsack Lounge, a bar that would become nearly as well known as the restaurant itself.
The business often leaned into its nostalgic identity.
“Knapp’s is an iconic local diner and bar that has been a cornerstone of the Proctor neighborhood since 1938,” the restaurant stated on its website.
The restaurant described itself as a place serving “hearty and familiar comfort foods” while offering guests “a trip down memory lane.”
Its menu featured diner staples such as steak and eggs, corned beef hash, burgers, tuna melts and Reuben sandwiches, along with beer, wine and cocktails.
Over its 88-year history, Knapp’s became one of the most recognizable businesses in the Proctor District and one of the longest-running restaurants in Tacoma.
Rumors, A Sale And A New Owner
Rumors surfaced in 2024 that Knapp’s was for sale and preparing to close.
At the time, ownership publicly pushed back on reports that the restaurant was shutting down.
The restaurant ultimately did change hands.
Maple Valley resident Billy Brewer purchased Knapp’s in August 2025 after falling in love with the business, The News Tribune reports.
Less than a year later, the restaurant has now closed. No reason for the closure was announced.
Social Media Reactions Mixed Nostalgia With Criticism
News of the closure generated strong reactions online, where former customers shared both fond memories and criticism of the restaurant’s later years.
Many expressed sadness over the loss of another longtime Tacoma institution.
“That’s a bummer man,” one commenter wrote.
Another remembered bringing family members to the restaurant.
“Damn. I loved their Monte Cristo and it was a nice easy place to take my no-fuss grandparents,” the person wrote.
Others were less sentimental.
“Knapps has never wowed me with their food or prices,” one commenter wrote. “Guessing many people feel that way since they are closing.”
Another former customer said the restaurant had declined over time.
“40 years ago, it was a great place with good food and even better service,” the commenter wrote. “As of ten years ago, the food quality has fallen into the dumpster and the service is lackluster at best.”
Still, even critics acknowledged the restaurant’s long place in Tacoma history.
One commenter noted that the building’s size may have become a challenge in modern times.
“I remember it being a pretty big building, probably hard to fill up now,” the person wrote.
End Of A Tacoma Institution
Knapp’s occupied a unique place in Tacoma’s restaurant scene.
While countless restaurants opened and closed around it, the diner survived wars, recessions, changing tastes, and generations of ownership.
The Gamble Building itself has housed numerous businesses over the decades, including Nelson Drugs, Sowers Jewelry, Frederick Dean Drug Co., Ernest Brown Fuel Co. and Stegrin’s Women’s Furnishings.
For nearly 90 years, however, Knapp’s was the name most Tacoma residents associated with the building.
Now, after serving customers since the Franklin D. Roosevelt administration, the restaurant’s long run has come to an end.
What comes next for the landmark Proctor District space remains unclear.
