The Crocodile Cafe

Originally located at 2200 2nd Avenue in 1991, the Crocodile Cafe has been an influential cultural site and club venue in Seattle. Under new management and operating as "The Croc" at the former site of the Sailors’ Union of the Pacific lodge, the club continues to be at the forefront of Seattle's music scene. When the original Crocodile Cafe opened in 1991, it was the site of many performances by bands prior to mainstream success and even hosted surprise performances by Nirvana and other bands who wanted to return to their roots. The original club was one of the sites where Seattle's grunge scene was formed and one where performers often returned. The original club closed in 2007, but today, up-and-coming bands still perform at the Croc, a venue that has been located at a few different places in the city ever since new management re-established the iconic club in 2009. That club closed in 2020 owing to the global pandemic, and this location was selected for a 2021 reopening of this venue which offers several stages and even a small hotel.

The Crocodile Cafe was founded by attorney and music fan Stephanie Dorgan ,along with a few other law partners. The club itself is divided into 3 sections: the first was the restaurant, the second was liquor bar, and the third was the small soundproof performance area. The first performance at the club was by two bands, Love Battery and the Posies, who often went by pseudonym P.O.T. (Possies on tour).

The club eventually booked bigger bands during the era of grunge sound, One particularly famous show was on October 4th, 1992 when fans paid $3.00 for a band they thought was going to be named "Pen Cap Chew". The audience was stunned to see that the entertainers of the night were the most popular band in 1992, Nirvana. Throughout many years to come, the would also be the host to other famous bands of the 90's, such as Pearl Jam, The Melvins, Mudhoney and many more Seattle based grunge bands. The club has since given a place to other musicians such as Death Cab for Cutie, Modest Mouse, Greenday, Beck, Beastie Boys and a variety of other acts.

For many years the Croc provided exciting shows almost nightly, and was home to great acts for the residents of Seattle. The owner, Dorgan, even met her husband who is the guitarist for R.E.M, Peter Buck, at the club and he became a co-owner. The couple would divorce in 2006. The club began to have problems in 2007, due to financial and staffing issues. In 2007 the club reportedly closed abruptly after a concert one night, and all staff were let go. The club was reopened in 2009 under new ownership and remains open to this day.

Bletcha, Peter. Crocodile Cafe: Seattle's Icon of the Grunge Rock Era.. Historylink. February 14, 2008. Accessed October 24, 2018. http://www.historylink.org/File/8448?fbclid=IwAR0md0JuRH9F-WuulJDZ8RGFVAM6QeMS7j3aZQfOXB9CqhRu6jK74rQtZfI.

 Our History. Thecrocodile. . Accessed October 26, 2018. https://www.thecrocodile.com/our-history/. 

Runtagh, Jordon. The 10 Most Legendary Rock Clubs of All Time. VH1. November 07, 2013. Accessed October 25, 2018. http://www.vh1.com/news/51851/the-10-most-legendary-rock-clubs-of-all-time/?fbclid=IwAR1mjlqVYGHKW_QAO3NmTpNK-gjITkSX7v3ZR4DM_kMo8kySJgrYg5rbMRE.