Central Saloon

The Story

The Central Saloon, one of Seattle's oldest continuously operating bars, opened in 1892, three years after the Great Fire that devastated the city. It was here, in 1988, that Nirvana played for an audience of just over ten people. Among them were Bruce Pavitt and Jonathan Poneman from Sub Pop, who left determined to sign the band. The walls are still adorned with photos and flyers from the time when Seattle briefly seemed like the center of the musical universe.

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