The first American restaurant to have a karaoke bar is in Seattle & it is reopening

Seattle’s historic Bush Garden Restaurant is returning after a multi-year hiatus in a totally new building. The restaurant was once known for its elaborate decor and unique ambiance, as well as being the birthplace of Karaoke in the US. Today, things look a bit different but here’s what we know about the new spot so far.

Bush Garden is reopening in “Uncle Bob’s Place” – a new building named after community leader, Bob Santos, who passed away in 2016. While the well known and inviting retro stone facade is long gone, the original sign with bamboo leaves is hung outside.

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The restaurant originally opened in 1953 and in the early 1970s become the first restaurant with a karaoke bar in America, according to their website, introducing a now beloved pastime. The new location will carry on with tradition, as per Instagram posts.

At this time, it is unclear what the new interior will be like and what to expect from the food and drink menus. That being said, the restaurant does have a projected opening timeline of spring or summer 2024.

In the meantime, the restaurant asks former patrons to share memories from past decades so that they can be incorporated in the new space and archive the legacy of the unique venue.

Get your favourite songs ready!

Bush Garden

Where: 714 S. King St.
Hours: Opening spring/summer 2024