New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1917-09-19
Quick Lunch Counter Succeeds
The I Iotel Bar in Dry States
Big Western Houses Solve Problem of Decreased Revenue
in Loss of Liquor Licenses-Predict Great
Results in the Future

must be an almost impossible increase
in the volume OF the restaurant busl-
ness. He observed that a large proper
ton Of his room guests passed by his
luxurious and high priced dining rooms
and took most of their meals at mod
crate priced outside restaurants. He
argued that il the outsiders could make
money providing meals for these eco
nomical persons he could.
Quick Lunch Counter
So, right In tho midst Of his palatial
hotel, he installed lunch counter and
a quick table service restaurant. They
were different from ordinary eating
places. Better furniture and equip
ment, finer chinaware, pretty and
uniquely uniformed Mattresses gave
them a distinctive air. Hotel guests
soon found that this superior service
right under their own roof cost no
more than the Indifferent service and
food of the outside restaurants. Hav-
ing held his swn people in this way, MI.
Davenport looked around for a means
Of getting some Of the city trade that
his superior high-priced restaurants
and dining rooms did not already have.
A 35-cent MONDAY luncheon for men
only in the Peacock Room solved this
problem. Here the economical Spokane
business man who has time TO spare for
a course luncheon in luxurious and dig
nified surroundings can drop in with
his fellows, smoke, talk business and
be at ease.
To attract the ladies Of the city, Mr..
Davenport turned part Of the elaborate
barroom into the "Orange Bower" and,
with moderate prices, dainty menus and
exceptional service, soon had all the
ladies of Spokane figuring out pretexts
for staying down town over the lunch
hour or to drop in for cup Of after
noon tea.
The next step was to add a delicates-
sen, so that after dining at the Daven-
port patrons might take home with
them the markings" Of the next meal.
Evolved from the idea of moderate
price restaurants was that Of rooms az
low yates. At the Davenport you can
havea room that Is the equal Of the
Biltmore's best at half the Biltmore's
price, or n smaller and palmer one for
a quarter of that amount.
Mr.. Davenport was naturally opposed
to prohibition, but, having made up his
mind that the people wanted it. he, Ike
wise boniface, decided to please the
public. Hence, every attempt at the
Illicit introduction OF liquor into the
hotel has been sternly suppressed.
Pushes the Club Idea
Another avenue Of additional pat
ronage has been opend up by playing
I'D" the hotel as sort Of community
social club and headquarters. With
the highest social standards rigidly
maintained, and with no demoraiizlng
strong drink, Spokane's "best people"
see no harm in public dancing in the
Davenport's restaurants.
The process of restoring the former
volume of business by introducing sub
stitute revenue producers is slow
one, but it is gaining momentum, and
Mr.. Davenport says that within a few
years the hotel profits will be a, large
as ever.
The Hotel Portland, at Portland, has
rented its barroom 70 Christian
Science Church. The Tacoma, Tacoma,
has turned its into an additional dining
room.
"Bootlegging" hourishes, of course,
in oil the dry states. II you inquire
sedulously and discreetly enough, you
may, perhaps, in consideration OF So a
quart, be permitted TO tap the inner
tube of a spare tire Of an automobile
that has Just arrived from Montana.
Or you may be supplied through the
system of secret lockers. The amount
Of liquor thus introduced Is, however,
comparatively negligible, and there are
TO visible evidences Of 1t. The saloons
are gone and with them have gone the
slums and recognized social vice. A
dry town is a clean town.