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Smith Tower Observation Deck Reopening with a Speakeasy

You can drink there in August

Courtesy of Unico Properties

When it opened in 1914, the Smith Tower was the fourth tallest building in the world. The historic structure has seen a bit of a fall from grace from its heyday, hitting a low point in 2012 when it was sold in a foreclosure auction. Now, new owner Unico Properties is giving the Smith Tower a serious makeover — one that includes the addition of a "speakeasy" inside the 35th floor's observation deck.

This is the latest in a wave of establishments planning bars with excellent vantage points; The Nest rooftop bar is opening shortly in the new luxury hotel Thompson Seattle, while Mamnoon's team could launch mBar on a South Lake Union rooftop this summer, too.

The Smith Tower observation deck, which allows 360-degree views of the city, has been closed for renovations since 2014. When it reopens in August, expect "a Prohibition-inspired café and bar, harking back to Smith Tower’s early 1920s roots with touches of Asian influence." This one should be a looker: Unico enlisted Graham Baba Architects, the firm that designed Melrose Market and Chophouse Row, among other sexy food-related projects.

Other changes are coming, too, including a new ground floor general store selling locally-focused gifts and revamped tours with new pricing. That's about all the information available at this point; look for updates as the opening date draws closer.