The Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in Renton is buzzing with activity on a weekend afternoon. The tables are filled, the salad bar is stocked, and children are enjoying arcade games. This location is the last Shakey’s Pizza Parlor in western Washington.
Jason Willingham, a longtime customer, reflected on the loss, saying, “It’s just a shame that all the Shakey’s are disappearing slowly one by one.” Willingham, who has been coming to Shakey’s since he was five years old, joined a crowd outside the restaurant on Saturday, eager to get one last meal before it shuts down.
Shakey’s once boasted nearly 700 locations across the U.S. before the recession, but that number fell to just 23. Now, the chain has around 70 locations nationwide. Lori Bender, the owner of the Renton location, shared that the restaurant had been open for over 40 years. It was the only Shakey’s in the area to survive the recession.
“The community kept it open during the recession and COVID,” Bender said. She took over the business nine years ago but announced the closure would happen on Monday—or whenever the dough runs out. “We rolled dough for 24 hours straight and sold out in five hours,” she added.
For regulars like Willingham, Shakey’s is more than just a pizza parlor. “The pizza’s the best,” he said, highlighting the unique sauce that sets Shakey’s apart. The restaurant also holds special memories for him. “Every person in the family has celebrated their birthday parties at a Shakey’s pizza, from my grandparents to my kids,” he said.
Bender also shared emotional stories of the restaurant’s history, including an elderly couple who celebrated their anniversary there, recalling it as their first job.
So why is this beloved location closing? Bender explained that a new building owner took over, and she is ready to retire.
“The last nine years have been great,” she said. “I feel good about giving the community nine more years of Shakey’s, and I hope there’s a younger generation that steps up and starts opening the bigger Shakey’s.”
The final Shakey’s location in Washington state is now in Pasco.
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