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All the United States Washington Spokane Mary Lou's Milk Bottle
Gastro Obscura

Mary Lou's Milk Bottle

A giant milk bottle from the 1930s beckons drivers to this diner.

Spokane, Washington

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About

When the Benewah Creamery opened a store on West Garland Avenue and North Post Street in Spokane in 1935, it used a rather fitting beacon for dairy lovers: a giant milk bottle.

Spokane Historical reports that the creamery was originally one of several retail outlets owned by dairy merchant Paul Newport. Using local farmers' raw milk to make products such as cheese and ice cream, the Newport family sold their wares at the store until it went out of business in 1974. By that point, the unusual building had become a Spokane landmark. Even when new owners transformed it into a store selling second-hand furniture and knickknacks, the milk bottle remained.

The looming white structure almost disappeared for good when a fire tore into the building in 2011. Thankfully, it was restored to its original glory. Today, it graces a diner—Mary Lou's Milk Bottle—that sells burgers, sandwiches, and, naturally, highly praised milkshakes and ice creams.

Related Tags

Giant Food Diner Milk Dairy Ice Cream Americana

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Added By

Sam OBrien

Edited By

Helen Rose

  • Helen Rose

Published

November 5, 2019

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Sources
  • https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2016/apr/11/then-now-benewah-market/
  • https://www.spokesman.com/stories/2007/nov/22/milk-bottle-building-was-retail-outlet-for/
  • https://spokanehistorical.org/items/show/261
Mary Lou's Milk Bottle
802 W Garland Ave
Spokane, Washington, 99205
United States
47.693633, -117.423421
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