Riding down 12th Street a few weeks ago, I noticed that renovations to the Tong King Garden Restaurant at 989 12th St had revealed a sign hinting at the building’s past.

Brownie’s Fine Foods
The Salem Polk’s City directories for 1971, 1972, 1973 and 1975 list Brownie’s Restaurant as the occupant at 989 12th Street.*  It appears the restaurant was started sometime between 1970 and 1971 at the site of the former Rusty’s Coffee Shop.  It was first operated by Hurbert T. Dahlen and was later taken over by James W. Hults.

The site appears to have been used for food service for quite some time.  The 1951 City Directory lists 989 12th Street as the site of Thurston’s Fountain Lunch.

*The 1974 City Directory was unavailable.