Seattle, WA

This beautiful brick firehouse was built by historic Seattle architects Bebb and Mendel in 1911, back in the days of horse-drawn fire engines. Ballard Fire Station No. 18 remained in continuous use for 63 years, longer than any other Seattle firehouse, reluctantly shutting its doors in 1976 when the station was retired by the city after being deemed surplus property.

The Germanic Revival-style fire station was admirably restored and maintained over the years housing the Hi-Life restaurant. In fall of 2019, the Hi-Life closed and the fire station was remodeled and opened as Valentinettii's; a family-friendly Italian restaurant.

With its grand brick facade and revamped interior, Valentinettii's gracefully manages to toe the line between Ballard’s historic, working-class roots and its recent evolution into a family-friendly yuppy haven. Ballard Fire Station No. 18 is perhaps one of the most beautiful adaptations to make use of the neighborhood’s existing dichotomy, and certainly amongst the most successful.