White Center has earned a rough reputation through its history largely as a result of factors like reduced law enforcement presence and a concentration of drinking establishments.Other businesses that are more aimed at the age 21 and over crowd don't help.

Some of that reputation is deserved. Much of it is not.

But the focus for some people has been in the block between 98th s.w. and s.w. Roxbury Street.

That block was home for Club Evolucion which was the scene of numerous fights, and arrests until it closed. It was in the process of being converted to a Latin Dance club for ages18+. A recent ruling by the King County Council banning dance clubs in White Center has put those plans on hold however.

While other parts of the block have seen serious renovations, others have lagged behind and the dark reputation for drug dealing, violence and other criminal activity has hung there like a perpetual cloud. That's been true of Papa's Pub and Grill at 9635 16th s.w. A recent fight that sent one man to the hospital (which the Herald was told incorrectly took place in front of Papa's) began after a group of men who had been in the bar next door, the Locker Room, came outside.

The West Seattle Herald spoke to Day Manager and chef Mark Weatherhogg who told us that the owner and staff have been working on making major changes in the way the business operates, hoping to improve their reputation and earn the public's trust. He was authorized to talk to us by the owner Richard Bienhoff.

It's true that the business has been cited in recent months with serving alcohol to minors but they are appealing those citations and offered a reasonable explanation. The Washington State Liquor Control Board has yet to rule on the matter.

The pub is close to 5000 square feet in size, not counting the unused basement space or outdoor beer garden which means the 175 person capacity business has a lot of space in which something less than legal can take place.

Here's what Weatherhogg said they've done to improve things:

They have installed 14 security cameras. If anything happens inside or out (one is set to be added out front in the next week or two) it is recorded and kept for a week.

They have adopted a no loitering policy in which they ask people to leave if they are not eating drinking or playing a game. A sign is posted as a reminder.

Once an hour they step outside and literally sweep the sidewalk, in the process asking any undesirable characters to leave.

The men's room which has an oversized stall in which several people could get out of the sight of cameras or others has been modified. That stall has been closed permanently.

Thursday, Friday and Saturday they have security people whose job it is to keep people away from the front of the door and they use a blacklight to check ID (instituted six weeks ago).

They are adding signs that alert people that the restrooms are not public.

They used to have oversized shot glasses. Those are gone. No more over pouring. Now you get what you pay for.

He reports since the security people have been working they've had no problems. "They do walk arounds now and the King County Sherrif has been doing walk throughs. The liquor board has come through and done random spot checks. So the activity that used to be here all the time, and everyone knows it was here, isn't here anymore."

"People are getting enough respect now and they know we're not going to tolerate any of this. If you get caught you're gone."

He's serious about this. They maintain an active "86" list that keeps growing. Right now 14 people are on it. The minimum time someone is banned from entry is 30 days but they also block them for 60 days. 90 days or life with three people in that status.

What used to be and how it got that way

The building used to be home to the Hideway Restaurant, then changed to be Joe's Diner, then became Brewski's and since 2009 has been Papa's Pub and Grill.

To a large extent Papa's and other places in White Center have simply been subject to an influx of undesirable people, forced there by law enforcement elsewhere.

"What I believe is, " Weatherhogg said, " that the Seattle Police Department booted people out of the CD area and elsewhere, so when the county decided to get rid of the sub station down the street there was really no police presence in White Center. It became the place where everyone could congregate and no one would get caught. But now the police presence coming and with that recent shooting (Sweetheart Failatusi) King County has forced more police presence in the evenings, which has helped a lot with drug dealing and prostitution."

Building a new reputation

Papa's is, according to Weatherhogg, building a new reputation centered on their beers (they have 28 on hand), their poker tournament (it's not a card room, all the money bet leaves the same day with the players). 

Wednesday through Saturday Texas Hold'Em is played and starts at 6:30 p.m. and their food. He's especially proud of the Prime Rib dinner with a baked potato veggies and roll for $9.50. They open at 9 am and serve breakfast. They have a lunch menu with hamburgers and deli sandwiches, and weeknights they have a dinner special with items like Chicken Fettucini, Pan Fried pork chops and the Prime Rib on Thursdays. They are bringing in dart boards to add to their game selection (one of which is a punching bag where you can test your strength, a potentially useful outlet for people more testosterone than they can handle.

It's rough road they are on. People's attitudes are not easy to change. Especially in a community which has a generations deep memory of White Center as a place where bars dominate and serving families is not a high priority.

But Weatherhogg and the staff at Papa's Pub and Grill believe they are on the path now and are committed to being a high quality, and fun place to have a drink, a meal and relax. They are doing charity work, recently hosting a breast cancer benefit, raising over $1000 and will do more.

"We're working hard now on our reputation and making sure that when people come here they can have a relaxing time. We're kicking out the undesirables that we don't need to have in here, that makes our place look bad."