Sad Goodb Bid To The Prettiest Lunch In Town

It’s a $5 lunch with a five-star view.

And Diana Redinger is having her last one today.

Her favorite lunch spot, the Viewpoint Restaurant on the 17th floor of the Farm Credit Banks Building, closes today after 14 years in business.

“I’m really going to miss it,” Redinger said wistfully, squinting in the sunshine as she gazed at the South Hill and West Plains. “There really isn’t anyplace like this.”

Metropolitan Mortgage and Securities Co. Inc. is in the process of buying the Farm Credit Building and didn’t renew Marriott Management Services’ lease for the Viewpoint.

Metropolitan needs all the space it can get, said Erik Skaggs, a spokesman. Though the building has 262,000 square feet of space, only 100,000 will be available immediately because of existing leases, he said.

“With over 500 employees, plus our projected growth, we estimate that we’re going to need over 100,000 square feet of office space,” Skaggs said. “That means we have to utilize every inch available.”

That also means customers need to say their last goodbyes to the Viewpoint.

For years the cafeteria-style restaurant has been a place to grab coffee and socialize, watch Spokane’s skyline change, celebrate weddings and Christmas, or just fill up on good cheap food while taking in the best view in town.

“You really feel quite elegant up here, very pampered with the view,” Redinger said, while dining on pizza and salad, a $2.50 special during the last week.

Everyone was welcome - and could afford to eat - at the Viewpoint. Some people bought lunch; others brown-bagged it. Cafeteria workers joked about the “millionaire’s club,” the group of well-known wealthy men who frequented the dining spot. And the Cougar Club, Washington State University boosters, meets there every morning from 10 to 11 a.m. for coffee and camaraderie.

Redinger’s dismay at losing her favorite lunch place was expressed repeatedly Thursday as customers wandered through.

“The view is spectacular,” said Danelle Blangeres, as she headed back downstairs to her job at Northwest Farm Credit Services with a bagel and cream cheese in hand. “It’s too bad the public isn’t going to be able to see that anymore.”

“The atmosphere is just super. It’s a chance to stretch my eyes,” said architect Don Trail, who’s been eating breakfast and lunch at the Viewpoint daily for five years. “I think it’s a real loss to the city.”

Customers have gazed north at snow accumulating on Mt. Spokane and south at cars piling up on the freeway. They’ve watched trees transform into rainbows in the fall and been calmed by the Spokane River, rolling slowly past Gonzaga University.

“It’s just nice to have a place in the same building to get away … and be away,” said Melinda Moore, who works at Northwest Farm Credit Services.

Customers even spied U.S. Secret Service agents dashing about on rooftops during visits by former House Speaker Tom Foley and Vice President Al Gore.

Looking out over the city during last winter’s ice storm was strange, said the Viewpoint’s catering manager, Cheryl Collins.

“It was just black,” Collins said. “You really notice the (city) lights when they’re not on.”

Customers have grown to know Arthur the dishwasher, Lois the deli cook, and, especially, Kathy the cashier. Most of the seven employees have been re-located to other Marriott food service sites in Spokane.

A cluster of teddy bear cookies - a gift from long-time customers - balances atop a register, bidding the restaurant and the employees goodbye.

Lunch was always filling and cheap at the Viewpoint.

At $4.50 plus tax for an entree, salad and a cold drink, customers piled their plates with head chef Sharon Clark’s lasagna, chicken Caesar salads and barbecued ribs.

Ivar’s clam chowder was always served on Friday. Slices of Cyrus O’Leary’s pies nestled under glass windows - 95 cents for fruit, $1.25 for cream. Most popular were lemon meringue and coconut cream.

“This is the last pie,” Collins said, pointing to a strawberry rhubarb tort still encased in plastic. “We should auction it off.”

Customers have already begun to search for other lunch spots. Some plan to make their own. Others will head to the Crescent Court’s food court. All will remember the Viewpoint.

“I feel very fortunate to have been able to come up here,” Redinger said. “This is the most beautiful view of Spokane from anywhere.”

, DataTimes ILLUSTRATION: Photo