Public debut set at Pullman Seasons

Sara Joplin, left, and Daquarii Rock purchased the former Seasons Restaurant space in Pullman and are opening an event center there.

A historic house and one-time restaurant in Pullman will re-open its doors to the public this weekend for an open house. The house has been vacant for more than 15 years.

The Seasoned House, first constructed 125 years ago in 1892 – the earliest days of Washington State College – served as a parsonage to two churches formerly located on the property. In 1970, Seasons Restaurant opened at the house and operated until 1999.

“I've seen this house empty,” said Daquarii Rock, who along with her friend Sara Joplin purchased the house last year. “We were looking at it and wondering what was in it.”

Rock and Joplin both live near the house in Pullman, and both attended WSU and have remained in Pullman for work. Rock works at United Way, and Joplin is employed with SEL. When a for sale sign went up on the property, they decided to make an investment.

“One thing led to another, and it fell together perfectly to let us purchase this house,” said Rock. “I cashed in my 401K. I'm all in now.”

Rock and Joplin, with the assistance of some friends, have worked since last April to clean up the house and convert it to small, public event space.

“We really cleaned and painted the inside,” said Rock. “We also updated some things. It hadn't been updated since 1988 or 1990.”

“Buying it, the intention was to turn it into a small event center,” said Rock. “It's so beautiful.”

Rock said they have already received some interest for people to host weddings and anniversaries there. Up to 49 people can be there for an event, and Rock said she is hoping to see the space well utilized.

“We'd like to host events there too if there are no parties booked,” she said. “People are excited to see what the inside looks like.”

Rock said there was no grant assistance involved in breathing new life into the house, and she and Joplin contributed the funds themselves.

“We're just people in Pullman, both WSU alums, and we just came across an opportunity and decided to jump on it,” she said.

The open house this weekend is booked for Friday and Saturday, Jan. 6 and 7. It will be open to the public, free of charge, from 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. both days, and coffee and snacks will be provided. There will also be music during the open house.

“We are really excited about it,” said Rock.

The Seasoned House is located at 215 SE Paradise Street.

To learn more about the house or to inquire about booking an event, contact [email protected] or visit the website at http://www.theseasonedhouse.com.