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Friday, June 2, 2023

801 Commercial Avenue currently houses the Anacortes Bank of the Pacific, which opened on this date in 2006. However, the building has had an interesting history prior to the 2006 opening. Initially built by Wallie Funk Sr. in 1928-29 for the hefty price of $80,000 ($1,198,330 today), it was first called the Paramount Theater. Funk lost ownership of the theater during the Depression and it became the Roxy Theater in 1933. Later it became the Island Theater, which remained in business until Island Savings and Loan bought it in 1977. The building still stands out on Commercial, with Funk's beautiful Spanish design projecting a story to visitors to the ATM. In 2009, the Anacortes Historic Preservation Board recognized Bank of the Pacific with a preservation award for its historically sensitive renovation of the building, which was performed by Quantum Construction.