The Crocodile opened as the Crocodile Cafe on April 30, 1991, when Seattle attorney Stephanie Dorgan launched a club at 2200 2nd Avenue in the Belltown neighborhood. Within a year, the room became a proving ground for the city’s exploding music scene, hosting Nirvana as it opened for Mudhoney under the joke name Pen Cap Chew, and giving early stages to Soundgarden, Alice in Chains, and Pearl Jam.
The original Crocodile Cafe closed unexpectedly in December 2007 before reopening as The Crocodile in March 2009 under new ownership that included Alice in Chains drummer Sean Kinney and longtime Seattle manager Susan Silver. The venue later relocated a few blocks to a larger space at 2505 1st Avenue, reopening there in December 2021 with an expanded, multi-room capacity.
Stats at a Glance
- Location: Belltown, Seattle, Washington
- Type: Live music club
- Opened: April 30, 1991 (current location since December 2021)
- Capacity: About 1,150 (current venue)
- Famous for: Launching grunge-era acts including Nirvana, Soundgarden, and Pearl Jam
A Grunge-Era Proving Ground
In its first incarnation at 2200 2nd Avenue, the Crocodile Cafe built a reputation as the unofficial clubhouse of Seattle’s early-1990s music explosion. Bands that would go on to international fame, including Sleater-Kinney, Death Cab for Cutie, and Modest Mouse, played the small 550-capacity room long before headlining arenas, and the club’s gritty charm later appeared on screen in Cameron Crowe’s 1992 film Singles.
Rebuilding and Expanding
After its 2007 closure, the venue was revived in 2009 by a group of investors with deep ties to Seattle music, including Sean Kinney and Susan Silver, who kept the original Belltown spirit intact. A further move in 2021 gave The Crocodile a larger, multi-room building a few blocks from its birthplace, allowing it to book bigger national touring acts while preserving its reputation as one of the city’s essential clubs.
Explore more: Explore more iconic music venues.
Phone, cards and keys in front of you all night, hands free for the encore.
Packs smaller than a water bottle — a real seat for lawn shows and festival sets.
Protects little ears at concerts, fireworks and loud race days.
The Crocodile FAQs
When did The Crocodile open?
The venue opened as the Crocodile Cafe on April 30, 1991, in Seattle’s Belltown neighborhood.
Did Nirvana really play The Crocodile?
Yes, Nirvana opened for Mudhoney at the club in 1992 while performing under the fake name Pen Cap Chew.
Is The Crocodile still in its original location?
No, after closing in 2020 the club relocated a few blocks away to a larger building at 2505 1st Avenue, reopening there in December 2021.
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Photo: Renee Chun / CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons.